AS Level biology students participating in this competition were asked to create a poster by imagining they were the Marketing Manager for the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology (CCRCB) at Queen’s University Belfast. Daryl’s winning poster, which shows a young child looking up into a microscope, with the wording ‘only research funded by our generation can save hers’ was described by the judges as being of very high quality, emotive and creative.
Entrants were asked to focus on one area of cancer research currently taking place in Belfast, calling on their chosen target audience to donate money to the centre. They had to explain why it was essential that more money be invested in this area of research – and the benefits it could bring to patients. Students who entered the competition were also invited to attend a day at the Centre, where they gained practical experience in the labs, learning techniques used in cancer research relevant to the A Level Biology specification, such as DNA extraction.
They were also given an opportunity to take part in a career speed dating session with researchers involved in different types of cancer research. Professor David Waugh, Director of the Belfast Cancer Research UK Centre, announced Daryl was the winner and presented her with a prize of a Nikon digital camera. Daryl was accompanied to the presentation by her sister Logan and her proud mum Jane.
Speaking to the Spectator Jane said, “It was a total shock, but I am so proud of Daryl. She put so much work into this, as it is something she is very passionate about.”