Glasgow University researchers are today launching a "buddy" scheme with school biology teachers in a bid to give pupils a seamless transfer from school to higher education.
Glasgow's institute of biomedical and life sciences (IBLS), which houses the largest collection of life scientists in Europe, is forging new links with more than 50 schools in the West of Scotland.
Principal teachers of biology will team up in one-to-one partnerships with academics, meeting socially several times during the year to discuss their work.
Organiser Paul Skett of IBLS said the school response had been "phenomenal". Glasgow had contacted 120 schools and so far 54 principal teachers had signed up for the scheme.