Here are Rosie, Emily and Chloe with their stand. The laminar flow cabinet allows them to demonstrate their laboratory work isolating mycorrhizae from common spotted orchid, using it to germinate orchid seed and testing it for cryogenic storage in liquid nitrogen.

Well done to all the student teams for surviving a day of intense judging and great public interest. Now time to sit down, eat and relax in preparation for day two tomorrow, Ps photos of Chloe, Emily and Rosie tomorrow

This year we have three teams in the National Science and Engineering Competition at the NEC. Well done for getting this far and good luck for the next two days to Maisha, Georgia, Jacob, Tom, Chloe. Emily. Rosie and James.