About Discovery Magazine

We are A Level Biologists at Cheltenham College who came together to write a Biology magazine about topics that we found of particular interest and that we think are prominent issues in our world today.

The name of this magazine, Discovery, comes from the name of one of the expeditions E. A. Wilson took to Antarctica with Scott and Shackleton. Dr Edward Adrian Wilson (1872-1912) was an Old Cheltonian, and he was the junior surgeon, zoologist and expedition artist on the expedition. We think that this makes excellent links with the content of this magazine as well as with us personally, as he walked the same corridors we do.

About us

I’m Emily Ng and currently taking Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Psychology at A Level. I aspire to study Medicine at university with the hope of becoming a doctor and researcher to improve the well-being of vulnerable patients. As I was intrigued by the idea of life and death, I utilised this opportunity to explore about medical advancements that may possibly prolong our lives and their implications in today’s world.

I’m Ella Carnegie-Brown. I was first introduced to extremophiles when I attended a lecture at Warwick University by an astrobiologist. I was immediately hooked on this fascinating survive in a such hostile conditions fascinating. Looking into the future of astrobiology was also intriguing, all of this guided me to write this article. I would like to study something in the field of Biology after leaving College.

This year’s edition includes an article by Luciana Jaramillo-Ruiz, the winner of the inaugural Cheltenham Muscat Biology article contest. With thanks to our colleagues in Oman, Miss Clare Blain and Mr Daniel Moss, for guiding the pupils in that competition. Once again this edition boasts some magnificent student biological drawings.

With thanks to Mr Thomas, for his guidance and support in producing this magazine. With thanks also to Luke Richardson for his photograph “Paeonia lactiflora open for lunch” which is used on the contents page.

I’m Kimmy Kwok. My A Levels are Biology, Chemistry, and Maths. I am hoping to study Medicine at university, specifically Cardiology. I chose CRISPR as my topic because I find it fascinating how humans have found a way to alter DNA using technology. It has given me the opportunity to research into the ethics and experiments that have been done. It has always been an interest of mine and I truly believe it is the future of medicine and science.

I’m Eleanor Langley and I am currently studying Biology, Maths and Psychology at A Level. When I leave College I hope to study Cognitive Neuroscience at university. I thought of my topic choice after attending a biology lecture at Warwick University. Here John James spoke to us about using our immune system as a personalised cancer cure. This piqued my interest and caused me to want to look into the topic further.

I’m Jude Richardson and I’m studying Biology, Psychology and French. I am fascinated by the natural environment and our human relationship with it. This essay gave me the chance to develop my knowledge; to explore the biochemical interactions between animals and plants for medicinal purposes. I was amazed to discover just how intrinsic plants have always been to treating ailments and how understanding them better can potentially provide treatments for even complex conditions like cancer.

I’m PB Tanawattanakul and I am a Lower Sixth student studying Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Art at A Level. I find Biology intriguing, and I decided to do further research into finding whether there is potential for life in outer space. Investigating this topic has expanded my knowledge outside the school curriculum and it has fascinated me to learn more about biochemistry and ways to sustain life. After I leave College, I hope to study Medicine at university.