We have been awarded a Places of Science Award from the Royal Society to run the Alan Joyce Young Environmentalist Competition. We will be working with High Life Highland’s Countryside Rangers and an artist to encourage and support children from P4-P7 in north west Sutherland to explore the natural world around them.
Alan Joyce
We launched the competition in memory of former biology teacher Alan Joyce who taught at Golspie and Farr High Schools between 1961 and 1988. In 1969 he supervised a winning team of pupils from Golspie High School to the finals of the BBC Young Scientist of the Year competition.
Alan’s knowledge was recognised by all and with expertise in Freshwater biology he devised some interesting projects for his pupils. Alan’s engaging approach to learning can be seen as the forerunner for today’s Curriculum for Excellence, that is, learning through experience.
Even in retirement Alan continued to share his expertise of the local natural environment with visits to schools from Achfary to Farr inspiring a new generation of youngsters. He continued to engage youngsters in their studies, in a very practical manner, until shortly before his death at his home in Melness, in 2007.
Previous winners
2019 Overall Winner: Durness Primary School; Individual Prize: Annabelle Thompson Hunter
2015 Anna Magee, Tongue Primary School
2011 William Saywell, Stoer Primary School
