National Science and Engineering Week (NSEW) is a ten day programme of science, engineering and technology events
and activities across the UK aimed at people of all ages.
This year the theme is "Earth", and people all over the country are gearing themselves up for ten days packed full of talks, hands-on activities,
shows and workshops. There are plenty of things to get involved with.
Kick back, relax and read a good book. Oxford University Press is offering
30% off their latest popular science books
this Spring.
For more details visit the British Science Association website at
www.britishscienceassociation.org
Introducing Engineering
Introducing Engineering is a five-day residential course Monday 21st June to Friday 25th June
giving S5 girls an opportunity to find out about engineering.
From advances in healthcare to renewable technologies, engineers are in demand and are at the forefront of
solving some of society's major issues.
The course at the University of Strathclyde is not only an opportunity to find out about a wide range of
engineering disciplines, but also a chance to experience University life, living in Halls of Residence and
working in student labs.
The Faculty of Engineering at Strathclyde is the largest in Scotland with an excellent reputation for teaching
and research. There is a full range of engineering degree courses on offer and participants will have many
opportunities to visit departments and meet teaching staff and students.
As well as spending time at the University there are industrial visits off campus. A project runs throughout the
week with an exciting finale on the last day. The project gives everyone a chance to get to know each other,
develop creative skills and have fun!
For more information vist the website at
www.strath.ac.uk/introducingengineering
The Big Bang Scotland
TechFest - SetPoint
7th June 2010 at University of Abertay, Dundee.
Would you like to be part of the first Scottish Big Bang Fair?
Have you completed a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics project you are proud of?
Would you like to be inspired by the amazing projects, activity providers, workshops and shows on offer?
The Big Bang incorporates CREST Awards and Young Engineers for Britain regional competitions, and the students
aged 11-18 from all over Scotland (in teams or individually) can present their STEM projects to compete for prizes,
including a place at The Big Bang in the National Science and Engineering Competition in 2011.
Other projects, such as those carried out in STEM Clubs, may also be eligible to enter, and Clubs are invited to
showcase their works.
As well as the competitions, there will be lots going on for students and teachers too!
More information is avaliable at
www.techfestsetpoint.org.uk
Please register your projects or your interest in taking part by the 31st March 2010
at
www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/scotland
or contact Jennifer Young by email: j.young@abertay.ac.uk
or by phoning 01382 308 571
STEM Challenge
Do you have a team of pupils that can help design an adidas glove for canoeing,
sailing or rowing? If so, they could be in with the chance of spending the day with an Olympian!
In this challenge, adidas is challenging students to design a new glove for use by
athletes in the above sports at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Students will investigate and test
suitable materials for a glove and the winning
glove design could even be prototyped by adidas.
This challenge provides an opportunity for any S3 student to be a part of London
2012. The challenge should amount to no more than eight hours of work, from which
students create a ten minute presentation.
The challenge is now under way and runs until Sunday 25 April 2010
Team names must be registered by Monday 22 March 2010
For more information visit the website at
www.stemchallenges.net
Computing Science For Fun
The fun side of computer science! Explore how computer science is also about people, solving puzzles, creativity,
changing the future and, most of all, having fun.
Use "Last One In" to find what's new. Browse the website or wander aimlessly in the maze. Links from the
magazine try "Magazine+" Thinking of doing CS, but not sure what it's all about? No problem - try the interactive
guide.
Searching for answers or more to do. Why not build your own Noughts
and Crosses Artificial Intelligence or discover the computer science behind our magic show?
Visit the website at
www.cs4fn.org
ESRC Festival of Social Science
Schools Competition
Interpreting Sustainable Communities
A journey from "sustainable development" towards "sustainable communities"
Building on work across the UK, the University of Strathclyde offer this
challenge for schools to expand young people's thinking about sustainability
at Glasgow Science Centre's Eco Days.
At Workshops on 12 March, pupils will explore:
Connections between housing, services, economy & environment
How can communities balance the needs of people and planet?
