Emma Hawthorne

Project Planner and CEO at OASES

What do you do?

I have twin girls who have just started Year 1 and I am married to my childhood sweetheart, living in the village where I grew up. I work for OASES, The 'Outdoor and Sustainability Education Specialists' a charity based in County Durham. We work throughout the North East region to improve knowledge and understanding of the natural world and to encourage teachers and students to get outdoors. I love nature and the outdoors and animals of all sorts.

How are you involved in this area of science? 

OASES is working in partnership with The University on a project that aims to achieve the following goals:

1. Teach children, young people, and their families that:

• Soil is living (and needs to be cared for).
• Climate change is linked to soil health.
  

These concepts are taught through 3 lessons:

1. Soil Sense
2. Soil Science
3. Soil Security

2. Get children and young people to do practical soil science:

• Making Terrariums

3. Nurture the need for ‘caring for the soil’ by:

• Nurturing the Terrariums
• Burying cotton pants

What do you love about this topic?

I love how important this topic is even though many people would not believe it, and how well it links with the other work that OASES delivers. I also love how interactive the sessions are, and that they involve children of varying ages in the project over a long period of time.

I love that the project is hoping to engage more young people, especially girls and women in engineering and that it will produce some interesting research. I also love working with the brilliant staff at The University.

How does this work deliver real-world impact?

The hypothesis suggests if we achieve the 3 goals, we will see a difference between the Year 7 students that have been involved in the project and those that have not – Those that have been involved should have improved knowledge and understanding of soils, and the need for their care, and should also understand the roles of engineers and scientists in soil security. This should encourage more young people to engage in science and engineering and to care for soil.

Find out more:

• Explore the work of OASES and find out more about the range of activities and training available.