Every year, our first-year students come together for the Collaborative Sciences Project, where they work across different science subjects to explore real-world questions. This year’s theme was Food & Fuel, with students encouraged to connect their research to issues affecting our own community as well as communities around the world.
One of the collaborative teams
The projects covered a wide range of topics. Some students focused on life here at RCN, investigating food waste in the canteen, the carbon footprint of our dinner menus, and how students travel to activities. Others looked at bigger global questions, including biodegradable alternatives to plastic packaging, water pollution and the health of ocean ecosystems.
Along the way, students collected and analysed data, compared different approaches and thought about practical solutions. The projects also gave them a chance to work together and see how different areas of science can help us understand the same problem.
Poster of one of the projects
“I’m always inspired by what our students can achieve in a day!” says our Director of Academics, Emma Mitchell.
It was great to see such a variety of ideas and students connecting science with challenges that are part of everyday life, both at RCN and beyond. A big congratulations to all our first years on completing this year’s Collaborative Sciences Project!