The Competition
Submit a VISION OF SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY that challenges
policymakers and professionals to deliver communities where young
people want to live.
Interpreting Sustainable Communities Workshops will capture pupil's ideas
and generate poster entries for the competition. If you cannot participate in
the Eco Day Workshops, classes from P6 to S3 are invited to enter by
sending in their own vision of sustainable community.
For more information visit
http://gs.strath.ac.uk/suscoms
Book Workshop places at Glasgow Science Centre
Further information, contact
sue.sadler@strath.ac.uk
I'm a Scientist, Get me out of Here!
I'm a Scientist, Get me out of Here! is an award-winning event, funded by the
Wellcome Trust, which gets students talking to real scientists, online.
It's been thoroughly tested in a wide range of schools and includes lesson plans,
information sheets and other resources that support and deepen students learning.
FREE to schools!
Next event:15th - 20th March 2010
Following event is 14th - 25th June 2010
Target Audience: Year 9s to post-16
For more information and to sign up visit the website at
imascientist.org.uk/for-teachers
Glasgow Book Festival
13 March 2010 - 15.30-16.30pm
Paul Davies
Cost £7/ £6
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) , an amalgam of
science, technology, adventure and curiosity, has detected only the eerie
sound of silence after millions of hours of cosmos eavesdropping.
In his new book, The Eerie Silence: Are We Alone
in the Universe?, Paul Davies, Director of BEYOND: Centre for Fundamental
Concepts in Science, asks: Is ET out there, but not sending any messages
our way? Is SETI a waste of time and money, or should we be developing a
new approach to the search, using new tools and looking for a wider range
of "intelligent" signals? And if signals were received how would we - or
should we - respond?
8 March 2010 - 18.00 -19.00pm
Rebecca Goldstein and Steven Pinker
Cost £7/ £6
Award-winning novelist and philosopher Rebecca Goldstein's new novel, 36
Arguments for the Existence of God plunges into the great debate of our
day: the clash between faith and reason.
World events are being shaped by
fervent believers, while a new atheism is asserting itself in the public
sphere. On intellectual grounds, the sceptics have everything on their
side. Yet people continue to embrace faith in God as their source of
meaning, purpose and comfort. Goldstein is in discussion with Steven
Pinker - experimental psychologist, author of The Language Instinct, The
Blank Slate and The Stuff of Thought.
To book either event please phone 0844 847 1683 or
follow this link.
Tickets can also be purchased direct from The Mitchell Library.
The festival website is
www.ayewrite.com
Dr James Bendle
Antartic Expedition
January - March 2010
Excellent CfE opportunity
Dr James Bendle, a Glasgow University Climate Change Scientist is on an Antarctic Expedition until March 2010. You can follow the
amazing expedition through his
blog.
There will be free curriculum-based materials. If any of your pupils have questions about the science or you would
like to access the free materials please register your school by
e-mailing
Glasgow University Science Festival.
There will be opportunities to talk directly to Dr Bendle and free events for pupils at the
Glasgow University Science Festival
in June 2010.
View the
official trailer
for the expedition.
The Royal Meteorological Society
The Royal Meteorological Society is the Learned and Professional Society for
anyone whose profession or interests are connected with weather. MetLink is
the flagship dedicated educational website of the Society to be launched in
early March 2010, with weather and climate resources aimed at primary and
secondary school teachers, students, teenagers, children and the general
public.
On the site you will find a whole range of materials including informative
powerpoint presentations looking at cloud types, weather hazards and
phobias, lesson plans for all key stages, an indicative guide of where
meteorology can link with the curriculum for different key stages, how you
can book a Meteorology Ambassador to come to your school, information
regarding meteorology careers, courses, qualifications and employers,
colouring sheets, puzzles, topical weather articles and more! A whole host
of over 150 meteorology education and careers related links can also be
found on the site.
Visit the website at
www.metlink.org
Healthcare Science Schools' Competition
The competition "Diagnose it in
the NHS!" will be running again during National Science and Engineering Week - March 12th-21st 2010.
