"I just think helping people in general and because malaria kills so many people, I want to help try and stop it" – Lewis Low, Teddington School.
Three schools from Surrey & SW London were finalists in a competition (entered by over 100 schools) in which their challenge was (theoretically) to find a cure for Malaria. The six finalist schools were:
- North London Collegiate School (Edgware) - Winner
- Teddington School (Teddington) – Runner Up
- Tiffin School (Kingston)
- Portsmouth Grammar School (Portsmouth)
- The Lady Eleanor Holles School (Hampton)
- Preston Academy (Yeovil)
Science-led healthcare company GSK, challenged school children across the UK to come up with their own solutions to the problem posed by malaria, and by doing so they hope to ignite a real creative spark and enthusiasm for STEM subjects in school.
The future of scientific research and development in the UK looks to be bright, as the children took to up the challenge with gusto, with one idea in particular being recognised for its potential.
Excellent in its simplicity – as many solutions often are – the answer from one extraordinary group of school children was if holy basil was used with other natural products commonly found in areas most affected by malaria, it could be combined to make a new mosquito repellent that could have the potential to keep mosquitos at bay for up to eight hours!
In the below video, some of our future scientists and engineers showcase their skills at the Science Museum at the ‘Mission Control: Fight Malaria’ event...
For more information about the challenge visit gskscienceeducation.com
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