The annual Young Researchers Conference at UCB was launched with news that one of the UK鈥檚 leading researchers would be involved in this year鈥檚 project.
Professor Jean McNiff, who works at York St John University and holds visiting professorships at institutions in Ireland, South Africa and China, will be in the audience when scores of Birmingham schoolchildren deliver findings from six months鈥� worth of research later this year. 聽
Preparation for this year鈥檚 event began in earnest in January when pupils from seven schools gathered at UCB to take part in a lecture on research methodology. The schools involved this year are Colmore Juniors, Colmore Infants, The Oaks, Yorkmead Primary, Kings Heath Primary, Billesley Primary, and Lyndon Green Infants.
Pupils at Colmore Infant School had already given some thought to their research project. Seven-year-old Umar Ali said: 鈥淲e want to research school rules and how useful and kind they are.鈥�
Nine-year-old Tilly Nathan-Fuller from Colmore Junior School was impressed by UCB. She said: 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 really cool.鈥�
Viv Randall, former executive headteacher at Colmore Infant School, will be supporting the schools over the next six months. She said: 鈥淭his is about recognising children鈥檚 capabilities and not underestimating them. There is no reason why young children can鈥檛 conduct research. This project gives them a voice and every year they come up with topics which astound me.鈥�
UCB lecturer Debbie Reel added: 鈥淚t is always a pleasure to host and support the young researchers in our local schools. They always amaze us with their levels of maturity, responsiveness and eagerness to make real change in their schools. We are really looking forward to June when we get to hear the outcomes of their continued hard work.鈥�
