MARSBalloon is a free project open to all UK schools that launches student Mars science experiments on high altitude balloons 30km up into Earth’s atmosphere.
At this altitude the conditions of gas pressure, temperature and radiation are very similar to the surface of Mars; making it an ideal testing ground for trying out anything that humans or robots might be doing on Mars in the future.
Teachers can register now for our next flight where we plan to launch up to 100 student experiments; each of which should fit into a kinder egg toy capsule. After the flight the experiment capsules will be returned to the schools for analysis by the students.
This project can be run within a variety of STEM subject lessons or after school clubs and taking part will help your students to:
learn more about the environment of Mars and its future exploration
work as a group to formulate, design, build and analyse the results of a real Mars science experiment
consider careers in UK space and other STEM industries.
This project is run by space engineers from Thales Alenia Space UK and funded by Thales UK for the purpose of engaging more students into high tech engineering and ground-breaking science.
There is no cost to take part in the project other than that of experiment materials and postage. Teachers can find out more and register their class or club for free at www.marsballoon.com
The ENTHUSE Partnership Awards are a grant of £12,000 for groups of between four and eight primary schools wishing to work together to address local issues of underachievement in science/STEM subjects.
The ENTHUSE Partnership Award aims to support collaborative activities over two years to develop and strengthen local partnerships which can subsequently continue independently. New schools wishing to apply to become an ENTHUSE Partnership, which will commence in September 2015 should show an expression of interest
To receive an expression of interest form for completion, please email award-entry@slcs.ac.uk. Completed expression of interest forms need to be received by 4pm,Thursday 30 April 2015. Initial expressions of interest need to be submitted toaward-entry@slcs.ac.uk for the attention of Eleanor Malcolmson.
Following the publication of its 3-18 Curriculum Impact Report for Sciences in September 2012, Education Scotland organised a series of conversation days where priorities for action to secure improvements in science education nationally were identified.
Key aspects for development emerged which included:
support with the initial planning for learning and teaching in the sciences
guidance in and exemplification for assessment in the sciences
support for the delivery of topical science
To address each aspect the sciences team hosted three Glow Meets, each complimented by a series of professional learning twilight sessions delivered throughout Scotland.
Each Meet and twilight event has been very successful and to continue supporting practitioners we have uploaded the Glow Meets and power point presentations onto the Primary and Early years Glow 365 site.
Edinburgh International Science Festival are thrilled to be running a ‘Sci-Ku’ (science haiku) writing competition! There are 3 categories of the competition: primary school, secondary school and open to the public. To supplement the competition, Edinburgh International Science Festival have created 2 teaching packs for primary and secondary schools, to help teachers take advantage of this competition during British Science Week and explore science in a creative way. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.sciencefestival.co.uk/sci-ku-competition
Education Scotland has published resource guides for Advanced Higher Biology, Advanced Higher Chemistry, Advanced Higher Physics and N5 Environmental Sciences and Higher Environmental Science. These can be found in the appropriate #glowsciences folders.
These resource guides have been produced in response to requests from staff who attended the NQ Sciences events at Hampden Stadium in December 2013. Those attending felt it would be useful to have a document which helped them navigate to the most relevant resources quickly.
These resource guides show the mandatory course key area tables from the SQA Advanced Higher Biology, Chemistry and Physics as well as N5 and Higher Environmental Science Course and Unit Support Notes. An additional fourth column has been included which contains hyperlinks to resources that are relevant to each of the key areas. Please note: Teachers are not required to use the resources listed – they are only included as helpful suggestions. Teachers should also refer to the SQA website for the most up-to-date course and unit support notes.
These resources form part of a suite of guides including N5 and Higher Biology, Chemistry and Physics and Higher Human Biology.
We’re looking for participants for the 2015 Fuselab Go tour, an out-of-this-world experience where you’ll help plan the future of an as yet uninhabited world!
If you’re aged 15–18, this is your chance to learn about innovation and creativity and build the skills, networks and confidence that will help you thrive in a fast moving future.
WHAT IS FUSELAB?
Fuselab is an innovation and creativity bootcamp run by Edinburgh International Science Festival. Now looking to recruit the next group of pioneers, so if you’re aged 15-18 this is your chance to get involved!
Fuselab Go is an exciting new touring version of the original programme which was launched back in July 2013. It has been designed to take a fresh, fast and fun Fuselab learning experience to locations across Scotland in summer 2015.
This is your opportunity to think bigger than ever before on a completely blank canvas, developing out-of-this-world solutions to real world problems.
You’ll discover new approaches to challenges through workshops, skills sessions, talks and games that will encourage you to respond both individually and as a group, seeking out relevant skills among your colleagues and collaborating to design, prototype and test your ideas.
