February 22, 2016
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Topical Science – Gravitational Waves

Physicists have confirmed the existence of gravitational waves, ripples in the fabric of spacetime that travel at the speed of light. Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity predicted the existence of these waves 100 years ago, but this is the first time that they have been detected directly.

They used highly sensitive equipment to measure two black holes, which collided many light years away. The detection proves gravity travels as a wave, but what is gravity?

For younger learners watch the Tigtag film Gravity in our Universe with your class to discover more.

For older learners, watch Black Holes to learn more about the mysterious phenomena that allowed scientists to collect this data.

Twig, Tigtag and Tigtag Junior are available to all educators and learners in Scotland via the Glow Launch Pad. We provide online walk-throughs for teachers at a time that suits. Interested? Contact us on 0141 353 7700 or via our contact page

February 17, 2016
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Teacher Recruitment

Teacher training to be part of Transition Training Fund.

A £12 million fund to help people who face job losses in the oil and gas sector find alternative employment will also be available to support those who want to become teachers, the Education Secretary has announced.

Angela Constance told the Aberdeen Learning Festival this is the latest in a number of steps the Scottish Government is taking to boost teacher numbers in places which can have difficulty attracting them.

The Transition Training Fund was set up to help people move into other roles in the oil and gas, energy or manufacturing industries by offering grants to support retraining or further education.

It is now being developed, working with Skills Development Scotland and the Energy Jobs Taskforce, to help oil and gas sector staff bring their skills and expertise into teaching – particularly in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.

Ms Constance said:
“We have a highly skilled oil and gas workforce and it is important that we harness their abilities to benefit the next generation, the future of the industry and the north-east of Scotland.

“Developing options within the £12 million Transition Training Fund will help ensure we don’t lose valuable oil and gas sector skills, which can be put to excellent use
and will lead to more high-quality, passionate teachers in the area.

“This is the latest in a range of actions we are taking to make sure we have the right teachers in the right places to benefit our young people.

“We have launched our #inspiringteachers campaign to encourage more people to enter the profession. We have increased student teacher intake targets for the fifth year in a row and are setting targets to train teachers in the subjects where they are needed most.

“We are also supporting innovative ways to encourage more graduates to come into teaching in areas which have difficulty recruiting teachers. This includes the University of Aberdeen’s distance learning initial teacher education programme, which allows council employees to retrain as teachers while staying in work. Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highland and Angus Councils are already benefiting from this.”

More information on a career in teaching can be found at http://www.teachinscotland.org/

February 16, 2016
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Scotland’s Environment : Focus on Air Pollution

This month Scotland’s Environment newsletter focuses on air pollution.

If you’re looking for resources to help discuss air quality in the classroom, then you’ll find lots of Curriculum for Excellence aligned resources on Get Learning | Scotland’s Environment Web .

Here’s some other resources that will support learning about air quality:

Read about the five main pollutants emitted into the air here.
Lichen are nature’s air quality indicators. Find out more here or download the app and get involved.
Use the Learning About Air Quality teaching resource in your primary or secondary class and request a free air quality monitor for your school.
Challenge your learners to become air pollution detectives with this fun online game.

To keep informed about other teaching and learning resources, subscribe to the monthly newsletter.

You can also download a copy of the Citizen Science & Curriculum for Excellence briefing paper, packed with lots of other excellent resources from here.

February 12, 2016
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Biology, Geography & Environmental Science Teachers’ Fieldwork Development Weekend

4 – 6^th March,

Benmore Centre for Outdoor Learning, by Dunoon, Argyll

Fieldwork has been given a high prominence in the new National Qualifications. This event aims to provide practitioners with skills and ideas to deliver creative, quality fieldwork in a relevant context, and to enthuse participants to take their subject outside the classroom.

Accommodation and all catering are provided at Benmore. The event is free for teachers in City of Edinburgh Council schools. For non-CEC teachers a cost of £24 per night will apply.

Please register your attendance by Friday 26^th February to allow transport, catering and accommodation to be planned.

To register, or for more information, please email Andrew.Bagnall@edinburgh.gov.uk

Full program for the weekend: Fieldwork development weekend at Benmore Centre for Outdoor Learning

February 12, 2016
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Gravitational Waves Detected!

Yesterday was an exciting day in the science world, when the detection of gravitational waves was announced. Scottish scientists were heavily involved in the collaboration which detected the gravitational waves.

For more information on gravitational waves, check out these links…

http://www.ligo.org/science/outreach.php

http://www.gla.ac.uk/research/infocus/themes/gravitationalwaves/thedetectionindetail/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35553549

A summary of the work can be found here.

February 11, 2016
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Citizen Science & Accreditation Survey

As part of the Scotland Counts project, The Conservation Volunteers are conducting some research to investigate if accreditation in Citizen Science would add value and benefit your organisations, learners, community groups and the recording community in general. In addition, this may develop a new route for new Citizen Scientists to become involved in wildlife recording activities.

If the Citizen Science activities can be rewarded with an accredited certificate it may add value to the activity of data collection, providing an opportunity for Citizen Scientists to demonstrate achievement and gain recognition for activity and progress.

