In the week beginning 10 May a group from Kitebrook are working at the Trust's new residential science fieldwork centre at The Old Malthouse, Purbeck, Dorset, led by scientists from the Natural History Museum.  Link to The Old Malthouse site.  Daily reports posted below.  Lots more pictures in the Gallery.

Day 1 (Monday)

After a safe journey and a lovely lunch we were straight into our practical work.  Mr Richardson, Principal of the Trust, joined us.  Dr Karen James and Dr Fred Rumsey are our scientists/teachers for the week.

Session 1

  • Introduction to genetic barcoding - we are doing 'real science' and our samples and recorded data will goo into an international database to be used by scientists involved in mapping plant species in the UK & around the world
  • Introduction to sampling techniques & short look at school grounds where we'll be doing our sampling. 

Session 2

  • Selecting & identifying our 'own' tree. Collecting specimens, including leaf fragments for DNA extraction.
  • Scanning leaves
  • Preparing specimens for drying and storage in National archives

After supper, diary writing and bed!

Day 2 (Tuesday)

 We are having a super time. Children all happy bunnies.  See Gallery for more images of the day.
 

Session 1

Further details on genetic barcoding - possible cellular sources of DNA and how we can convert the data we obtain into bar codes.  Practising our techniques for transferring tiny amounts of DNA, using professional pipettes (£150 each pipette) - carefully!
 

Rest of the day

Off with packed lunches to walk to the coast. Field botany chats along the way from Dr Rumsden.  Along the way saw many examples of calcarious downland plants including rare 'early spider orchids'. On down to Dancing Ledge.  Most of the children braved the big rockpool for a 15 second swim - mighty cold.
After lunch and marine algae(seaweed) chat, some rockpooling, looking at sea anemones, skipping with seaweed and hunting for ammonite fossils. Plenty of free time to hunt around and explore.
 
Walked back to Old Malthouse and wrote up diaries before supper.
 
After supper - rounders match - 2 mixed teams, children and staff. An honourable draw was recorded!
 
Another wonderful day!

 

Days 3 and 4 (Wednesday and Thursday)

 For more pictures, go the The Gallery.

We have been busy with DNA extraction. All the children have been involved with some very accurate pippetting of chemicals, as little as 2µl in one case. Have now extracted DNA and added further chemicals to replicate two particular genes so that there's enough to read the DNA sequence. This will then be converted to a bar code for that particular species, and added to a world-wide scientific data base.
 
We have also been preparing our plant specimens: one to bring home, the other to be stored 'in perpetuity' in the National History Museum's repository here at The Old Malthouse, to be referenced by scientists from around the world.
 
Other activities include practical tree quizzes, going on botanical walks, playing rounders, and generally having a great time. We went down to the beach at Swanage yesterday evening, and then came back to watch the International Space Station pass over (9:20pm). It's 200 miles up and travelling at 17,000mph.
 

Day 5 (Friday)

For more images, please visit the Gallery.

Session 1

Completion of the Natural History Museum Herbarium Record Sheets - one copy to be stored at the Old Malthouse for reference, the other for each child to keep.

Session 2

Summing up of the week's activities by Dr James and Dr Rumsey.  Final rounders match and group photo. Minibus safely back to school - via loo & ice-cream stop!