Information Index
This section describes ways of finding out about current activity in scientific research, through science magazines, through newsletters and through information services. It also offers suggestions on sources of funding, some further examples of partnership initiatives and describes some science competitions fostering research activities in schools.
Accessing Science
In areas of science which are fast moving it is impossible for textbooks to keep up to date. Under some circumstances access to research journals might be desirable and possible, perhaps in the local university library. The Royal Society of Chemistry Library and Information Centre is described on p74. On a more routine basis, recourse to magazines and electronic communication is essential if students are to capture anything of what is currently happening in research. The 'newsletters' of the Research Councils are an excellent source of information.
Science Magazines
The school affiliation schemes of the Institute of Biology, the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institute of Physics, provide access to their respective scientific and science education journals (Biologist and J. Biol. Ed.; Chemistry Today and Ed. in Chem.: Physics World and Physics Education). The School Science Review, published by the Association for Science Education, contains useful information.
A one, two or three year subscription to New Scientist has the advantage of a printed index of sorts provided free of charge. A computerised index has been available for some time but a CD-ROM version is now available to schools, holding issues from April 1989 to the present. It is available to schools at a discounted price of £195 (March 1995). With an index and search facility incorporated and other features to be expected on a CD-ROM, it is an excellent resource to run alongside a back run of hard copies. Scientific American can also be bought by subscription and its use supported by a computerised index.
A family of review journals specifically for school children is published by Philip Allan Publishers Ltd. These include Catalyst, aimed at GCSE Science students and incorporating some descriptions of contemporary scientists and their work, and three aimed at A Level students, Biological Sciences Review, Physics Review and Chemistry Review. These are all available to school students at reduced subscription rates, compared with the rates for institutions. The editorial boards and advisory panels are drawn from a wide range of professional scientists, teachers and science educators. Each journal supports students aiming for the highest grades at A and S Levels and would be of use also to first year undergraduates.
Contact
Philip Allan Publishers Ltd., Market Place, Deddington OX15 0SE
Tel: 01869 338652.
Young Researcher
Junge Wissenschaft/Young Researcher is a journal which takes research papers from school students/undergraduates from across Europe. Most papers are published in German.
Contact
Erhard Friedrich Verlag, Vertreib, Postfach 10 01 50, 30917 Seelze, Germany.
Newsletters
The Scientific Investigator is a newsletter produced by Stephan Natynczuk, arising out of discussions at the Clifton Scientific Trust/Wellcome Trust Pupils as Scientists Conference in 1993. It is produced at around each half term holiday, to provide a forum for the research in schools interest group through news of:
- School based scientific research projects
- Getting started
- News and views and absolutely anything useful to those striving to keep fun and excitement in science by encouraging scientific research in schools
- Ideas for projects
- Enterprise initiatives
- Surplus equipment
- Pooling resources
- Pupils' input and rewards
- Meeting and workshops
- Networking projects
Contact
Stephan Natynczuk, Research, Education and Business Systems (R-E-B-S),
Rookery Cottage, Droitwich Road, Bradley Green, Redditch B96 6RT
Tel/Fax: 01527 821877.
Osmosis
Osmosis is the newsletter of Science and Plants for Schools (SAPS). This project encourages innovative education in plant science. Workshops are arranged around the country, at various educational establishments and at conferences, and kits have been developed and produced to demonstrate DNA technology and for growing Rapid Cycling Brassicas. Of direct relevance to those wishing to involve students in research projects, a CD-ROM entitled Investigating Plant Science has been produced by SAPS with ATTICA Cybernetics and Homerton College, Cambridge. This guides students through the process of developing an investigation and provides them with possible starting points with a great many different plants.
Contact
Richard Price, Science and Plants for Schools, Homerton College,
Cambridge CB2 2PH
Tel: 01223 411141 Extn 233.
Feedback
Feedback is the education newsletter of the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. An Education Officer was appointed in 1994 to support the teaching of more animal behaviour in schools and colleges. The newsletter is becoming a useful source of contacts in this area, as well as offering ideas for further investigation by students.