This year will be even bigger!
Aimed at S2/S3 pupils the competition encourages students to think about the 51 career opportunities for scientists
in the NHS and help them to develop job seeking skills and make informed decisions about important GCSE or Diploma
choices.
Simple competition
Students are challenged to select one of the 51 SCIENCE careers available with the NHS and working individually or
in teams of up to four create a job description, a job advertisment and a CV of the perfect candidate or a short
film interviewing their Healthcare Science STEM Ambassador about their amazing role in the NHS.
Great prizes
4 laptops to winning school!
2 laptops for runner up school!
Competition closes March 31st 2010
To register email: diagnoseit@dh.gsi.gov.uk
The attached pdf leaflet. provides additional information.
National Science and Engineering Week
Engaging wih a Scientist
Thursday 18th March 2010 - 7pm - 8.30pm
Rutherford McGowan Building Crichton Campus, Dumfries
Title: "Stem cells- the hope and the hype"
This talk will highlight new developments around the emerging field of stem cells with an opportunity to have
an ethical and moral debate on the implications of these developments. No prior knowledge or understanding of
stem cells is expected as the science underlying the subject will be presented in layman's terms.
Friday 19th March 2010 - 2pm - 3.30pm
Kirkcudbridght Town Hall, Kircudbridght
Title: "In-vitro Fertilisation: some moral dilemmas"
The process of IVF resulted in 1978 in the birth of Louis Brown. Since then the technique has expanded beyond that
of just a means to have a child. Issues such as inter-generational gamete donation, saviour siblings, and for the
need of supportive parenting rather than for a father are hotly debated. This event is an opportunity to consider
the ethical implications of some of the issues surrounding IVF.
Scientist: Dr Mair Crouch, geneticist and academic lawyer.
Chair: Carolyn Yates, Immediate Past Chair ASE.
Please come along to enjoy the opportunity to meet a scientist and to discuss two topical issues.
Free Entry. No registration required.
The events have been funded by the generosity of a grant from the Scottish Government and the British Science
Association.
I Investigate
The Big Experiment
A competition for students studying Science
It's a really simple concept. Tell the SQA about a scientific experiment you have developed
with your teacher or lecturer. What made it special and innovative? What did you get
out of it? It can be related to any science discipline: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or related subjects.
The experiment can be based on formally assessed work, but it doesn't have to be. Your submission should be in the form of
a science research report - one that includes pictures and film-clips.
The Big Experiment competition is open to all secondary schools and colleges in Scotland that offer SQA qualifications.
Full competition rules and an application form are on the website at
www.sqa.org.uk/stem
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 30 June 2010.
Finalists will be invited to an awards ceremony to receive public
acknowledgement of their work. The winner will receive a superb prize for
themselves and for their school or college.
This is a great opportunity to work with SQA to showcase imagination and innovation in science in your school or
college.
For more information phone 0845 279 1000 or email
customer@sqa.org.uk
Bosch Technology Horizons Award -
essay competition to inspire young people
Supported by The Royal Academy of Engineering, the Bosch Technology Horizons Award is an easy-to-enter essay
writing competition open to all young people aged 14 to 24. Now in its fifth year, the competition aims to
raise the profile of engineering and technology among young people.
Entrants are asked to write a short essay in answer to a question that encourages them to explore a wide range
of engineering and technology topics. This year's question is: "Are engineering and technology essential for
future development?". By selecting an area they are passionate about, entrants get to test their writing skills
and provide their opinion on the impact engineering and technology has on their chosen subject.
Prizes
The competition has two age categories: 14 to 18 and 19 to 24 year olds. The first place winner of the younger
age group will receive £700 and second place receives £350. There are will also be five "highly commended"
finalists who will be awarded £150 each. For the second age group of 19 to 24 year olds, the winning essay will
win a top prize of £1000; with second prize of £500 and the five highly commended finalists will each
receive £250.
