Introduction
Welcome to the Biology Department website. I hope that you enjoy browsing through the information here. Do please feel free to contact me (mmartin@warminsterschool.org.uk) or Dr D.R. Hankey (
dhankey@warminsterschool.org.uk), Head of Science if you require further information.
Dr. M. Martin Head of Biology
Good morning. I'd like to tell you a story about a very long journey for a man, for a ship and for a scientific theory. The man was born 200 years ago tomorrow, on 12th February 1809, his name was Charles Darwin. The ship was HMS Beagle and the scientific theory was evolution.
Charles Darwin started out with the aim of studying medicine and with that in mind, he attended Edinburgh University. This did not suit him however and he moved to Cambridge to study Theology. Before completing his studies, at the age of 22, he joined the crew of a survey ship, the HMS Beagle. He did not receive a salary for his role on the ship as a geologist, naturalist and companion to the Captain of the Beagle, Robert Fitzroy.
The ship took him around the world. The journey started in December 1831 in Plymouth and arrived back in Falmouth in October 1836. In all, the journey took four years and 9 months. Do not let the ship’s name confuse you, HMS Beagle was no comparison to the domestic dog the name suggests, it was in fact a 10-cannon warship.
The Beagle took Charles Darwin to the Galapagos Islands. These are a group of Islands roughly 600 miles into the Pacific off the West coast of Ecuador, South America. On the Galapagos Islands Darwin noticed slightly different forms of animals there, including giant tortoises, flightless cormorants, and differences between mockingbirds and between finches. At the time though he did not recognise his finches and after shooting them and salting them he did not even correctly record from where he had obtained them. It was only on his return to Britain that the finches were correctly identified by a colleague.
23 years later, in 1859, Darwin published “The Origin of Species by means of Natural selection”. The publication sold out, and has since never been out of print since. In his work Darwin sought to explain both evolution and diversity. Publication was prompted when Darwin learnt of another biologist, Alfred Russel Wallace who had developed very similar ideas. In writing “The Origin of Species” Charles Darwin may also have been driven to demonstrate the equality of all men as he hated the slave trade of his time. In fact evolution must mean that biologically speaking we are all related to all humans on earth. The phrase “all men are brothers” is a biological truth.
One of the central themes of Biology is the connection between biological structure and biological function. Biological structures seem to be made for their function – and indeed they are. Biologists have been trying to find out why this is so for many years. Evolution through natural selection also explains the diversity of life on the planet, organisms have changed and diversified in order to adapt to their environment. What is clear is that there is exists a relatedness between all living things, and with that knowledge there should exist a respect for all life that we humans should not forget. Charles Darwin in providing an explanation for these observations has become one of the cornerstones of Biology as we know it today.
(The above is the text of a talk by Dr Mark Martin, Head of Biology, to the school on Wednesday, February 11, 2009)
About the Biology Department
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Facilities
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Aims and Objectives
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Trips Activities and News
The Biology Department actively and enthusiastically participates in a number of activities and trips. We run a series of annual trips for the pupils throughout the school. The general aim of the trips is to enhance the learning experience within Biology and draw out the links between the three sciences.
Each year the Department lays on fun-filled and academically challenging practical activities for Year 6 pupils from the Preparatory School. The Faculty as a whole is well known for putting on many interesting exhibits and activities for Open Day.
2010 March Science Week
Keith Davenport came as a visiting speaker for our sixth form students. Keith is very experienced in the Biology and economics behind fish stock sustainability, and in particular of exotic fish from Amazonia. He gave a well considered and balanced talk, which was well received by our students.
The following was written by Year 8 student Emily Colligan
On Thursday the 19th of November year 8 had a trip to Bristol zoo. We left the school at 8:00 in the morning by coach with the journey taking about an hour and a half. We were accompanied by Mr Bonnell, Miss Pane, Miss Kirby and Dr Martin. Once we arrived we looked around a number of different habitats such as the bat and lion enclosures and various nocturnal creatures in twilight world.
My favourite area was the sea lions and penguins. The penguin area smelt of fish and one of the sea lions jumped off the rock and into the water and splashed everybody.
Later on we went to the workshops and we got to stroke the animals shown. The guinea pig was so cute it was a brown female. There were a number of items on the floor which we had to group into mammals, fish, reptiles, birds and amphibians.
After lunch we visited bugs world and looked at honey bees, spiders, crabs and insects. I can not believe we even saw the deadly black widow spider living under a toilet seat.
I really enjoyed looking at the aquarium with my favourite tropical fish being the clown fish made famous in finding Nemo. The Giant Gourami were the biggest fish I have ever seen with the scariest being the piranha with its huge teeth. Being able to walk under the water tunnels gave such a clear view of all of the fish.
By Emily Colligan Year 8
Y8 Bristol Zoo November 2009
In November the school took year 8 to Bristol Zoo to support and extend their learning in Key Stage three Biology and Geography. They attended two workshops on Classification and Conservation. During these workshops the pupils had the opportunity to handle a variety of “bio-facts”. These included live animals, pelts, skulls and materials confiscated from airports. The live animals that our brave students were able to handle were the Madagascan hissing cockroach, the Egyptian miniature tortoise, a snake, a stick insect, and a guinea pig. Between the workshops we had the opportunity to tour the zoo. Our pupils found their visit both educational and interesting.
February 2009 Darwin's 200th Birthday
The school celebrates the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth. A series of events were held throughout the school.
Year 8 Trip to Bristol Zoo
Dec 2nd 2008
The Year 8 visit to Bristol Zoo was a huge success. Our pupils concentrated on two aspects of Biology: conservation and classification. Between the two talks given by Bristol Zoo staff, pupils had the opportunity to tour the zoo itself. Highlights within the zoo included the gorillas, seals and penguins, and the ‘Twilight World’. During the talks pupils were able to handle a selection of live animals - if they were sufficiently brave! These animals were the Madagascan hissing cockroach, a miniature tortoise and a brown rat. Our pupils were a credit to the school and everyone found their visit to zoo both educational and interesting.
Year 7 Trip to the Science Museum, South Kensington
Through the 'Supercool Show' pupils are given an opportunity to reinforce their understanding of Key elements of the KS3 Science.
Year 8 Trip to Bristol Zoo Feb 2008. This trip focused around two workshops on conservation and on classification. In addition the pupils had the opportunity to tour the zoo and meet the animals. Conservation and classification are both important topics within the KS3 Biology course. Pupils learnt about the inter-relatedness of living things and in both workshops had the opportunity to handle living zoological specimens themselves, including cockroaches and a snake. In the conservation workshop pupils learnt about the danger of extinction and the value of checking for environmentally conscious products.
Year 10 Trip to the Natural History Museum, South Kensington
Pupils take part in specific workshops to reinforce their knowledge of Earth History and Evolution. They have the opportunity to undertake experimental practical work on fossils in 'EarthLab' and research and revision work on evolution of the Earth’s atmosphere within several of the galleries. Warminster School has a strong relationship with the Natural History Museum and scientists at the museum support our work there. We were the first school to use EarthLab and we have helped in the development of museum school-based resources.
Sixth Form Trips and Visiting Speakers
Occasional outside speakers give lectures in the school. For example in Biology, a Lecturer from Bath University gave a talk on the 'Brain'. The sixth form visit Bournemouth University on the annual A-level study day focussing on issues in Biology.
Open Day
A really successful Open Day! Year 8 biologists studied the effect of caffeine on the heart rate of water fleas. Our students really enjoyed themselves and also learnt about the stimulatory effects of caffeine. One of our advanced level microscopes was linked up to the CCTV video link which allowed us to show a living specimen on a full screen.
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