posted by James Thomas, Marketing Officer, Royal Society of Edinburgh 

RSE@ Schools Talks:

The RSE (Royal Society of Edinburgh), Scotland’s National Academy of Scotland, is pleased to launch the 2020/21 series of talks for schools across Scotland. RSE@ Schools Talks are FREE to schools, years P6 to S6, and available at any point during the school year. The RSE is an educational charity, registered in Scotland, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland. We were established in 1783 and since then have drawn upon the considerable strengths and varied expertise of our Fellows, of which there are currently around 1600, who are based in Scotland, the rest of the UK and beyond.

For more information please click on the link below:

https://www.rse.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/RES-Schools-Talks-Programme-2020.pdf

posted by Shabnam Wasim, Public Engagement Officer, University of Dundee  

Dundee Arts Café: Solving Environmental Issues Together with Prof Mel Woods, University of Dundee 

Venue/Address       The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum, Albert Square, Dundee                                        DD1 1DA
Date and time         Tuesday 12 November 2019, 6pm 

Event/activity/ description
Due to the popularity of recent events Dundee Arts Café is now a ticketed event. Please book your free tickets in advance – https://uod.ac.uk/ArtsCafe1

We are currently facing a grave climate emergency. Unless we take urgent action, the increase in global temperature threatens human society and all life on our planet. It’s a daunting thought, but what can we do about it?

There are many projects where people across the world come together to monitor how our planet is changing and to test solutions. These projects are also known as ‘Citizen Science’, and can be a very helpful way to collect data and solve environmental issues together.

Join us for this discussion with Prof Mel Woods from the University of Dundee, as she discusses what makes an effective Citizen Science project and how we can all help the environment by getting more involved.

Everyone is welcome. Doors open at 5pm. Please book your free tickets in advance. 

Admission price      Free, Booking essential. Booking available at https://uod.ac.uk/ArtsCafe1
Website                     www.dundeeartscafe.co.uk

Cafe Science Dundee: What’s Happening to our Rainforests? with Dr Mark Cutler, University of Dundee 

Venue/Address       Medina Bar and Grill, 113 Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4DH
Date and time         Monday 25 November 2019, 7pm

Event/activity/ description
The world’s tropical forests are under increasing pressure, with the fires burning in the Amazon being the latest tragic example.  This destruction and degradation of forests has continued for decades, with over half of all tropical forests now having been logged at least once.  Those that remain face threats posed by a changing climate and conversion to agricultural plantations.

But how do we know what is actually happening in our rainforests? Using satellites in space and new sensors on the ground we can now see the changes and responses of these fragile ecosystems better than ever before.

Join Dr Mark Cutler (University of Dundee) to explore what we can and cannot see from these new technologies and what this means for the long-term exploitation and conservation of tropical forests across the world.

Join us at Café Science Dundee at our new venue Medina Bar & Grill at 113 Nethergate on Monday 25 November 2019, at 7pm. This is a free event and everyone is welcome. There is no need to book in advance but arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Admission price      Free, Non-bookable
Website                     www.cafesciencedundee.co.uk

posted by Rhonda McFarlane, Funding Officer, Strategic Policy and Performance

Funding for Sensory Equipment for Schools that Cater for Pupils with Special Education Needs (UK)
SEN Schools can apply for grants of up to £5,000 to enable them to purchase a range of sensory equipment to help enhance the pupils’experience at school. To be eligible schools need to cater for young people under the age of 19 who have a physical/ sensory/ learning disability. Schools that cater for socially disadvantaged children or mainstream schools for children with behavioural problems are unable to apply. The funding is being made available through the Lords Taverners, the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity. Schools are required to pay a self-help contribution of around 25% of the total cost of the package. There are no application deadlines and applications can be submitted at any time.