Contact
Michael Dockery, Homerton College, Cambridge CB2 2PH
Tel: 01223 411141 Extn 233.
National Centre For Biotechnology Education
National Centre For Biotechnology Education (NCBE) Newsletter. The Centre's main role is to encourage and support the teaching of Biotechnology in schools and colleges. The NCBE Newsletter is a useful source of suggestions and protocols for practical work. NCBE can also supply some materials directly. Membership of the NCBE Schools Biotechnology Club costs £20 per annum (1995).
Contact
NCBE, Department of Microbiology, University of Reading, Whiteknights,
PO Box 228, Reading, RG6 2AJ
Tel: 01734 873743.
Information Services
Science Line 0345 600 444
Science Line offers members of the public the opportunity to obtain, over the telephone, authoritative answers to their scientific questions. Launched during National Science Week 1994 the service is open every weekday between 1.00pm and 7.00pm. Science Line is free to use, the only cost being the price of a local telephone call.
- Questions can be about any aspect of science, technology, engineering or medicine.
- Answers are provided by a multi-disciplinary team of scientists who staff the Line or by any of over 500 specially recruited scientists based in academic institutions around the country.
- Questions and answers are added to a database which forms part of Science-Net.
- Through an innovative partnership arrangement enquires may be passed, via a tie-line facility, to the information desks of the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum Library or the Wellcome Centre for Medical Science; callers thus have access to a cluster of information services through one simple telephone call.
Science-Net
This is an electronic version of Science Line available to pupils and teachers at more than 4000 schools connected to Campus 2000, BT's education network.
- Questions and answers are sent using electronic mail.
- A database of questions and answers is arranged in ten subject groupings (eg Medicine and Biology, Chemistry, Environment) which can be searched using key words.
For more information about subscribing to Campus 2000 call 0345 626523.
Science Line-Up
Most recently Science Line, with the former Channel 4 Science Club, has launched a subscription service called Science Line-Up. Subscribers will get:
- Six newsletters in the academic year, with comprehensive listings of lectures, demonstrations and educational courses across the country.
- News about forthcoming radio and television science programmes (C4, BBC and Discovery Channel).
- Free calls to Science Line.
- Invitations to selected lectures and events of scientific interest
- Facilities to discuss and share information via print, telephone and e-mail.
The annual subscription is £10. For more information call 01222 575444.
Science Line, Science-Net and Science Line-Up are managed by Broadcasting Support Services and funded by the Wellcome Trust, The Royal Society and the Office of Science and Technology,
Contact
Science Line, BSS, Villiers House, The Broadway, London W5 2PA
Tel: 0181 280 8000 or
Tel: 01222 575444.
Talking Science+
Talking Science+ is a national data base linking experts in the field of science, engineering, technology and the social sciences. These experts are experienced speakers willing to communicate their knowledge and enthusiasm to the public. It could be a useful source of contacts for any school-based research group or science club, since as well as maintaining details of speakers who give demonstration lectures, with audience participation, and introductory talks, the database also contains details of speakers willing to discuss their research. Moreover, Talking Science+ can also offer information about scientists who are willing to take part in many activities within the community. The service can provide contact with scientists who:
- can establish a link between your school and their research organisation.
- are prepared to get involved in hands-on activities with adults and school children.
- can give career talks.
- can act as judges in problem-solving competitions.
Talking Science+ can offer advice and information on various strategies for increasing awareness of science.
Contact
Talking Science+, British Association, Fortress House, 23 Saville Row,
London W1X 1AB
Tel: 0171 287 0980.
Funding
Some activities need time, a commodity in short supply, but they might also need some financial support beyond that available from a school's normal budget. Sources of funding are many and varied; whatever they may be it will be necessary to make a formal application for support. Support in kind can also be of great value.
Sources of grants
Sources used by people in the case studies have included:
- local trust funds. In many parts of the United Kingdom there are educational charities with very specific qualifications required of applicants. These may be related to where the applicant lives, his or her age or the nature of the educational establishment involved. The local public library may have a register, although often Local Education Authorities hold listing of educational charities based within their area. Such trusts are often administered from the offices of local solicitors.
