October 21, 2015
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Halo Harp: an Open Source Project for Schools

The Halo Harp project comprises the construction of a unique interactive laser based musical instrument exhibit. This is a Laser Harp which uses a circular ring containing 8-16 eye safe red laser pointers with photodiode detectors to monitor “plucking” of laser “strings”. Unlike traditional laser harps, it employs the novel concept of crossed laser beams, permitting great versatility for configuring output sounds, via an on-board Raspberry Pi microcontroller to synthesise sound. A prototype harp has been constructed (footage viewable at https://youtu.be/URPzP2IZZvc) as part of International Year of Light (IYOL) 2015. A second harp is currently being built, funded by Institute of Physics Scotland, which will be located in the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. The harp will be a permanent exhibit for general display as part of the museum’s new Science & Technology Gallery, due to open 2016. This will immensely broaden the audience who will be able to interact with the exhibit (the museum attracts over 1.6 million visits per annum).

The harp is also available as an open source project to allow schools to engage with the different subject areas including;

Physics: how lasers can be used with photodiodes as on/off sensors or strings

Engineering: Mechanical design of the harp structure

Design & Technology: Fabrication of the harp in wood or an alternative material

Art: utilising the possibility to pluck strings and play “colours”

Music: composition on the harp and studying the different musical tunings available

Computing Science: using a Raspberry Pi microcontroller to interface with the harp strings and sound system

For further information please contact:

Giles Hammond

Institute for Gravitational Research

School of Physics and Astronomy

University of Glasgow

Glasgow, g12 8QQ

giles.hammond@glasgow.ac.uk

October 20, 2015
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Sciences, Technology and Mathematics e-bulletin

Welcome to our e-bulletin for sciences, technologies, engineering and maths (STEM). Please forward to those who may be interested.

Received this from someone else? Sign up to receive it directly.

Sciences

Education Secretary announces campaign to attract more STEM teachers
Raising attainment sharing practice event – Wed 28th October
Our Environment competition – learn about your local area and win prizes!
Get learning provides real-life data about air quality and Scotland’s Environment

Technologies

Free circuit simulation for technology departments
Watch the BBC master class with Chris Van der Kuyl
Teachers writing materials for Advanced Higher Engineering Science on Glow

Numeracy and mathematics

Reminder to sign up for the National Numeracy and Mathematics hub sessions
STEM club resources for students aged 10-14 years from Nrich
Project based maths units from Intel
Skills development in STEM subjects

Did you know…….?

The Ultimate STEM Challenge is a new competition run by BP, the Science Museum and STEMNET.

Professional learning

Looking at gender balance in STEM subjects – key research findings, influencing factors and useful resources to promote gender equality.

Video inspiration

New resources from OPAL & Scotland’s Environment about collecting environmental data.

We’ve got loads more news to share! See our STEM blog for the latest updates.

Education Scotland News autumn edition now available

We are pleased to inform you that the autumn edition of Education Scotland News is now available, providing the latest information on some of our key activities across the sectors, from the early years to adult learning.

This edition has a particular focus on Developing the Young Workforce and contains some useful articles on the Scottish Attainment Challenge, How good is our school? (4th EDITION) and the National Improvement Framework.

Visit the Education Scotland website today to view and download the latest Education Scotland News.

October 20, 2015
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Teaching Air Quality with Citizen Science – professional learning session 25th November

Twilight session for Glasgow secondary teachers, and P7 working towards transition, looking at new approaches to teaching Air Quality. Three short workshops will cover different ways of getting pupils involved in real science research, learning about pollution and Air Quality in a way that is meaningful for pupils and produces useful scientific data along the way. The event will cover a diverse range of topics from Outdoor Learning, to data analysis and a wealth of available resources to use with your pupils. Come along and find out how you and your pupils can get involved in Air Quality research at your school.

Workshops:

Lichen bio-indicator of air quality: Find out how to identify some of the lichen bio-indicators of air quality to get a measure of air pollution in your local environment. This survey is one of the Open Air Laboratories citizen science surveys that enable pupils to carry out real science research in their local environment. OPAL Community Scientist Joanne Dempster

Scotland’s Environment Web: Exploring existing air quality data to investigate air quality near you. Education Scotland Citizen Science Development Officer Stuart McGrath.

Clear the Air: An educational resource for secondary school pupils to learn about air pollution and how it is measured in their area by finding out about the Clear the Air Citizen Science project.Riccardo Energy and Environment: Riccardo Energy and Environment, Susannah Telfer and Jennifer Simpson.

Hillpark Secondary School. Glasgow. November 25th. 4pm – 6pm.

Places are limited so please register here.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AirQualityCPD

October 19, 2015
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New science funding – £135,000 to support science in schools

£135,000 will be invested into Scotland-wide science initiatives that complement and support young peoples’ STEM learning at school and help bring ‘real life’ STEM into the classroom.

The funding will go towards four separate initiatives as follows:

Generation Science – Edinburgh International Science Festival – £50,000 (Science shows for primary schools)
Young Engineers and Science Clubs – Scottish Council for Development and Industry – £40,000 (for primary and secondary schools)
British Science Week – British Science Association – £25,000 (for primary and secondary schools and community organisations)
GeoBus – University of St Andrews – £20,000 (Geo-scientific activity and learning days for secondary pupils)

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Angela Constance said:

“Earlier this month the Science Minister met pupils from Alness Academy’s Science Club who have represented Scotland and won national prizes for their science and engineering. This is just one example of the range of talented and enthusiastic young people we meet in our schools on a regular basis.

