Over the half term, Chris Cook and Izzy Hawkins from Beacon were selected from some stiff competition to attend a ‘Young Scientists’ day at GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development in Tonbridge, Kent. ‘Young Scientists’ day was set up to give students from the surrounding area an idea of what it is like to work in a large pharmaceutical company developing a drug from concept to manufacture.  This is what they had to say….

‘We started the day with a friendly introductory session where we became familiar with the stages in drug production, which can take up to 15 years! After a memory session on a range of GSK products we were paired up with another student from a different school and had tuition in one of the many labs. Our experiment was an investigation into the Caffeine content in a standard cup of Coffee, which sounds like a pretty simple task but it turned out to be a very complex procedure. This experiment highlighted the precision that is necessary in producing a drug safely.
 
Next we were sectioned into groups of five and briefed on our next task that was to create plasticine pills to rigorous control standards. The purpose of the task was to understand the precision needed in manufacturing a medical drug. Each pill had to be 6 mm thick with alternating layers of green and pink plasticine that had to be 2 mm thick. We were informed that each group must have a team leader to oversee production and a quality control supervisor to ensure each pill fitted the specification. The challenge was to make 50 perfect pills in 10 minutes with as little waste as possible. So we donned our ‘CSI-esque’ boiler suits that reduced the likelihood of contamination and began our production. My group's "production line" seemed to be pretty chaotic and we only produced half the pills necessary. However it transpired that we had no wastage and so we came 2nd overall in our production process.
I found the day very beneficial as it deepened my understanding of chemistry and the 2-1 tuition provided a rare experience that allowed me to explore new areas of analytical chemistry, while the plasticine pills practical provided a lighthearted but realistic view on drug production’.
 
Chris Cook

During the half term I got the chance to visit GlaxoSmithKline’s research and development site.  During the day we got to learn lots about how drugs are developed and work in the labs.  When we first got there they told us about the different jobs involved in making a new drug and how long it takes.  Then we got to work in the labs in small groups with a scientist from GlaxoSmithKline.  I got to make an anaesthetic and could ask any questions during this part of the day.  Working in the labs was my favourite part of the day because we got to see what it was like to work in a pharmaceutical company and use lots of advanced equipment.  Afterwards we worked in groups and did tasks and quizzes based around the development of a new drug.  This day was thoroughly enjoyable and helped my understanding of lots of different parts of the pharmaceutical industry.  I learnt a lot from this experience and would love to take part in something like this again. 

Izzy Hawkins

The science department is always looking for ways to enrich and enhance learning of its students, so if there are any companies out there who feel they have something to offer in the way of activities for our students please do not hesitate to contact us at Beacon Community College.