Earth and Environmental Science Workshops

This engaging, curriculum-linked workshop invites students to uncover the hidden physics and climate importance of clouds. Blending atmospheric science with cultural perspectives, the session introduces how different types of clouds form, why supercooled water can exist far below 0°C, and how tiny ice-nucleating particles shape cloud behaviour, weather, and climate. 

The workshop emphasises active learning through paired challenges, group problem-solving, and live interactive demonstrations. Students explore real-world issues such as cloud-climate feedbacks and the ethics of climate intervention, building skills in critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, and scientific communication. 

This workshop illuminates key topics in weather, climate, and atmospheric processes, offering a fresh way to deepen students’ understanding of a complex and highly relevant area of environmental science. 

Suitable for KS5 students
Subject requirements: Students need to study two subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Further Mathematics, Geography, Geology, Marine Science; Mathematics, Physics, Statistics.
Duration 60 minutes

2 billion people worldwide are dependent on mountain glaciers. Glaciers in high mountain regions are often called “Mountain Water Towers”, as they supply around 60% of global freshwater. This freshwater supports ecosystem services that are crucial to human life, such as safe drinking water and sanitation, irrigation for agriculture, hydropower, and tourism, whilst the landscape holds important cultural and spiritual significance for mountain communities. 

Climate change is rapidly increasing the rate of glacial retreat, causing irreparable changes to the landscape and water resource. The importance of glaciers has raised such concern that 2025 was declared the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation by the United Nations. 

In this workshop, students will engage with real-life, innovative, contemporary climate challenges, as a taster of glaciological research in higher education.  

The key question: how do different communities engage with their local Mountain Water Tower, and what challenges do they face due to climate change?

Subject requirements: KS5 students need to study two subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Further Mathematics, Geography, Geology, Marine Science; Mathematics, Physics, Statistics.
Duration 60 minutes

Step into the role of an Earth Detective! This interactive workshop brings geology to life through hands-on activities and a real-world twist. Students will explore how rocks and soils form, what makes them unique, and how minerals and textures reveal the story of our planet.  

Using high-quality images, they will classify rocks and link them to the soils they produce. They will also interpret geological maps—building skills in observation and critical thinking. To make learning exciting, we’ll add a forensic twist: can they use rock and soil clues to solve a mystery and pinpoint a suspect’s location? This session benefits teachers by enriching Earth Science topics with practical, inquiry-based activities that promote observation, teamwork, and problem-solving.  

It’s a dynamic way to connect classroom theory to real-world applications in geology, environmental science, archaeology, and forensics—while sparking curiosity and engagement in your students. 

Suitable for KS5 students
Duration 60 minutes

Learn the techniques of earthquake location using real data from a seismic monitoring network in Turkey deployed as part of a research project led by the University of Leeds. We will use P and S-waves and you will pick the arrival times at the seismograms. From the difference in travel times of these waves you can obtain the source location of the earthquake.

We bring all the materials – you just need to provide pencils, rulers, and pairs of compasses.

Subject requirements: KS5 pupils need to study Physics or Geology
Duration: 60-90 minutes

This presentation gives an overview how active volcanoes are monitored with modern geophysical methods, and how volcanologists interpret the data in terms of volcanic processes. You will see several examples from Soufrière Hills Volcano in Montserrat, West Indies, and even listen to volcanic tremors.

You will learn how researchers at the University of Leeds use these results to inform the Government about the state of volcanic activity and how they are able to warn the people of Montserrat about imminent eruptive activity.

Subject requirements: KS5 pupils need to study two subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Further Mathematics, Geography, Geology, Marine Science; Mathematics, Physics, Statistics.

Duration: 40 minutes

This presentation shows you what it’s like to be a volcanologist working in the field, exploring what happens when a volcano erupts near where people live.

You will see examples from the 2018 Kīlauea eruption in Hawai'i that destroyed 600+ houses, and from Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua where an active lava lake has been releasing poisonous gas for hundreds of years. You will learn about some of the tools which Earth scientists use to measure volcanic gas, and how we can use drones to get a better idea of how a volcano is erupting.

Duration: 30 minutes

This presentation explains how magnetic fields play a crucial role in protecting planet Earth and everyone living on it.  You will learn about the different magnetic fields in our solar system and why they are different. To do so we will embark on a journey from space to the deepest and most remote regions of the planets.

Duration: 40 minutes

This presentation explores how geophysical methods can be used to map the tunnels of burrowing animals, without ever disturbing their habitats. You will learn about how radar instruments can X-ray the ground, and shed some light on the subterranean worlds of moles and meerkats.

Subject requirements: KS5 pupils need to study two subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Further Mathematics, Geography, Geology, Marine Science; Mathematics, Physics, Statistics.

Duration: 60-90 minutes

These programmes are ideal for KS3-5 students with an interest in Earth and Environment Sciences.

When selecting students to take part, we strongly encourage teachers to prioritise those who would benefit the most from this opportunity, such as students in receipt of Free School Meals, and those who are underrepresented in these subjects and at university.

Please note that we can only deliver live in person workshops to schools which are within 1hr of the university by public transport.

Workshops will take place in your school or college, and will be delivered by current postgraduate students and academics.

We can only deliver workshops to a minimum of 12 students.