“Recent surveys have suggested that younger children and parents can feel that STEM subjects are difficult or not suited to everyone, but activities that complement simple classroom learning clearly enhance enthusiasm to beyond the school day.

“The technology and engineering sector in Scotland generates turnover of £24.4 billion each year employing 155,000 in total which shows how nurturing an interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) while children and young people are in school has the potential to be literally life changing.

“I hope the funding I am announcing today will stir even more of our young people, particularly girls, to take an interest in science and develop a career in an area that makes the most of their talents.”

October 19, 2015
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Reflections on Light – competition for schools

To celebrate the International Year of Light the Institute of Physics in Scotland is running a competition for primary and secondary schools. The challenge is for pupils to tell a story about light through a poster and a supporting essay.

There are three age groups: primary, S1-3 (BGE) and S4-6 (senior phase).

The aspect of light that pupils have to explore varies across the age groups and full details on the competition, including the format of the poster and detailed curriculum links, can be found at: www.iopscompetition.org.uk

October 15, 2015
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TimPix: get involved with Tim Peake’s mission to the International Space Station

In December 2015 Tim Peake launches to the International Space Station (ISS) and will become the first British European Space Agency Astronaut to visit. Whilst there, in amongst many science and engineering activities, he will take part in research to understand how the body reacts to being in space for long periods of time.

Whilst living on the ISS Astronauts come into contact with radiation from a variety of sources. Particle detectors developed at CERN are on the ISS. These detectors measure the type – alpha, beta, gamma, etc. – direction and energy of radiation. Through this project you will be given access to this data to carry out your own research.

This project offers schools the unique opportunity to access Timepix detector data from the ISS during Tim’s stay. Where possible schools will also have the chance to host a Timepix detector to carry out their own experiments. By taking part in this project schools will contribute to research that will improve our understanding of radiation in space.

Participating schools will be provided with:

A research guide offering background information and starting points for experiments and data analysis;
An opportunity for a teacher to attend a CPD session in the autumn of 2015 to find out more about the technology and data;
A chance to share and exhibit their work at a research symposium in 2016.

More information can be found here.

October 8, 2015
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National Primary and Early Years Science Network

Education Scotland held a series of conversation days with the Scottish education community throughout 2013/2014 to develop a shared, partnership approach to improving 3-18 science education. We also hosted a dedicated primary and early years science conversation day in August 2014.

One of the key themes to emerge was the importance of supporting learning and teaching of the sciences in the primary and early learning and childcare sectors, a theme also identified in the Sciences 3-18 Curriculum Impact Report.

In response to this, Education Scotland has established a National Primary and Early Years Science Network.

The purpose of this network is to create a cross-authority sharing practice group to:

develop a common understanding of standards and progression in the sciences
create a national model for moderation
build capacity in understanding the sciences curriculum
produce resources to support the planning, teaching, assessment and moderation of the sciences curriculum within the Broad General Education.

The next meeting of the National Primary and Early Years Science Network will take place on Wednesday 18^th November in Glasgow. The initial meeting of this network took place in June 2015, and this forthcoming event will build on the work and activities of the groups that formed at the first event and, in addition to other aspects, will further develop science frameworks, resources to support progression in skills, professional learning materials and approaches to assessing progress and achievement.

Many resources to support the delivery of the Sciences experiences & outcomes can be found on our Glow Sciences Community at http://bit.ly/scienceshome .

Local authorities have been asked to nominate one early years and one primary practitioner to attend this event. Anyone interested in attending should contact their local authority or Colin McGill (Development Officer – Sciences ) at colin.mcgill@educationscotland.gsi.gov.uk

October 6, 2015
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Sharing Practice Event – Raising Attainment

Date: 28 October 2015

Venue: Menzies Hotel, Glasgow

This network was set up to explore strategies for raising attainment in the sciences. Our first raising attainment network event was on 11^th November 2014. At that event, delegates chose a strategy to develop and trial over the next few months. At the follow up event, as well as some examples of interesting practice, returning delegates will give short presentations on their findings.

Target audience: secondary science FHs, PTs and practitioners. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Registration at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/25QZCSD

October 5, 2015
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The Junior Academy

Here’s an incredible opportunity for high school students passionate about STEM. The New York Academy of Sciences has just launched The Junior Academy, an online STEM program that connects top performing students with STEM mentors to learn the latest in scientific research and provides opportunities for students to apply their knowledge, creativity, and skills towards real-world challenges. The mentors have been recruited from prominent research universities and leading science and tech companies. The program culminates in a two-day summit in New York City with field trips, cultural excursions, and opportunities to connect with renowned STEM leaders. Top students will be awarded cash prizes and all-expense paid trip to the summit.

The closing date for applications is 15 October 2015. The student application and full program details can be found on the official Junior Academy web site http://bit.ly/1F3f9bF.

October 1, 2015
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Biology Week 2015: 10-18 October

Biology Week showcases the important and amazing world of the biosciences, getting everyone from children to professional biologists involved in fun and interesting life science activities.

Now in its fourth year, Biology Week 2015 will be running from Saturday 10th – Sunday 18th October. Find out how you can get involved with the biggest week in the biology calendar.

There are lots of ways to get involved at your school, college or university. You could use the Biology Week 2015 quiz to put your science knowledge to the test, compete in the bio-bake off, get creative with some BioArtAttack, go on a ‘fungal foray‘ or bioblitz, try out some kitchenscience, attend a lecture or local event, or even have a STEM speaker come to your school.

Even better, create a timetable of events so you can be involved every day of the week!

Lots of ideas and resources are available all-year round.

More information on Biology Week can be found here.