- national grant giving trusts.
Three useful sources of information covering both of the above are:
- A Guide to the Major Trusts 1995/96 Vol 1. This provides details of the 300 top grant-making trusts, many with an interest in education.
- A Guide to the Major Trusts 1995/96 Vol 2. This provides details of the next 700 trusts, with a geographical and subject index to both volumes.
- The Educational Grants Directory 1994/95. This covers a very wide range of charities, some of which might consider grants in support of research in schools. As well as details of 270 national and general sources of grants for individuals, there are more than 1100 local and parochial charities listed.
All three are available at £15.95 each (1995 price) from:
The Directory of Social Change, Radius Works, Back Lane, London NW3
1HL
Tel: 0171 284 4364.
Another useful reference work is:
The Directory of Grant Making Trusts 1995 which deals with 3100
trusts. This is published by the Charities Aid Foundation, 48 Penbury
Road, Tonbridge, Kent. 1150pp. £53 (1995 price).
Where a teacher is involved in research and might need to attend conferences, or to travel, a useful source of detailed information about grants available to graduates who are seeking support with professional or advanced vocational training in the UK and Ireland, the USA and Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and developing countries is: The Grants Register 1995-97, edited by Lisa Williams and published by Macmillan. 786 pp. £95 (1995 price).
The Committee On the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS) can be approached for funding of some events or activities that involve the wider public, beyond a school and its students. It does not support purely school-based curricular activities in science.
The Scientific Research in Schools Scheme (pp64-65) may be able to help.
Contact
For COPUS and for the Scientific Research in Schools Scheme:
Cheryl Davies, The Royal Society, 6 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y
5AG
Tel: 0171 839 5561.
Many of the professional and learned societies have grants in their gift, such as those held by the British Ecological Society for small projects and for expeditions. It is best to approach the general secretary of such bodies in the first instance.
Making a grant application
A grant application for projects in which students will become involved in scientific research is greatly strengthened if there is clear evidence that some relevant work has already started and is on a firm footing, with some results obtained already.
It is important to have a clear idea about what you want to achieve and to lay this out clearly. It is well worthwhile maintaining photographic records of activities which you have undertaken with school children and scientists. These can be useful when making further applications and when reporting on your activities.
Partnership Initiatives
Directories
Partners in Science Education
The Chemical Industry Education Centre has produced a comprehensive directory of organisations and industrial sites that are known to lend support to schools, entitled Partners in Science Education.
Contact
Liz Hubbard, The Chemical Industry Education Centre, The University of
York, Heslington, York YO1 5DD
Tel: 0904 432523.
Directory of Education-Industry Organisations
The above directory is complemented by the 1995 Directory of Education-Industry Organisations, sponsored by Esso UK plc and Glaxo Research and Development. Key liaison organisations are included and major education-industry link activities, such as award schemes, courses, conferences, publications and school-based activities are covered.
Contact
Resources Plus, 4 Medway, Thatcham, Berkshire RG13 3AU
Tel: 01635 868668.
Copies cost £3.50 plus 75p p+p.
SATROs
Science and Technology Regional Organisations - SATROs are the operational arm of the Standing Conference on School's Science and Technology. Each SATRO, of which there are 50, is a partnership involving education, business, science and engineering professions aiming to enrich the teaching of science and technology in the local community. Each SATRO offers support to government and industrial education initiatives in science and technology and members are involved in support of the CREST scheme (p66-67) and if the Young Engineers scheme. It is worth contacting your local SATRO, whose address can be obtained from your local education authority or from...
