Top UK award for Alex

Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan learner Alex Dry, has picked up a Crest prize from the British Science Association for his 59 page report on the subject.

Alex’s lunch-time experiments into the best way to break bones has landed him a top UK award.  He spent his breaks at Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan’s science labs looking at how animal bones fractured under force.

Alex, who is aiming to become a surgeon, has picked up a Crest prize from the British Science Association - his second from the renowned society.

His first was for his research into colour blindness and now he is planning to make it a hat-trick with his next project on toxicology, which he will start when he moves into the sixth form.

Alex’s latest research – for the Crest silver level – looked at bone abnormalities, degeneration and traumas and included a report that took 70 hours to write.

He said: “I looked at bones and worked out an equation, which took several hours, to show what force is needed to fracture certain bones.

“I actually got pig and cattle bones from a butcher’s shop and conducted experiments in the school science laboratories at lunch times.

“Dr Dale, my biology teacher was always on hand to offer advice and check my work. It was quite a long project and my report ran to 59 pages but I did enjoy it.

“I understand I’m the first Emrys ap Iwan student to be awarded a silver Crest award.

“The task now is to concentrate on my GCSEs and then, when I am in the sixth form, I’ll look at entering a project about toxicology for the gold Crest award.”

He added: “I’m looking to complete my A-levels and then go to university to study medicine and I hope, eventually, to become a surgeon specialising in trauma or orthopaedics.”

Alex’s biology teacher Dr Gemma Dale congratulated him for all his hard work.

She said: “Alex will, I’m sure, be an A* GCSE student for biology and other subjects – he is focused and determined and I’m sure he will achieve all he what to achieve.

“He worked independently on his project and I offered only very limited advice and checked his calculations, all of which were right anyway.

“Everyone at the school is very proud of his achievements.”

Crest is a UK award scheme for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and is run by the British Science Association.

The scheme recognises success and enables students to build their skills and demonstrate personal achievement in project work.

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