THE University of York has been awarded a Royal Society grant to help fund a project to stimulate young people’s interest in biology – and inspire the next generation of scientists.

The grant will see youngsters use the university’s world-class facilities to participate in laboratory work, learning about DNA and how genetic engineering is carried out.

Led by scientists in the Department of Biology, they will have the chance to insert a gene into a bacterium and grow it under containment in a glass jar bioreactor - methods which underpin production of many modern day medicines.

The aim is to stimulate interest and engagement in science beyond school studies and inspire young people to continue studying it – perhaps to degree level and beyond.

The project will also give the youngsters an experience of scientific research and help them develop a range of technical skills which they might not otherwise get in the classroom.

Dr Adrian Harrison, said: “This project will allow students to experience what research at a university is like and hopefully be inspired by this to continue with future studies in the sciences.”