As enrolment starts for the Mendip Studio School, Emma Pascoe, Business Development and Communications Manager, has announced new and exciting opportunities for students.
Year 9 students – Emily, Chloe and Rosie, have been working with Conservation Scientist, Jonathon Kendon, to learn new techniques for the cryopreservation of
mycorrhizal fungi crucial for the propagation of Britain's rarest plants.
Chloe explained: "We have been working to isolate important fungi from the roots of a rare plant, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, so that we can propagate it for reintroductions in the Mendips. Going to Kew to learn from a world expert, like Jonathan Kendon, will help us to carry out the advanced science we need to make our project successful."
The most interesting part of the visit, according to Rosie, was learning how to freeze mycorrhiza in liquid nitrogen: "The liquid nitrogen freezes the samples at -196°C and so the real challenge is bringing the mycorrhiza back to life after storage. Now we have learnt the techniques, I can't wait to try them on our own samples at school."
Simon Pugh-Jones MBE, from Writhlington School
Orchid Project, who has developed links with Kew
scientists over many years, described plans for joint
research between Kew and the Mendip Studio School. He said:"The facilities at the new school will mirror facilities at Kew and students will be able to plan research with working scientists and then carry it out at school. This will be the first time that any school
students in the UK will be able to make such a significant contribution to conservation science."
The students have entered their work into the UK
National Science Competition and will present it to the
public on Saturday, 13th December at the Writhlington School Christmas Orchid Festival and Craft Fair, which runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.