Nobel Prize winner Sir Paul Nurse inspires GCSE students

In January, pupils from Westminster Academy had the opportunity to hear Nobel prize winner Sir Paul Nurse discuss ‘What is life?’ at the 2020 RSM Dangoor Lecture.

The budding scientists, who are sitting their GCSEs this year, heard geneticist and cell biologist Sir Paul talk about his work and the five great ideas of biology; the cell, the genes, evolution by natural selection, life as chemistry and biology as an organised system.

Westminster Academy, working with the RSM, aims to encourage school students from various backgrounds to work towards a career in healthcare.

Comments made after the talk revealed the students’ enthusiasm. “I was really surprised and fascinated to see how all these different parts of science fit together” one student said. Another commented: “I loved learning the history of the research and understanding how we uncovered so much knowledge.”

Much appreciated by the students was the time Sir Paul spent time answering their questions. “It was such a privilege to hear a Nobel Prize winning scientist talk about my favourite subject and spend time answering our questions afterwards,” said one student.

Speaking about the collaboration with Westminster Academy, RSM Chief Executive Michele Acton said: “We were very pleased to welcome students from Westminster Academy to such an inspirational lecture and are so grateful to Sir Paul Nurse. This is just one of many joint initiatives between the Academy and the Royal Society of Medicine to encourage students to think about careers in medicine and science.”