4 Unbeatable Destinations for Science School Trips

Science school trips take students out of the classroom and into new landscapes and learning environments. By seeing for themselves the landscapes and scientific projects they have studied, science students can gain new knowledge and contextualise their class-based learning. There are many excellent places to go on science-based tours, near and far. Here are four of the top destinations, with a summary of why visiting them is so valuable to students.

Reykjavik

Created by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the island nation of Iceland is a major centre for the development and use of geothermal and other renewable energy sources. Its capital city Reykjavik is a top destination for science school trips. Students can visit the city’s Perlan building, where six tanks — each with a capacity of four million litres — store geothermally heated water. Reykjavik also serves as a base for day tours to a geothermal power plant, rivers and geysers, where students can increase their understanding of geothermal features and their history of use to provide the nation’s energy demands.

Geneva

Geneva, in Switzerland, is the home of CERN, the world’s largest particle physics research facility and site of the Large Hadron Collider. Visiting Geneva gives students the opportunity to learn more about the research and innovations that have taken place at CERN over the past decades — and the exciting directions it will take in the future. Heading into the Alps, students can visit the Emosson Dam and see hydropower in action. The Bex Salt Mines, stretching nearly 50 km and reaching the villages of Chesières, Villars and Arveyes, are a stunning insight into the history of salt mining in the region.

Cornwall

Cornwall and the wider West Country are full of wildlife sanctuaries and natural landscapes that are ideal for fieldwork on science school trips. Students can begin their trip at the Eden Project, learning about ecosystems and the relationship between plants and people. They can explore the Jurassic Coast, where scientists like Mary Anning discovered dinosaur fossils and contributed to our present understanding of evolution and prehistory. Monkey sanctuaries, turtle parks, aquariums and wild bird centres allow them to get closer to a wide range of animal species.

Lanzarote

Like Iceland, Lanzarote is an island created by tectonic forces — but it is by no means identical. Groups on science school trips will be able to explore a lava tube system and see chemical processes in action on the multi-coloured walls of the caves. They can gain an understanding of how agriculture has developed in the volcanic soils of the island, learn how salt is extracted and see the dramatic effects of algae in the green crater lake El Golfo. The striking landscape is a lesson in life in a volcanic region.

Angela Bowden works for EST (Equity School Travel), the UK's largest educational travel company, providing school trips for secondary schools, primary schools and colleges. Tours with EST can encompass a wide range of learning opportunities in worldwide destinations.

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