Last updated at 20:22, Sunday, 23 November 2008

Gemma-Louise Murphy, Katie-Rose Millar, Emma-Louise McAloone, Lizzie Adams and Alicia Friend sing during the first Barrow Engineering workshop 'Enterprising Science' at St. Bernard's School. LINDSEY DICKINGS REF: 0448902

A WITTY Jerry Springer-style sketch had their classmates in stitches – and it also got the message across about helping to protect the planet.
A group of St Bernard’s Catholic High School students used the entertaining American talk show idea to present a debate about different people’s attitudes to tackling climate change.
This was just one of the novel performances by Year 10s taking part in BP’s Carbon Challenge roadshow.
The interactive event is part of the company’s Enterprising Science scheme.
Pupils worked in groups to develop a carbon reduction plan for the fictional Carbon College.
They were asked to look at the social, environmental and economic implications for the school.
A group chosen to present their findings about how to make the school more environmentally friendly opted to install cavity wall insulation.
A number-crunching group decided to use a micro-hydro system which would save thousands of pounds.
Elizabeth Adams, 14, and her friends performed a series of songs about climate change and carbon footprints for the social task.
She said: “It’s been an interesting project. We wanted to make our presentation fun.”
Jake Cornthwaite, 14, said: “The workshop has been very interesting. The quiz was fun.”
Jake and his group worked on the economics task. He said: “We think that insulation is a really good money saver.”
Margaret Campbell, St Bernard’s head of science said: “The roadshow has been really good. It’s very topical. It’s got the pupils to think scientifically about the issues and work together in small teams.
“It’s a STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) project to raise the profile of these subjects.”
The BP roadshow was also held at Alfred Barrow, Parkview and Dowdales schools. The event was the first activity of Barrow Engineering Project, which involves Furness secondary schools, Barrow Sixth Form College and Furness College.
The Royal Academy of Engineering selected Barrow as the first area to start the collaborative project.
The aim of BEP is to give students exciting engineering experiences and raise the awareness of progression routes and career options in the subject.
Engineering is expected to play a key role in the regeneration of Furness and the partners behind BEP want to encourage the talent to stay in the area.
Brian Wood, the Barrow Engineering Project coordinator, said the first objective is to get engineering clubs up and running.
He said: “It’s going to be a terrific project there will be a whole range of activities.
“The whole premise is to raise the profile of engineering in the Furness area. It is something that has been necessary for some time.”

First published at 18:36, Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk