Our Aim
To empower students to share their science confidently, explore projects beyond the curriculum, and develop the skills top universities are looking for – through talks, videos, papers, and research that make an impact.
STEM Communication Programme
Programme Overview
Over the course of 4 terms:
- Learn about established methods of communication in STEM including academic engagement and public papers.
- Improve your English communication skills; both general and STEM-specific.
- Be challenged to extend your subject learning through a differentiated super-curricular programme.
- Produce content in-line with the College’s standing as a national beacon for STEM; some of you may publish your research online and others may use your research projects to enter competitions and access scholarships and industry professionals.
- Establish partnerships with academics and industry professionals.
Student Spotlight: Hannah Zo
Hannah Zo, a Year 2 A Level student at NatMatSci College, explored innovative ways to tackle climate change while addressing urban waste. During her summer break, Hannah studied the annual cherry blossom bloom in South Korea. These trees capture carbon dioxide to produce flowers that last only a few weeks before falling and creating waste or blocking drainage systems.
In a preprint paper published on BioRxiv, Hannah estimated the total carbon captured by cherry blossoms over a season and extrapolated it to all the trees in South Korea. She found that the carbon captured was equivalent to that stored by 176 hectares of pine forest or the emissions from 0.24 million car journeys. She also explored alternative uses for the blossoms that could reduce reliance on other raw materials.
Hannah’s work combined clever mathematics with biological insight, and she coauthored the paper with Dr Steve Appleyard, Head of Biology. Hannah went on to pursue Biology at Oxford University, exemplifying the hands-on research opportunities students gain through the STEM Communication program at NatMatSci College.
The full transcript of Hannah’s paper (published with co author Dr Appleyard) can be found at this link.
Where Is Hannah Now?
We are delighted that Hannah received an offer to study Natural Sciences at the prestigious University of Cambridge. Since then, Hannah has taken the next step in her academic journey and is now studying at Johns Hopkins University on a full scholarship. Her continued success is a testament to her hard work, ambition, and commitment to her studies.
We are incredibly proud of Hannah’s achievements and look forward to seeing where her journey takes her next.
Student Testimonials
Hear from our students about their experiences in STEM communication at NatMatSci College
Our 2026 Poster Conference
Our annual Poster Conference event offers an engaging afternoon dedicated to research, reasoning, and communication in STEM, showcasing how our students brought scientific thinking to life.
Our A Level students showcased the results of their independent research projects through academic posters. Each presentation highlighted the full research journey, from formulating questions and designing methodology to analysing data and drawing conclusions. Attendees were invited to interact directly with students, exploring their approaches, assumptions, and findings.
The poster conference was more than just a display of results, it offered a window into real world STEM practice, where ideas were tested, challenged, and communicated with clarity and confidence. It demonstrated how students developed the skills to think critically, solve complex problems, and share their discoveries effectively.
Published Papers
We are incredibly proud of the dedication, curiosity, and academic excellence shown by our students in producing their published research.
Their work reflects a strong commitment to advancing knowledge and engaging with real-world scientific ideas at a high level.
You can explore a selection of their published papers below.
Khanh
Khanh has successfully published her STEM Communicators research project following a rigorous in-house viva and peer review process.
Her paper explores the emerging field of topical vaccines using genetically modified skin bacteria. Through an in-depth literature review, Khanh compares findings from animal-model studies with traditional injected vaccines, carefully evaluating their benefits and potential side effects.
She presented her work in a 30-minute viva, demonstrating a level of critical analysis and understanding comparable to university-level research.
Justin
Justin published a research paper developed through our award winning STEM Communication Programme in the International Journal of Social Sciences and Economic Review (IJSSER). His work explored the Cap and Trade system, a market based approach designed to reduce carbon emissions, offering both critical insights and forward thinking solutions.
In his paper, Justin identified key areas for improvement and introduced an innovative dual market model aimed at increasing private sector participation. By strengthening financial incentives, his proposal demonstrated the potential to drive more impactful and scalable environmental outcomes.
Ayden
Ayden’s STEM Communication Programme research into economic institutions was published in the International Journal of Social Sciences and Economic Review (IJSSER).
As part of his project, Ayden developed his own unique Inclusivity Index, analysing data from 122 countries and applying regression techniques to investigate how inclusiveness related to income levels and GDP growth. It was an incredibly impressive piece of work.
ARE YOU SMART ENOUGH?
An independent sixth form boarding and day college specialising in A-level STEM subjects. For students aged 15 -20, aiming to study at the world’s leading universities.
