Schools Forum for Global Challenges: A Day of Insight and Inspiration

On Tuesday 3 December, the University of Birmingham welcomed around 250 Year 11 and 12 students and their teachers to The Schools Forum for Global Challenges

5 December 2024

On Tuesday 3 December, the University of Birmingham welcomed around 250 Year 11 and 12 students and their teachers to The Schools Forum for Global Challenges. The aim event was to allow your learners to explore global challenges and discover how scientists (from many disciplines) are finding solutions to ensure a healthier and a more sustainable future for all.

Twelve schools from across the UK took part, including the furthest from Luton and the nearest being the University of Birmingham School. The forum offered a series of sessions tailored to the interests of the students. The sessions included:

Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (GEES): "What is a refugee?" and "Addressing climate change impacts in cities"
Earth Sciences: "Tackling the problem of Forever Chemicals"
Biosciences: "Escape room" and "Genetic Therapy for our crops to feed the world"
Psychology: "How exercise can help us"
Sport: "Stress Management and Wellbeing" and "How exercise and physical activity can be used to prevent and treat non-communicable diseases"
Marine Research: A talk by PhD student Kerys Meredew

Feedback from the schools was overwhelmingly positive. Queen Mary's Grammar School shared their enthusiasm on X, describing the event as "A Great Experience for Geographers." John Hampden Grammar School expressed a desire to repeat the Forever Chemicals lecture, noting its impact on a student's decision to apply to Birmingham.

Further feedback highlighted the lectures, particularly those on urban planning and environmental science, as eye-opening and inspiring, demonstrating the broad applications of geography beyond teaching.

Enriching experiences for schools

The Schools Forum for Global Challenges proved to be an enriching experience, fostering curiosity and enthusiasm for global issues among the next generation of students.

Featured staff

Professor William Bloss
Professor of Atmospheric Science
Bill Bloss, Professor of Atmospheric Science, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences -University of Birmingham. Bill is an atmospheric scientist with expertise in air pollution & atmospheric chemistry
Phone: +44 (0)121 414 4173 (Research Office)
Email: w.j.bloss@bham.ac.uk
Dr Adam Ramadan
Associate Professor in Human Geography
Dr Adam Ramadan, Lecturer in Human Geography in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences. He researchers the intersection between political and cultural geography
Phone: 0121 415 8904
Email: a.ramadan@bham.ac.uk
Dr Daniel Drage
Associate Professor in Environmental Health
Dr Drage has a range of experience using mass spectrometry techniques to investigate the presence and effects of persistent and emerging organic contaminants in a range of indoor and outdoor environments.
Phone: 0121 414 7243
Email: d.s.drage@bham.ac.uk
Dr Samantha Dobbie
BIFoR Learning and Engagement Lead
Dr Samantha Dobbie is part of the team at the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research.
Email: s.l.dobbie@bham.ac.uk
Professor Jeremy Pritchard
Professor of Life Sciences Education
Professor Jeremy Pritchard is Professor of Life Sciences Education at the University of Birmingham and Director of Education or the College of Life and Environmental Sciences
Phone: +44 (0)121 41 45570
Email: j.pritchard@bham.ac.uk
Professor Jon Catling
Professor
Staff profile for Dr Jonathan Catling, Lecturer in the School of Psychology. Dr Catling is a Cognitive Psychologist whose main research interest lies within the field of psycholinguistics.
Email: j.c.catling@bham.ac.uk
Dr Andrea Frank
Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning
Dr Andrea Frank is an urban planning scholar regarded for her work on community engagement in planning as well as researching and advancing planning education and pedagogies.
Phone: +44 (0)121 414 6976
Email: a.i.frank@bham.ac.uk
Dr Sarah Williams
Sports Participation to Performance Deputy Theme Lead
Dr Sarah Williams, Lecturer in Sport Psychology and Coaching Science, School of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK
Phone: +44 (0) 121 415 8187
Email: s.e.williams@bham.ac.uk
Kerys Meredew
PhD student
Staff profile for Saad Al-Yousof, PhD student in Earth Sciences at University of Birmingham
Adam Sheppard
Assistant Professor
Adam is an Assistant Professor of urban planning, specialising in development management matters inclusive practice, theory, and history.
Email: a.j.sheppard@bham.ac.uk
Dr Joanna Richards
Associate Professor in Clinical Exercise Physiology
Dr Jo Richards is an exercise physiologist, with a particular interest in cardiac physiology.
Email: j.c.richards@bham.ac.uk
Dr Eugenio Sanchez-Moran
Reader
Our research aims to unravel the biological significance that the different levels of DNA compaction structures and components have on chromosome condensation and DNA processes in the nucleus.
Phone: +44 (0)121 41 45918
Email: e.sanchezmoran@bham.ac.uk