Untitled - Bedales Schools

e set out, six months ago, to produce a ‘Global Warming Special’: a B-Sci that would lookW at the issues surrounding global warming from a local as well as a worldwide perspective.We were helped on our way by Old Bedalian Simon Alldridge’s fascinating, if unnerving Civics, inwhich he revealed some of the details behind his environmental work with governments around theworld. The unnerving side of this talk was partly created by Simon’s resignation to the inevitabilityof major problems arising in the very near future due to global warming, and his reminder thatChernobyl brought us just minutes (or was it seconds?) away from a catastrophe that would haverendered most of Europe’s water undrinkable for hundreds of years to come. We later had an assemblyon a similar theme by Professor Tony Marmont which gave us the viewpoint that whilstthings might be bad, there is a lot of current technology which, if used to its full effect, couldgreatly reduce man’s impact on the environment. For a full interview with Tony, see page 22.For the last 29 years Bedales science has been enriched and enlivened by the presence of HarryPearson, who leaves at the end of this term. It is impossible to say how many pupils have beenswitched on to chemistry by Harry and how many have benefited from his remarkable subjectknowledge, but I know that all his students recognize that being taught by Harry is something quitespecial that goes beyond his wizard-like ability to conjure up an explosion at every available moment.In recent years the school has benefited greatly from Harry’s contacts within the scientificcommunity. This year, the Eckersley Lecture was given by an old friend and colleague of Harry’s,Professor Brian Johnson, ex Master of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. Entitled ‘Small is Beautiful’,the lecture revealed the intricate world of nanotechnology and the weird and wonderful thingsthat are currently being developed. See page 3 for more details. Meanwhile, in the autumn term wewelcome Geoffrey Rishman (from Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School) to succeed Harry asHead of Science and Chemistry.Finally, B-Sci says a fond farewell to another great editorial team. Charlie, Felix, Yamez and Zoehave worked tirelessly to track down stimulating and relevant material for the magazine. We wishthem every success as they move on from Bedales.1