Students from across Waltham Forest have been debating the future of the planet’s energy supplies during the second annual Waltham Forest Science Debating Competition. The lively debate; Nuclear Energy vs. Renewable Energy, was organised as part of Science Week.

The competition, run by Babcock, and hosted by last years winners Lammas School, was aimed at encouraging pupils to take an active interest in scientific issues as well as improving their communication and debating skills.

The prestigious panel of judges included Steve Jones from the National Strategies, Henry Gee, Senior Editor of Nature Journal, Susan Sutton Secondary Principal Adviser, Babcock and Shirley Forbes, Secondary English Adviser Babcock.

Guest Judge, Henry Gee said “It is very heartening to see so many young people taking an interest in science. I would like to congratulate Babcock for organising this event and allowing the students to showcase their talents. I am very impressed with the student’s display of in-depth knowledge and awareness of the issues that are present within science today as well as the energy and passion they showed in their arguments”

Matthew Endean, Science Consultant Babcock said “Well done to all the students who took part in this event. The arguments presented were very impressive and the standard of debate was very high. Events such as this provide a great opportunity for students to use both their scientific knowledge as well as skills that they have developed within other subjects and it is great to see the enthusiasm and ability of the students expressed in a context which in many ways is new to them ”