The Conservation Volunteers would like to capture your thoughts and opinions to find out if Citizen Science needs accreditation to make it more valuable.

It would be appreciated if you could complete the survey, ‘Citizen Science and Accreditation’ by Thursday 18^th February.

February 11, 2016
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International Day of Women and Girls in Science

11th February marks the first International Day of Women and Girls in Science and will be commemorated at UN Headquarters in New York.

In December 2015, the United Nations Member States adopted a resolution to establish an annual International Day to recognize the critical role women and girls play in science and technology. The achievements of women in all areas of science have been consistently overlooked compared to the achievements of their male counterparts. This situation is a serious obstacle to achieving gender equality and female empowerment.

According to a study conducted in 14 countries, the probability for female students graduating with a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree and Doctor’s degree in science-related field remains significantly lower than the probability for male students, as illustrated in the infographic below.

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science, held under the theme – ‘Transforming the World: Parity for All’ – will help institutions to promote the work of women in science and encourage girls to enter the sciences as a lifetime profession. Girls need female role models to emulate and who will give them the belief that they too can become scientists.

Parity means equality, and it is one of the purposes of this International Day to ensure that parity becomes reality. This means institutions must ensure that women and men are paid equally for the same work. Gender equality has always been a core issue for the United Nations and the empowerment of women and girls will make a crucial contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Follow the event on social media using the hashtag #dayofwomeninscience

February 9, 2016
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Engineering UK Report 2016

Engineering UK 2016 The State of Engineering analyses the engineering industry’s capacity for growth and details engineering in education, training and employment. Now in its eighteenth year, the report provides the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) community, Government, industry and the third sector with a compelling evidence base.

There are three overriding messages from the report. Firstly, that engineering and skilled engineers make a significant contribution to the UK economy and its productivity as well as working towards mitigating the grand global challenges of climate change, ageing populations, food, clean water and energy.

Secondly, that the UK at all levels of education does not have the current capacity or the required rate of growth needed to meet the forecast demand for skilled engineers and technicians by 2022.

Thirdly, through concerted and co-ordinated action, the engineering community and employers in particular can make a demonstrable difference by working with schools and colleges to inspiring future generations to pursue relevant qualifications and go on to careers in engineering.

Engineering is a vital part of the UK economy – engineering employers have the potential to generate an additional £27 billion per year from 2022. This is equivalent to the cost of building 1,800 secondary schools or 110 new hospitals.

If the UK is to benefit economically from this, we will need to meet the forecasted demand for 257,000 new vacancies in engineering enterprises in the same timescale. The importance of engineering is significant not only economically but also with regards to employment, as for every new engineering role an additional two jobs are created in the economy.

The full report can be downloaded here.

An infographic of key facts can be found here – EngineeringUK-Report-2016-Infographic

February 5, 2016
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Scottish Attainment Challenge Innovation Fund: Applications Open

Applications have opened for the £1.5 million Innovation Fund to help schools close the attainment gap.

Schools can choose whether to apply quickly for funds to run projects that are ready to start in March 2016, or to consider bids for the 2016/17 financial year. The Fund is open to all publicly funded primary, secondary and special schools in Scotland which are not already benefitting from the Attainment Scotland Fund.

Funds of £3,000-£10,000 (per school) are available for projects that will help children and young people experiencing socio economic disadvantage. Applications are encouraged from partnerships of schools working collaboratively or individual schools.

Under the twin track application scheme, schools can apply:

Fast track: by 21 February 2016 for projects that will start in March. Notification will be given between 1 and 4 March.

Standard track: by 31 March 2016 for projects that will start in the year from April 2016. Notification will be given by the end of April.

Proposals should have a particular focus on literacy, numeracy or health and wellbeing. They can be new ideas, or a project with a specific focus, building on what has had the greatest impact within a school, cluster or group of schools. This may include projects involving parental / family engagement and career long professional development or those that help develop and realise aspirations for children and young people.

The guidance and application form are available:

On our website
By email

Information is also on the #SAC Scottish Attainment Challenge Glow site (login required), where practitioners can seek advice and collaborate on applications.

Get help with accessing #SAC Glow site

February 1, 2016
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BUILD IT! Adventures with LEGO® Bricks at National Museum of Scotland

LEGO® is more than a toy. It makes architects, sculptors and storytellers of us all.

This spring, renowned brick artist, Warren Elsmore and his team display some of their most beautiful and intricate mini-buildings and models in our Grand Gallery. To add to the set, they will also be on-site, building a special three metre model of our very own museum.

But don’t let them have all the fun. Join us for some hands-on LEGO® brick activities from February till April. Get creative in the Builders’ Yard, help us make a special sculpture of one of our most-loved museum objects, or build your own masterpiece.

Follow our #BUILDIT updates on social media.

Join us for our free LEGO® brick activities from January to April.
Look out for more BUILD IT! activities at the museum during Edinburgh International Science Festival (26 Mar to 10 Apr 2016).

For information about events at the National Museum of Scotland click here.

For information about events at the National Museum of Flight click here.

For information about events at the National Museum of Rural Life click here.

For information about events at the National War Museum click here.