STEM Christmas Lecture – Dr. Russell Arnott

Last Thursday, we were delighted to welcome Dr. Russell Arnott, the marine biologist, to deliver the annual Channing Christmas STEM Lecture. He took us on a fascinating journey, exploring the incredible “superpowers” of sea creatures, from tiny plankton to the enormous blue whale. Dr. Arnott spent the entire afternoon meeting with different year groups to talk about his studies, his career path and the ocean environment. 

He started at lunchtime with our Sixth Formers, offering great insights into STEM degree choices and what life is like studying Marine Biology and Oceanography at university. Then, the Junior School had a whale of a time! Years 4 to 6 learned all about these majestic creatures and even tried to make a sound as loud as a sperm whale. While the noise level was pretty deafening they still have a long way to go to reach 240 dB! Dr. Arnott finished his afternoon talks with Year 11, comparing the underwater environment to life in space. They discussed pressure, temperature, and how organisms adapt to these extreme conditions.

Dr. Arnott was interviewed by Lucia Kidel and Lara Grossman for “Chatting with Channing” (the episode will be released in February so keep your eyes peeled for that) before heading back to the Arundel Centre to deliver his main lecture.  We heard about the noisy pistol shrimp, the incredible endurance of the nautilus, and even the beards of whales.  It left everyone in the audience (students, parents, and staff) with a deep appreciation for the unique marine environment, how much of it is still a mystery, and how essential it is to protect it for the future.

We were very pleased that so many people stayed after the lecture to chat further with Dr. Arnott over some lovely mince pies and mulled wine before heading out into the cold night.