The deadline to enter the Bosch Technology Horizons Award is the 22nd March, 2010 and all the finalists will
be invited to attend a presentation day in July 2010 at the Royal Academy of Engineering in London, where they can
meet leaders in the world of science and technology.
Full information on the competition along with resources for teachers and advice on how to structure a winning
essay can be found at:
www.bosch.co.uk/technologyhorizons
Science Connects
Autumn 2009
News Bulletin
The latest News Bulletin
from Science Connects
is now available.
To receive a copy please email
a.kerr@physics.gla.ac.uk
STEM Directories
The STEM Directories aim to provide enough information for teachers to pinpoint quickly which activities and events
provided by organisations across the UK will enhance and enrich their school curriculum. The Directories are delivered
in three distinct volumes: Science, Engineering and Technology, and Maths.
You can download the STEM Directories by going to the STEM Directory website.
www.stemdirectories.org.uk
View an online copy of the directories with particular relevance to Scotland.
The Learning Grid
The Learning Grid Guide brings together a wide range of events, competitions, short courses and awards for young
people from primary school to university.
These activities are all related to science, technology, engineering and maths
(STEM) subjects.
You can request a copy of the publication by sending an email to
a.kerr@physics.gla.ac.uk
View an online copy of the directory with particular relevance to Scotland.
Do something creative
Do science
Ever considered a career in science? The options open to you may be surprising and more exciting than you think
Science has a reputation for being all about boffins in white coats. To most of us that's pretty dull, right?
It's easy to forget that science is everywhere - think about the stuff in your everyday life. If it hasn't at least
been touched by science, it has come about as a direct result of it. Just about everything, from the computer that
you're using right now, to the stuff you put on your hair - everything involves science somehow.
For more information visit the website at
www.infoscotland.com/science
West Point Bridge Design Competition
Could you be a bridge designer of the future?
The Institution of Civil Engineers invites you to take up this challenge.
The Challenge
A new bridge is required to cross the River Forth- Could you design it?
As the designing Civil Engineer of the project you will use a bridge design
software package to design the most cost effective bridge to get across the
river.
This competition is open to all schools in Scotland, and each school can field as many
teams of two from S1 to S3 as they like.
Prizes
Prizes will be awarded to the winners of the team who design the cheapest bridge which
satisfactorily carries the design loads.
1st- £150 of Amazon vouchers for each team member
2nd- £100 of Amazon vouchers for each team member
3rd- £80 of Amazon vouchers for each team member
And £30 Amazon vouchers for each member of the next 6 teams!!
The competition will open on 1st February 2010 and
run until 23rd April 2010.
View a pdf with details.
For more information contact:
John McPartlin - Education & Careers Co-ordinator
Institution of Civil Engineers-Scotland
c/o Scottish Engineering
105 West George Street, Glasgow. G2 1QL
Email: John.McPartlin@ice.org.uk
Young Engineers & Science Clubs
The purpose of the Clubs is to engage young people in practical hands-on science and engineering activities and
to enthuse them to pursue a career in science, engineering and technology.
To find out details of what the Clubs are all about and what they can do for you - whether you're a young person
thinking about a career in science, engineering and technology, or a teacher looking for resources to promote science
engineering and technology.
Visit the website at
www.yecscotland.co.uk
Glasgow Science Centre
Glasgow Science Centre is one of Scotland's must-see visitor attractions - presenting concepts of science and
technology in unique and inspiring ways. The website includes information on courses for teachers and
special subject-specific events for schools.
New Exhibition- Inside DNA
Inside DNA: A Genomic Revolution, is a unique exhibition encouraging you
to explore developments in the fast-moving field of human genomics.
Inside DNA was developed by At-Bristol on behalf of Ecsite-uk, with
funding from the Wellcome Trust and support from the Sanger Institute.
Details on the following programmes..........
Education Programme 2009-10
Careers Week
3rd-5th, 10th-11th February
Science Shows
Workshops
Mini Activities
Imax 3D Films
Planetarium Shows
..........can be found on a seperate
Glasgow Science Centre Page.
