Former Highams Park teacher Dr Sousa-Silva discovers possible life on Venus 21 Sept 2020

Former Highams Park physics teacher, Dr Sousa-Silva was co-author on a study that suggests there may be alien life on Venus. The evidence of potential life the team found is the presence of phosphine gas in the atmosphere of the previously considered "hellish" planet.

Dr Sousa-Silva taught at Highams Park from 2015-16, as part of the Researchers in Schools program, following her PhD at UCL. As well as inspiring students throughout the school with her in depth knowledge of astrophysics, Dr Sousa-Silva set up ORBYTS.

Dr Sousa-Silva with Highams Park ORBYTS students at their graduation in 2016

This program allows 6th Form students to work with academics at UCL on cutting edge exoplanet research. Despite Dr Sousa-Silva being headhunted by MIT, the program continued and for 5 years running now, Highams Park students have continued to produce original research alongside their UCL mentors. In what is likely to be a first for any school, so far 22 Highams Park students have been named as co-authors on peer assessed papers published in scientific journals.

Whilst covid-19 brought a halt to the in-person meetings in March 2020, we are working with UCL to ensure the program continues online this year. So Dr Sousa-Silva's legacy very much lives on at Highams Park and we were delighted to hear of her role in this incredible discovery.

For more detail on the discovery, Highams Park students, parents and staff can view this article from The Day. Or see this Independent article.

Mr Barker