January 28, 2016
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Institute of Physics “Teacher of Physics 2016” Award

The Institute of Physics is seeking nominations for it’s prestigious “Teacher of Physics 2016” award. The Scottish winner of this award will be invited to attend the big IOP Awards dinner in London later this year, when all of the IOP Awards and Prizes are presented.

The IoP are looking for a teacher who can inspire her/his students and colleagues, who is prepared to go the extra mile to make Physics exciting and interesting, or has made a wider impact on Physics Teaching in Scotland.

All that is required at this stage is a supporting statement of not more than 400 words.

Nomination forms can be accessed online at http://www.iop.org/about/awards/additional/teachers/page_38686.html

The form can be completed online and emailed to Gordon.doig@iop.org, or printed out and posted.

Please note there is NO requirement for either the nominee or the nominator to be an IOP member.

Closing date for nominations is 26^th Feb 2016.

January 28, 2016
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Inspiring Teachers

Teaching is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, careers you can choose.

In September, the Scottish Government launched a campaign to encourage more teachers to enter the profession. The recruitment campaign will focus on attracting teachers to STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths – in particular to teach Physics, Maths and Computing. The ‘Inspiring Teachers’ campaign will feature figureheads from Scottish business, industry, media and science, sharing their memories of the teachers who inspired them and helped them get where they are today.

The #inspiringteachers campaign seeks to attract more high-quality, passionate teachers into the profession, particularly in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths where there is a demand.

Watch some films about #inspiringteachers at

· Katie https://youtu.be/2ituLmzA9tY

· Tiam https://youtu.be/r2AwVuI02oY

· Leith Panel https://youtu.be/ENIX0ewyQTA

· Gillespie Panel https://youtu.be/XybLNDPlzus

More information on the #inspiringteachers campaign and teaching in Scotland can be found here.

January 28, 2016
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Young Scot Awards 2016 – Nominations open

Since its inception ten years ago the Young Scot Awards have flourished, and are now Scotland’s biggest celebration of the inspirational contributions of thousands of young Scots who have made a real difference to their communities.

Are there young people in your local community who through their positive contributions are truly inspiring? Contributions such as volunteering, fundraising, going the extra mile to help others, overcoming huge obstacles or stepping up to tackle injustice. If you do know such young people you may wish to nominate them for a Young Scot Award.

This 2016 awards will be held at the EICC on the 27^th April. Nominations are open and there has been an overwhelming response so far, again highlighting the amazing contribution that young people are making in their communities. So if there is someone you believe should be nominated, don’t delay as the closing date for nominations is 24th February 2016.

Further information, including a full list of categories and nomination forms are accessible via these links.

In addition, join in the conversation on social media by using #YSAwards16.

Twitter @YoungScot

Facebook Young Scot

Instagram Young Scot

January 26, 2016
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Glow Video

Glow Video was launched before Christmas, and will allow access to films to enhance learning & teaching and also professional development. Have a look at the Sciences channel (bit.ly/SciencesVideos) and the STEM channel (bit.ly/STEMVideos). Feel free to add any videos of your own to these channels (make sure you have permission to share!). When uploading, use hashtags in the Description section to allow for easy searching, e.g. #STEM #technologies.

January 25, 2016
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RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch: 30th & 31st January

More than half a million people from across the UK are set to take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch by counting the birds in their gardens over the weekend of 30th-31st January. They’ll also make a record of the other wildlife they see throughout the year, providing a vital snapshot of UK nature.

Request a FREE pack or simply register your details to save time on the weekend and get £5 off your next purchase in our shop.

Your class can also take part in the Big School’s Birdwatch at any time until the 12th February. All you have to do is count birds for 1 hour with your class and record what you observe. Register here to take part and don’t worry if you’re not a bird expert. The RSPB will send you a free bird identification resource.

January 25, 2016
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Opportunities in Geoscience: Student’s Stories of Exploration and Research

Created to inspire learners to get involved with geography and show how this and similar subjects can be used to tackle the environmental issues facing the world.

Come to see student’s accounts of climate change in Greenland, geological exploration in Tanzania and fieldwork on the glaciers and mountains of the Himalayas.

Presented by young expedition-organiser and geography student Cameron Mackay and his expedition team mates, you’ll hear all about how achievable it is to take big steps in geoscience in your careers after leaving school.

The film is screening on 11th February at 10.15 am, suitable for S3-S6. Booking can be accessed here. Alternatively, download the booking form and email your completed version to schoolbookings@glasgowfilm.org

FREE as part of Glasgow Film Festival Schools Week.

To find out more about Glasgow Film Festival please follow this link.

January 18, 2016
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Topical Science – Tim Peake makes historic spacewalk

Major Tim Peake, the first astronaut representing the UK to carry out a spacewalk, has described the experience as ‘exhilarating’.

Peake and NASA astronaut Tim Kopra ventured outside the International Space Station on Friday 15 January to replace a broken voltage regulator. The pair were outside the space station for almost five hours and managed to replace the broken piece of equipment, but the operation needed to be cut short after water leaked into Kopra’s helmet.

About four hours after becoming the first Briton to walk in space, Peake tweeted three pictures of the experience and shared his feelings on looking down and seeing Earth from space.

‘Today’s exhilarating #spacewalk will be etched in my memory forever – quite an incredible feeling!’

Watch the Twig film Man on The Moon: Part 1 to discover more about space missions. Alternatively, watch the Tigtag film Filtration on the ISS to find out more about life in space (a Glow login is required to access these videos).

Twig, Tigtag and Tigtag Junior are available to all educators and learners in Scotland via the Glow Launch Pad.

Keep up to date with Tim Peake during his 6 month mission on the ISS by following @astro_timpeake on Twitter.

January 14, 2016
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Scottish Learning Festival 2016 – Call for STEM-themed seminars

The call for seminars for the Scottish Learning Festival (SLF) 2016 is now open. The festival will host around 100 seminars over the 2 days and you are invited to submit proposals that are aligned to the conference themes.

SLF 2016: Promoting excellence and equity for all through:

school leadership and school improvement
assessing children’s progress and parental engagement
teacher professionalism

If you have a STEM-themed seminar you wish to share with a wider audience follow this link for further details.

January 11, 2016
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Our Environment Competition 2016

If you’re of primary or secondary school age and live in Scotland, we want to hear your ideas on how you would improve your local environment.

Present your ideas in any format, and submit it as an individual school class or group, and you win £1,000 if you’re the overall winner.

The closing date for entries for this year’s competition is 22 April 2016.

To find out further information about entry criteria and to gain inspiration from previous winning entries, click on the following link https://ourenvironment.scot/

January 10, 2016
by I. Menzies
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Cosmic classroom – link with Tim Peake live on the ISS!

Calling all teachers and pupils! Spend 20 minutes linked up LIVE to British ESA astronaut Tim Peake on the International Space Station. Sign up to take part and make it the world’s largest schools and space science event. Join Tim’s mission as he orbits the Earth.

The countdown to the cosmic classroom has begun.

In early 2016 The UK Space Agency will be simultaneously linking up schools across the UK with British astronaut Tim Peake LIVE on the ISS in its cosmic classroom. UK students will have live access to an astronaut in space! The UK Space agency will keep you updated in January 2016 with details of how you can get involved.

Interact with an astronaut! Register for the Cosmic Classroom today.