The Eden Project is hosting the launch of a new scientific initiative giving students the chance to be part of the ExoMars Mission while investigating the impact of atmospheric changes here on Earth.

Amazing Atmospheres, led by the Institute for Research in School (IRIS), will see sixth-form students evaluating the  atmospheric gas content of sites across the UK using mobile multi-gas analysers.

Some of the sensors will be placed at IRIS-registered schools and colleges with others at sites including Eden’s Rainforest Biome where the project will be launched on March 29.

Data on seasonal changes in composition and temperature will be collated with the aim of understanding the changing molecular make-up of our local environment. The composition of the atmosphere has implications for climate change, air quality and public health.

Thanks to the backing of the UK Space Agency, students will also be able to compare the Earth atmospheric data with that collected on the current ExoMars mission which is searching for traces of gases that might have supported life on Mars.