September 30, 2014 10.00 am This story is over 114 months old

Britain’s Astronomer Royal opens £300k Lincoln school laboratory

Budding scientists inspired: One of the greatest scientific minds of the 21st century visited a Lincoln school to open its new £300,000 laboratory.
Astronomer Royal Lord Martin Rees opened the new £300,000 laboratory at William Farr School.

One of the greatest scientific minds of the 21st century visited a Lincoln school to open its new £300,000 laboratory.

Professor Lord Martin Rees of Ludlow opened the Wolfson Laboratory at William Farr School on Tuesday, Sept 23 in front of an audience of students and staff.

The two-storey £300,000 building features a brand new lab plus two classrooms and was completed earlier this year.

The laboratory was funded by the school and equipped with a grant from the Wolfson Foundation.

Astronomer Royal Lord Rees is one of the world’s most respected cosmologists and astrophysicists.

He is a former President of the Royal Society and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, and even has a comet named after him.

He answered questions from the students at the school in Welton after cutting the ribbon on the building.

Among the topics raised were extra-terrestrial life and what he viewed as the greatest threats to mankind.

Lord Rees said: “Science is very important, and this is clearly a school that values science, and I’m delighted to do the formal gesture of opening this lab.

“Science isn’t just for scientists. We are all living in a world where science plays a big role. Everyone needs a feel for science. It’s interesting for everyone.”

Head Teacher Andy Stones said: “The visit of such an eminent scientist was a real thrill for the students at the school.

“We are really proud of the science facilities we provide for our pupils and the completion of the additional laboratory is a real achievement for everyone at the school.

“To have a scientist of Lord Rees’ calibre open the facilities and take the time to talk to our own budding scientists was a real coup for William Farr.”