Local scientists and teachers are uniting to bring cutting-edge science  to King Henry VIII School in Abergavenny.

The school has been chosen by The Royal Society, the UK's national academy of science, to receive a Partnership Grant that will enable local scientists and engineers to work with teachers from the school to implement an innovative science project. 

The project, entitled From Neuron and Beyond, aims to excite and intrigue pupils about neuroscience and demonstrate the links between basic biomedical research and real life medical issues, such as treatments, therapies and ethical issues with a particular emphasis on patients with neurodegenerative diseases.

It will see pupils from Years 7 - 11, aged between 11 and 16 years, take on the challenge of travelling through a conceptual journey from single nerve cells to how the brain influences behaviour, showing along the way how biology and psychology are intimately linked.

The scientists will train Year 11 pupils as demonstrators for these workshops.

In addition the Year 8 pupils will be challenged to put some of this knowledge to the test and carry out their own neuroscience project.

Discussing bioethics has been recently introduced into the KS4 curriculum and the scientists will deliver this in a real- life neuroscientific context, showing how critical stem cell research technology could be in developing effective therapies for neurodegeneration. These pupils can participate in an evening film showing of Awakenings, illustrating the problems encountered by sufferers and the limitations of current therapies.

A level pupils and parents will be the main audience for this event, featuring a discussion session where participants will be encouraged to ask the scientists questions and express their opinions on issues raised by the film.

Finally in July, older pupils can participate in a new Brain Bee competition run by the Neuroscience and Mental health Research Institute at Cardiff University for schools in South East Wales. 

The project offers young people the chance to meet and work with local scientists and allows them to build and develop their scientific understanding in a way that is exciting, original and relevant to their lives.

Professor John Pethica FRS, vice president of the Royal Society, said, "We're pleased to be supporting From Neuron and Beyond at King Henry VIII School and are looking forward to seeing this imaginative project come to life over the coming months.

"Science and engineering are exhilarating and dynamic subjects and we hope that by giving teachers the opportunity to introduce innovative science that we can help show young people how much fun in real life these subjects can be, and inspire them to become the inventors, explorers and innovators of the future."

Dr David McGonigle, Dr Emma Lane and other neuroscientists from Cardiff University, will be working in partnership with King Henry VIII School during the next year.

Talking about why they have become involved in the scheme, they said: "Our project will bring to life what pupils learn about in the classroom and help them to understand the impact of science and engineering upon their day-to-day activities.

"Making these subjects relevant is how we demonstrate how vital they are to our lives."