Funding for STEM Enrichment and Enhancement Activities in Schools (UK)
The Royal Institution (Ri) has announced that UK state schools can now apply for grants of up to £500 to host STEM Enrichment and Enhancement activity for their teachers and students. Funded by the Clothworkers’ Foundation, the scheme is designed to help integrate science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities into school practice and to support teachers’ professional development. Activities enrich or go beyond the curriculum and often use resources that are not readily available to schools. Activities can range from shows and talks to workshops and team-based challenges. The scheme will close for applications at midnight on the 4th November 2019.

The 2020 applications for Nuffield Research Placements are Due to Open on Monday 14 October 2019 (UK)
Students in the first year of a post-16 science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) course studying at a state-maintained school or college in the UK will be able to apply for a bursary to develop their research and quantitative skills. Nuffield Research Placements (previously Nuffield Science Bursaries) provide over 1,000 students each year with the opportunity to work alongside professional scientists (including quantitative social scientists), technologists, engineers and mathematicians. Nuffield Research Placements take place in the summer holidays after Year 12 (England) or equivalent, placements are typically for between 4 and 6 weeks and can be in a university, research institute, company or voluntary organisation. Most projects are based in an office, but some include working in a laboratory or fieldwork. The funding will cover the travel costs of all students and depending on the families circumstances some applicants may also be eligible to receive a bursary of £100 for each week of the placement.

Funding to Promote Public Engagement and Teaching of MicroBiology (UK)
Grants of up to £1000 are available for a variety of educational outreach activities to promote public engagement with microbiology. Funding is available to support relevant science teaching or promotion initiatives, or to support developments likely to lead to an improvement in the teaching of any aspect of microbiology. Full, Full Concessionary or Postgraduate Student Members of the Microbiology Society who reside in the UK or Republic of Ireland can apply under the Microbiology Society Education and Outreach Grants Programme. Funding is available for talks, workshops, demonstrations, posters, leaflets, broadcasts, activities at science festivals and audio-visual or computer-based packages. Applications relevant to the teaching of any aspect of microbiology in primary, secondary or tertiary (including postgraduate) education will be considered. There are two funding rounds each year, the next closing date for applications is the 15th April 2020.

posted by Rhonda McFarlane, Funding Officer, Strategic Policy and Performance

Funding for Schools to Purchase Musical Equipment (UK)

Schools, teachers and individuals in full time education in the UK, that wish to purchase musical instruments and equipment or to fund music courses and training can apply for funding of up to £1,500. To date awards have been made awards to over two thousand schools, individual students and teachers improve their access to music through the purchase or upgrade of musical instruments and equipment. The funding has to be made for music education that is beyond statutory national curriculum music teaching. The funding is being made available through the Universal Music UK Sound Foundation and the closing date for applications is the 11th September 2019

Apply for School Breakfast Provision (UK)

Magic Breakfast, Family Action and the National School Breakfast Programme are working together a on a scheme that aims to end hunger as a barrier to education. Schools in deprived areas across England and Scotland are invited to apply for funding to start or improve ‘magic’ breakfast clubs. On offer is a start-up grant of up to £500 for essential resources plus either free food deliveries or a grant to subsidise up to 30 additional free places in an existing breakfast club. Schools are required to submit an expression of interest in the first instance and, as funds are limited, early application is recommended.

Science and Chemistry Equipment Grants for Schools (UK)

Teachers at primary or secondary schools can apply for a grant of up to £1,000 towards the purchase of equipment to support the delivery of Primary Science or Chemistry lessons. Bids are invited for the purchase of items of equipment that cannot be purchased through a school’s mainstream teaching budget and which would enrich the learning experience of students. The funding is being made available through the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Enhanced Equipment grant scheme and applications to the scheme can be made at any time

posted by Dawn Rennie, Senior Practitioner (Parental and Family Engagement

Free school meals – information relating to pupils moving in primary four.
Your child is automatically entitled to Free School Meals until the end of Primary 3

For further information please click on the link below:

Free-School-Meals-4

posted by Amy Hall Gibson, YMI Coordinator, Schools and Learning

This fun motivating, confidence building CLPL for staff will equip staff with the knowledge & understanding of using simple music games in the classroom……..

For more information please click on the link below to view the flyer:

Feel-Good-Singing