For information on the above and to contact Glasgow Science Centre Visit their website at
www.glasgowsciencecentre.org
BodyWorks on Tour - Glasgow Science Centre
BodyWorks on Tour is a new outreach programme about our amazing bodies.
These engaging science shows, interactive workshops and amazing exhibits are the perfect
complement to the Curriculum for Excellence science and health & wellbeing outcomes.
There is an experience available for all ages.
For full details see
attached pdf file
Lab in a Lorry - in Scotland
register your interest now
Do your students have enquiring minds? Are you keen for them to get more experience with hands-on experiments?
Would they benefit from interacting with practising scientists? Then you need Lab in a Lorry.
What is Lab in a Lorry?
Lab in a Lorry is an interactive mobile science laboratory which gives young people (11-14 year olds) the
opportunity to explore science through open ended experiments. Guided by volunteers who are practising scientists
and engineers from industry and academia, the students relish the opportunity to work with "real" scientists.
And it's not just the students who benefit. Volunteers gain communication skills and a real sense of achievement
from sharing their knowledge with the students.
The Lab is fitted with three distinct lab areas where groups of up to six young people can take part in each of the
fun and informative experiments. With at least one volunteer to every six students, everyone gets to try their hand
at experimental science and think about the surprises and questions that arise. We fit in with your school timetable
accommodating 18 students per period and can visit your school for as many days as you like. Best of all, the Lab
is free to host at your school.
What does Lab in a Lorry need?
We are currently putting together tours for 2009/10 academic year and would like to hear from any schools that are
interested in hosting the Lab. For a Lab in a Lorry visit we need:
somewhere to park (a large flat surface with access to power)
groups of young people (11-14 year olds [KS3] to inspire and engage)
volunteers (at least three to lead the experiments)
lunch for the volunteers and staff (usually 4 people)
We invite physicists and engineers to staff Lab in a Lorry, but you can recruit friends, parents, and colleagues to
volunteer. By recruiting scientists from your local area, you improve the probability that Lab in a Lorry will visit
your community. If you cannot recruit any scientists from your area, then we will try to organise a team for you.
We try to accommodate all requests we receive, but we have to take into account numbers and availability of
volunteers, as well as time and the distance to travel.
More information?
If this sounds like something that your school would benefit from, please get in touch now.
To find out more about the programme and what's involved in hosting Lab in a Lorry or to register your interest see
www.labinalorry.org.uk
Alternatively you can contact James Bamford ::
by email or phone: 07920 118 673
Computing Science Inside
An online resource to bring Computing Science alive in the classroom.
A series of workshops is available that focus
on the ideas in modern technology and demonstrate to students how these applications and devices work using
fundamental Computing Science Techniques.
As well as running the workshops themselves in the classroom, teachers can request a visit from the CS Inside team.
For more information visit
http://csi.dcs.gla.ac.uk
Think Darwin, Think Evolution, Think Now
Think Darwin, Think Evolution, Think Now has been produced by SIBE
(Scottish Initiative for Biotechnology Education) at The University of
Edinburgh to celebrate the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin.
The 96 page booklet has been designed for Scottish Higher and Advanced
Higher students of biology. The booklet links in with attainment targets
on the Higher and Advanced Higher syllabuses and these links are shown in
the teaching notes.
The booklet is to provide support in the teaching of
evolutionary theory and its many connections throughout the field of biology.
To view an
online copy of publication
Hard copies of the publication can be obtained by contacting
K.Pullen
Survival Rivals
Experiments for schools inspired by Darwin
Hands-on experiments, inspired by Darwin and free of charge to UK state secondary schools. Plus free online
resources for all schools.
There are three kits in the series:
I'm a Worm, Get Me Out of Here (exploring natural selection)
Brine Date (looking at sexual selection)
The X-Bacteria (investigating antibiotic resistance in bacteria)
Each kit contains everything teachers and students need to carry out the experiments in school. All the experiments
are designed to help young people see for themselves how Darwin's ideas link to modern evolutionary principles and
contemporary biomedicine.
