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People Like YouYou are in: Cambridgeshire > Features > People Like You > Cambridge’s Arctic explorers come back from the cold  Photograph by Mark Pepper Cambridge’s Arctic explorers come back from the coldFour pupils from Parkside Community College have returned from an exploratory trip in the Arctic Circle. They won the trip in 'Ice Edge' the national schools competition which aims to raise the status of vocational learning in the UK.
Forty young people from across the UK won the journey of a lifetime to the Arctic to study one of the world’s most fragile environments. Over 8,000 students entered the competition by coming up with ideas for practical solutions to help solve environmental problems. Team ‘A New Shade of Green’, comprising Melinda Barbi, Anna Harley, Ruby Turok Squire and Megan Serenson represented Parkside Community College after winning the competition with their idea and invention of a biodegradable chewing gum made from beeswax.  Photograph by Mark Pepper They said: “This trip has been absolutely incredible. We have experienced so many things that we never dreamed we would - swimming in the Arctic Ocean, standing on the pack ice, and seeing a polar bear. It is not just the spectacular scenery and breathtaking wildlife that makes Svalbard so special but also the immense amount of cultural history and scientific research have both amazed and inspired us.”  Ruby, Melinda, Megan and Anne The objective behind Ice Edge was to get young people motivated through practical learning and get them thinking about vocational careers that will contribute towards improving our environment. They were encouraged to take a creative and businesslike approach to real-world problems; all the projects involved teamwork, enterprise, presentation skills and allowed the students to demonstrate a wide range of their skills and knowledge across a range of subjects. Edge is dedicated to raising the profile of vocational and practical, hands-on learning, with a skills rather than an academic focus. It wants educational standards raised through applying practical experience to learning and providing opportunities to excel through vocational, as well as academic, studies. Edge believes that this is essential for the future competitiveness of the nation. last updated: 20/07/07 SEE ALSOYou are in: Cambridgeshire > Features > People Like You > Cambridge’s Arctic explorers come back from the cold |
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