Scientist Dame Mary Archer shares her story with East London Science School pupils

Aspiring scientists were given the chance to grill Dame Mary Archer about her life and work during a visit to the East London Science School.

Dame Mary - chair of the board of trustees at the Science Museum - spoke to youngsters about her education at Oxford University and Imperial College London, and how she went on to pursue a successful career as a scientist, researcher and university lecturer.

As the wife of disgraced former politician Jeffrey Archer, she has long been a high profile figure.

Pupils were also able to ask her questions, including about her area of scientific expertise - energy and solar power conersion.

Year 9 pupil Beatrice Bantye said: “I was really interested to listen to Dame Mary and learn how she worked so hard to become a scientist.”

Fellow pupil Bradley Stafford added: “It’s great that we get to meet and hear from so many well known, imporant scientists.”