Whitechapel school in running for �15,000 science prize

A Whitechapel school could win �15,000 in a national science contest if it can impress judges with its new hydroponic greenhouse.

Mulberry School for Girls in Commercial Road, has been shortlisted as a finalist, along with eight other UK schools, for the Rolls-Royce Science Prize and has already been awarded �6000 to build a greenhouse powered by renewable energy.

The greenhouse will allow pupils to conduct experiments into maximising the growth of plants and sustainability issues.

The school, which was shortlisted from over 1,500 schools and colleges who entered the competition, has until October 2011 to set up its science project and then prove to judges that it is more deserving of further funding than the other finalists.

They include a Camden school planning to build radio-controlled cars and a Hereford school building their own play hut.

The runner-up will also be awarded a further �10,000.

The Rolls-Royce Science Prize is now in its seventh year and the company awards �120,000 to schools each year.