Students debate antibiotics questions at First Campus event

Chloe Woods, 15, of Heolddu Comprehensive, tries her hand at one of the Museum’s science experiments.

STUDENTS got to debate issues around antibiotic development at a special event at the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff.

Almost 80 pupils from St Illtyd’s and St Teilo’s schools in Cardiff, Heolddu Comprehensive in Caerphilly, and Ferndale Comprehensive, spent the morning discussing whether public funds should be used to develop the medicines, before taking the afternoon to undertake activities and look around the museum.

The event was organised by the National Museum and First Campus -  a partnership of the universities in South East Wales, which aims to raise the aspirations of young people and encourage them to go on to study at college and university.

Helen Obee Reardon of the University of South Wales, who is STEM Co-ordinator for First Campus, said: “It was good to see the students take a detailed look at all the issues and consider all the options.

“At first many seemed to agree that the public should pay for antibiotic development, but then the opinions changed and subjects such as return in investment, the use of private finance, the influence of antibiotics being used on animals, and charity involvement, showed that there was another side to the debate.

“The expert speakers for the event were Dr Sarah Maddocks and Dr Rowena Jenkins, both microbiology lecturers from Cardiff School of Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, and the debate was expertly chaired by Becca Smithers of Science Made Simple.

"After such a busy morning, the students all seemed to enjoy a change of pace in the afternoon and looking at the different displays at the museum. All in all, it was a very successful event.”