Enter Survival Rivals The Competition
Win a free trip to the Galapagos Islands
For further details visit the website at
www.survivalrivals.org
Clyde Waterfront Education
A river of learning, a stream of ideas
This is a valuable new educational resource to support teachers in the Clyde Waterfront area and to connect local
young people with all the exciting developments happening along the river.
Clyde related lesson plans
200 new lesson plans have been added to the site to provide a rich source of local material. The site is ideal for
teachers looking for material to use with pupils from Primary 6 to Secondary 3.
For further details please visit the website at
www.clydewaterfronteducation.com
SNAP
The Scottish Network for Able Pupils (SNAP) runs courses and workshops for teachers and able pupils.
SNAP is working across the UK with schools and education authorities. They also run workshops for young people and provide advice for parents.
For further information go to
www.ablepupils.com
Earthwatch Educator Expeditions
Funded environmental research expeditions with Earthwatch for
secondary school teachers.
This is a fully funded CPD opportunity for teachers of Science, Geography and
Citizenship to join a conservation research expedition and to use this
experience to integrate environmental themes into their teaching.
Participants are also able to apply for a grant from Earthwatch to 'kick
start' an environmental initiative in their school or community.
For more information visit
www.earthwatch.org
MadLab
MadLab is a unique, hands-on electronics workshop for children and adults. In the workshop participants solder
electronic components onto specially-designed circuit boards. There are currently over forty MadLab kits which
people can make - the simplest being Flashing Lights, the most complicated a programmable robot which is able to
find its way around a maze. The excitement of MadLab is learning how to use a soldering iron, and actually being
able to make and take home a working electronic circuit.
For more details visit the website at
www.madlab.org
Teacher's TV
Thousands of education programmes on TV and online.
Tomorrow's Teacher provides you with an engaging set of resources; inspirational programmes,
lesson plans, worksheets, and related video content from Teachers TV.
For full details please visit
www.teachers.tv
International Space School Educational Trust
ISSET has the aim of utilising space and space exploration to increase student and teacher motivation and to
increase the effectiveness of teaching and learning. This has been achieved through a range of programmes:
Student projects and competitions on space related topics that utilise ICT in the form of web-site design,
e-mail attachments and CDROM development.
UK student and teacher science, technology and space experiences
Teacher research based training at master's degree level that includes working weekends, developing teaching
and learning programmes, training at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and Johnson Space Center in Texas, evaluation
and report writing.
Astronaut and Space Scientist visits to schools, colleges, universities and communities in the UK.
Videoconferences with astronauts and space scientists
Relating aspects of space and space exploration directly to the curriculum on our web site
ISSET also conducts numerous INSET courses throughout the UK aimed at not only improving teaching and learning
in science areas but also more generic professional development for both primary and secondary sectors.
Visit the website at
www.isset.org
Institution of Civil Engineers
What do Civil Engineers do ?
Civil Engineers design and build all the static structures in the world around us.
TRANSPORT
Roads, railways, airports, docks, bridges, tunnels
- to help us travel and move goods around
ENERGY
Power stations, hydroelectric schemes, offshore platforms & pipelines, wind & wave power
- to give us power for heating & lighting
WATER
Dams, water supply pipelines, water treatment, drainage, sewage treatment
- to give us clean water & keep us healthy
STRUCTURES
Housing, office buildings, sports stadiums
- to give us shelter to live work and play and other facilities that up the built environment.
If you would like to know more about Civil
Engineering or how to become an engineer visit the website at
www.ice.org.uk
Universities keen to help schools with Advanced Higher Physics
Both University of Glasgow and Strathclyde University have opened their Physics laboratories for Higher and Advanced
Higher pupils to undertake their investigative projects. This helps give pupils real hands on experience of a
University laboratory and access to lecturers, students and post graduates who can help them.
If you would like to discuss opportunities for your pupils to work in either of these University Laboratories or
plan ahead for year 2009-10 then contact:
University of Glasgow
Email
Ik Siong Heng