Check out the Fuseab website to discover more about the project –
‘I have taken away from Fuselab an even bigger love of the sciences than Ialready had (…I didn’t know that was possible!)’
‘It really pushed me as an engineer and really made me work hard’
‘I loved every minute of it!’
2015 TOUR SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION
Fuselab Go is visiting a host of exciting venues across Scotland in summer 2015. There are 10 sessions in all, each session lasts for two days, happening in 6 cities. Check out the list below to see when the tour is coming to
a location near you:
Edinburgh – 6/7, 8/9 and 11/12 June
Greenock – 15/16 June
Inverness – 18/19 June
Aberdeen – 22/23 and 25/26 June
Dundee – 29/30 June
Glasgow – 4/5 and 6/7 July
You will be expected to make your own travel arrangements to attend each day, but Fuselab is completely free of charge and you will be provided with lunch and refreshments.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are open now! For your chance to be part of this exciting project, simply read the terms and conditions to ensure you’re eligible to apply and then complete the short application form available online at sciencefestival.co.uk/fuselab
.
You will receive an automated response when we receive your application and successful applicants will be contacted by email by the end of May 2015.
If you have any queries about your application you can contact Fuselab on fuselab@scifest.co.uk but please be aware that due to the high number of applications we are dealing with it may take a few working days for us to respond.
On 20th March 2015, for the first time in 16 years , we are due for a solar eclipse. It will be partial throughout the UK, and the further north you are, the more of the Sun will be in eclipse. The eclipse will start at about 08.30 and end at 10.30. With Leeds an example, you can see what it will look like observed from the Earth.
The Royal Astronomical Society have produced a resource, which can be found here. It contains information on how to safely, and cheaply, observe a solar eclipse. It also explains more about what solar eclipses are, and what you should expect to see.
BBC Stargazing Live programmes have been scheduled to coincide with the eclipse, this year. Running from the 18-20 March, the programme is again hosted by comedian Dara O’Briain and Professor Brian Cox. You can also access resources for running your own star parties from the BBC website.
So what happens if it’s cloudy? Well, it will still get dark, even if you can’t view the Sun, and you can always view a past eclipse online to see what you would be missing.
On Tuesday March 24th at 2.30pm, Commander Hadfield will be on Glow TV answering pupils’ questions about science, space and the Universe.
What was his most terrifying moment in space? What does flying a rocket feel like? How has he adjusted to life back on Earth?
We will be selecting the best questions and these pupils will have the opportunity to ask questions live directly to Commander Hadfield on the day!
Submit your questions to glow.connect@glowscotland.onmicrosoft.com before 20th March with the title “Ask an astronaut”. Don’t forget to include your pupils’ names, ages and school. To register for the event, click here (Glow log-in required).
Recommended for: primary and secondary practitioners with responsibilities for sciences, technologies and food and health planning.
Food and drink offers an engaging and practical context for learning within Curriculum for Excellence, in particular for science, technology, engineering and maths. It also provides opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and for rich and meaningful partnerships between schools, the food and drink industry and other partners such as academia and research organisations.
This event aims to further explore these links and demonstrate to practitioners how to use food and drink as a context for delivering STEM subjects.
4.00-5.00: Registration, light refreshments, networking and an opportunity to network and meet the partners in the Food and Science marketplace. Meet a wider range of experts who can help with practical ideas and ways of using food as a context across learning, providing pathways for careers in food and drink.
5.00 – 6.20: Micro presentations from:
Education Scotland – Food for Thought –Food and Science Education linked to providing pathways for careers in food and drink
Scottish Food and Drink Federation – How to link real life industrial applications to food education in schools
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) – sharing their new resources and how they can support education
SQA – What qualifications can support food education and lead to careers in the food and drink industry
Scottish Schools Education Research Centre (SSERC) – sharing exciting classroom resources and activities in food chemistry
UHI – Opportunities in Further and Higher Education and progression pathways
Baxters Food Group – How industry can support schools to demonstrate real life context for science in the workplace. Real life careers Food Science and Engineering
Food and Drink and STEM Ambassadors – What we can offer schools
6.20 – 7.30 :Interactive Workshops; bringing real life science to the classroom:
An opportunity for practitioners to participate in a number of food and science workshops that demonstrate the links between food and science and developing skills for our food and drink industry.
Discover the resources available from a range of organisations to support your planning for learning and teaching in the context of food and drink. Hear a selection of micro-presentations, explore exhibitor stands, take away free resources, network with colleagues and take the chance to participate in practical workshops that you can use in the classroom .
Delivered by Education Scotland, Scottish Food and Drink Federation, University of Highlands and Islands, STEMNET and partners
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