Cronton Physics Students Highly Commended in IRIS Outstanding Research Project Awards 2026
Talented Cronton Sixth Form College Physics students and former Wade Deacon High School and Great Sankey High School pupils, Gian HO and Galen Chan, have been highly commended in the Institute for Research in Schools (IRIS) Outstanding Research Project Awards 2026 for their research project, Comparative Analysis on the Chemical and Physical Properties of Spiral and Elliptical Galaxies.
The project was completed as part of the Cosmic Mining Project, giving students the opportunity to work with real scientific data and explore complex concepts in astrophysics.
This achievement is particularly significant as it marks the first student-led research project undertaken at Cronton Sixth Form College. The students went far beyond the project’s original requirements, conducting additional research, using advanced data analysis techniques, and drawing on a wide range of scientific sources to strengthen their findings.
The judges were especially impressed by the depth of the investigation, the quality of the analysis, and the students’ commitment to producing a thorough and well-evidenced piece of research.
Being highly commended in a national research competition is an outstanding accomplishment and highlights the dedication, and academic talent of our students.
Their success showcases the exciting opportunities available through Physics at Cronton and reflects the high standards of achievement across the college.
Reflecting on the experience, Cronton Sixth Form Physics student Gian HO said:”I personally found the competition very enjoyable. Not only was I able to dive into the field I am deeply fascinated by, it was also a unique opportunity to gain practical insights into the technical aspects and real-life research in astrophysics. James Wynne, our supervisor, guided us through the stages of our project and played an important role in perfecting the presentation of our results.”
Fellow Cronton Sixth Form Physics student Galen Chan added: “Overall, I really enjoyed doing the project. Participating in data analysis from the space telescope is a unique and interesting experience, which I find very exciting. Our supervisor, James, helped us a lot during the project, especially in solving some of the technical issues that we encountered.”
