School trips for science students give them a chance to learn more in the field, whether exploring natural landscapes to better understand the forces that shaped them or visiting learning centres such as the Eden Project or the educational facility at CERN. There are many excellent destinations for science school trips including Cornwall, Geneva, Lanzarote and Iceland. Visiting any of these places will valuably complement students’ classroom-based learning.
Cornwall
Cornwall is an ideal destination for groups looking for fieldwork opportunities on their science school trips. There are numerous wildlife sanctuaries, aquariums, turtle parks, monkey sanctuaries and wild bird centres where students can observe a wide variety of animal species. The natural landscapes of Cornwall and the wider West Country are ideal for developing understanding of natural processes such as coastal erosion. Along the Jurassic Coast, they can learn about how that erosion led to the exposure of dinosaur skeletons that were collected by scientists such as Mary Anning, and discover how she and others contributed to scientific understanding of prehistoric life and evolution. Meanwhile, the Eden Project teaches them about the relationship between people and ecosystems.
Geneva
Geneva is most famous for being the home of CERN and the Large Hadron Collider. As the largest particle physics research facility in the world, it is an exciting place for students to visit on science school trips. Students can learn about the innovative research conducted at CERN in the past and the present, as well as the plans for future research. Other items on the itinerary of a trip to Geneva include the Bex Salt Mines, which are nearly 50 km in extent and reach the villages of Arveyes, Villars and Chesières. They provide a fascinating insight into the exploitation of salt resources in the region. Students can also visit the Emosson Dam, where they can see hydropower in action in the Alps.
Lanzarote
Lanzarote is an island created by tectonic forces and shaped by ongoing volcanism. Groups on science school trips will be able to learn about the development of agriculture in the fertile but dry volcanic soil, then explore a lava tube system where chemical processes in action on the cave walls turn them multi-coloured. The green crater lake El Golfo, offers a striking lesson in the effects of algae, while elsewhere on the island students can learn about the process of salt extraction.
Iceland
Like Lanzarote, Iceland was created by tectonic forces, but visiting it is a markedly different experience. It is of particular relevance for school groups interested in learning more about geothermal and other renewable energy sources, as Iceland is a leading centre in these fields. School trips can start in Reykjavik with the Perlan building, where geothermally heated water is stored in six tanks that each hold up to four million litres. This can be followed by a trip to a geothermal power plant, as well as Iceland’s many geysers and rivers.
