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Seòmar agus comataidhean

Aberdeen Donside Pupils Take Part in Arctic Adventure

  • Submitted by: Jackie Dunbar, Aberdeen Donside, Scottish National Party.
  • Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 March 2024
  • Motion reference: S6M-12411

That the Parliament commends nine pupils from Bucksburn Academy in Aberdeen Donside, who have been selected to take part in a two-week scientific expedition to Greenland from 12 March 2024; notes that the pupils, aged between 14 and 16, were selected from over 120 applicants within Bucksburn Academy to take part in the Polar Academy; understands that pupils have been undergoing training for the expedition since August 2023, such as undertaking a range of activities, which have included spending time in cold chambers at the sport science centre at Edinburgh Napier University, to help pupils acclimatise to the cold weather, and tyre-hauling sessions to replicate dragging sledges with equipment; further understands that during their expedition, pupils will be conducting a range of scientific experiments, including environmental DNA (eDNA), Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and snow density reporting and that they will have the opportunity to present their findings to Oxford and Cambridge Universities and the Scott Polar Research Institute during the summer; understands that the Polar Academy works with children who may have been impacted by bullying, bereavement and/or abuse and that it helps to positively empower participants and turn them into resilient role models; further understands that to date, the Polar Academy has worked with more than 180 young people and their families directly; commends the hard work and dedication of all pupils involved, and wishes them the very best for this expedition.


Supported by: Karen Adam, Clare Adamson, Alasdair Allan, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Stephanie Callaghan, Pam Duncan-Glancy, Annabelle Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Liam Kerr, Bill Kidd, Stuart McMillan, Audrey Nicoll, Kevin Stewart, Paul Sweeney, David Torrance, Evelyn Tweed, Sue Webber, Tess White, Elena Whitham