Pupils simulate disaster relief exercise

Year 9 Gifted and Talented Geographers Conference at Plymouth University
22 November 2011

Nine members of the Lower Fifth were selected to join other Gifted and Talented Year 9 pupils from Devon at a conference at Plymouth University.

The main focus of the day involved the pupils taking part in a disaster relief exercise based on Mt Merapi, an Indonesian volcano which last erupted a year ago.

The pupils were lucky enough to work with geologists from the School of Earth Science who have recently returned from monitoring the volcano and drawing up emergency plans. The day took the form of a realistic role play exercise: students reacted to events on Merapi whilst in role as a crisis management team based at one of the observatories in the vicinity of the volcano. There was clear tension in the air as pupils responded to a number of news flashes, created a hazard map and made decisions which could determine the death toll from this deadly volcano.

By the end of the day, the pupils had gained an insight into the process of crisis decision making, had created a hazard map and had a clear idea of the key events in Merapi’s 2010 eruption.

The pupils had to work in mixed teams comprising students from other schools. Although some initially found working with new people a little intimidating, they all felt by the end of the day that they had made new friends and enjoyed the experience.