As part of the wider series of events happening around the UN COP26 Summit in Glasgow, the secondary pupils were at the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre at the Hamilton International Technology Business Park, Blantyre, at the weekend.

The Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi, Secretary of State for Education highlighted what the UK Department for Education was doing through education to promote sustainability and tackle climate change.

And the young delegates also had the opportunity to meet scientists and innovators of green technology to find out more about their industry and how they are addressing climate change.

The scientists also let the pupils know about their own education pathway to their careers and invited the pupils to ask questions and join in the discussion.

Councillor Katy Loudon, the chair of the council’s Education Resources Committee, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for some of our pupils to get a real feel for what scientists are doing to challenge some of the huge issues being discussed during COP26 and beyond.

“They took away a huge amount of information and hopefully some of our budding young scientists will have been inspired to find out more about pursuing a scientific career and go on to help achieve some of the targets being agreed by our world leaders.”

The event was organised by the UK Department of Education in partnership with the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, Education Scotland and the Scottish Government agency for education.

Pupils attending the event along with some of their parents:

• Calderside - Lucy Smith, Emily Cosh
• Hamilton Grammar - Callum Sinclair
• Duncanrig - Ross Cooper
• Calderglen - Tanith Bavaird Cochran
• Cathkin - James Marshall
• Strathaven, Lachlan Donaldson