CHILDREN from across the South Hams took part in three days of marine biology-themed events at the Citadel Hill Laboratory in Plymouth as part of British Science Week.

The laboratory hosts both the Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science and the Marine Biological Association, and opened its doors to 120 primary and secondary children and their teachers during the week.

Making the trip to the lab, which adjoins the landmark Royal Citadel on Plymouth Hoe were Yealmpton Primary School, Manor Primary School from Ivybridge, West Alvington Primary School near Kingsbridge, and Ivybridge Community College among others.

Primary pupils took part in four different workshops, from a ’plankton safari’, where students and staff were amazed to discover that plankton provide more than half the oxygen we breathe every day, to the ’something fishy’ dissection session.

Secondary school and college students got a chance to meet professional scientists, get career advice and inspiration and develop wider scientific skills. A variety of workshops were again on offer, this time targeted at GCSE and A level science and biology, including ‘MBA CSI’ which introduced youngsters to molecular biology.

All three days saw students enjoying the chance to experience science in action and learn about the many ways that we depend on life in the sea.

SAHFOS public engagement and education officer Jennifer Skinner said: ’Our British Science Week event is a fantastic opportunity for students to visit two prestigious scientific marine organisations in the South West and find out more about the exciting field of marine biology.

’The students were all incredibly enthusiastic and keen to learn as much as they could, and it was a pleasure to host the next generation of marine biologists.’