Year 9 Scientists Enjoy One-Day Mining Workshop with Camborne School of Mines There was plenty of curiosity in Year 9 science yesterday as Camborne School of Mines visited to lead a one-day workshop on mining in Cornwall – past, present and future. Students first learnt about what makes the geology of Cornwall special, why it has so many mineral resources, and the demand for mining such resources (like lithium) in the aid of developing green technologies to help with the climate crisis. Mining Murder Mystery Afternoon We dropped in to take photos during the afternoon where students were enjoying a ‘Murder Mystery’ experience, trying to identify what and who was responsible for the death of a miner. The students rotated around workstations, performing practical experiments which included: • Learning about acid mine drainage • PH testing • Chemical testing on soil to identify carbonate content • Looking at rust and weathering processes • Looking at geological maps, and • DNA sequencing using a real DNA kit to identify bacteria on the victim’s feet Miss Zoe Garrod Science Teacher at Penrice Academy “Our Year 9 students demonstrated real determination and perseverance in their ‘Murder Mystery’ investigation whilst learning about mining in Cornwall. This was a fantastic experience for students to see a real-life context to some of the content they learn and how it is relevant to our local community. Students thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity and were successful in solving the mystery!” A big thank you to Camborne School of Mines (part of the University of Exeter) for visiting Penrice.