Contact
SCSST, 76 Portland Place, London, W1N 4AA
Tel: 0171 278 2468
Teacher Scientist Network
The Teacher Scientist Network in Norfolk is a network of some 50+ partnerships between professional scientists and school science teachers in Norfolk, formed in June of 1994, starting with a blind date between scientists and teachers. This approach was first adopted in San Francisco in 1987 (for a full description see Sussman, 1993). The scientists involved are from the John Innes Centre, the University of East Anglia and the Institute of Food Research. The teachers come from 7 first schools, 12 primary schools, 10 middle schools, 1 special school and 29 high schools. As in California, the partnerships are developing and evolving - their exact nature will depend upon the predilections and situations of the partners and, no doubt, on serendipity and opportunism. The US scheme was extremely successful in:
- enhancing classroom science by bringing in fresh, up-to-date information and other resources from the outside science community;
- providing teachers with a professional science contact for information and advice;
- providing scientists with an insight into educational processes and purposes, and giving them the opportunity to become involved;
- creating a network of communication between the science community and the education community - including meetings to share experiences and ideas;
- producing materials and ideas for new investigations in the classroom;
- providing teachers with opportunities for teacher-research fellowships in laboratories.
In the summer of 1995 the research fellowships provide a four-week experience for teachers in an active research laboratory in Norfolk. Specific goals are negotiable, but a major aim is to engage the scientific expertise of a research group with the educational skills of the teacher. The scheme is sponsored by the Gatsby Foundation, the University of East Anglia, the John Innes Centre and Science and Plants for Schools. Each fellowship is funded at £800: £300 as stipend and expenses for the teacher, £300 for the teacher to take back to use in the classroom or for kit development, and £200 for the host laboratory.
Contact
Co-ordinator of TSN: Frank Chennell, Hurdle Cottage, Brisley Road, North
Elmham, Norfolk NR20 5DL
Tel/Fax: 01362 668337.
Science across Europe
Science across Europe is a project which brings science and language teachers together in joint work with colleagues in other countries, linking students in community projects, including survey work and data analysis, and bringing a European dimension to common areas of the science curriculum. The project is exploring electronic communication using the Internet and exploiting CD-ROM technology for the projects materials.
Contact
Evelyn Van Dyk, Association for Science Education, College Lane,
Hatfield, Herts AL10 9AA
Tel: 01707 267411.
University science and the wider community
As the case studies in this compendium describe, there are many instances where scientists in universities are involved in partnerships with scientific research groups in schools. There are many other ways in which support can be given. This might be as lectures and day schools organised by individual science departments or through Continuing Studies departments. The case studies also include descriptions of students' work experience placements within university departments. The first point of contact for any teacher could be a schools liaison officer but direct contact with departments might yield results. In some instances local Training and Enterprise Councils have taken on this role.
The editors are aware of a number of universities which are reviewing the nature of their contacts with local schools - frequently it appears that the university might not have a clear picture of the diverse contacts that exist, organised directly between scientists and schools. In the summer of 1994 the pilot scheme run by the Physics Department at the University of Warwick (pp50-51) supported 6 placements, involving pairs of students from three schools. Placements were with three research groups, one larger one and two smaller ones. It was felt that the best arrangement was to have the students associated with a large research group over this time span - with the smaller groups the pressures on research time were great. The scheme will be running again in 1995, on a similar scale. The involvement of school students with a project in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College is described on pp16-17. MSc and MPhil students, as well as a senior lecturer, from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Birmingham were involved in BIOscienceCAMP 94, an event supported by BBSRC, COPUS, the Wellcome Trust and BT amongst many others, in which scientists from many organisations involved with agriculture and the environment took part in a twelve-station interactive science trail on a farm and at King Charles I School, Kidderminster.
There is scope for more diverse interactions between universities and their local community, including schools. That some universities are becoming more outgoing is evidenced in the programme for National Science Week in 1995. One university-based project was the subject of extensive coverage in Tomorrow's World and in The Daily Telegraph, in which members of the public, including school children, were drawn into a survey of the distribution of two 'alien' species of flatworm introduced to Britain from New Zealand and Australia. Dr. Hugh Jones, University of Manchester, had 400 responses to the survey, all of which have been followed up and have added to data being collected more slowly and laboriously by more conventional routes. There is scope for much more of this sort of activity, as the next section describes.
The Double Helix Club
The Club is run by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia and provides members with six copies of The Helix each year, access to various science events and happening and the chance to take part in competitions. It organises a science pen pals scheme. The Club has also offered young people the chance of involvement in real research, with nation-wide projects organised by CSIRO scientists. Examples in the last few years include:
- monitoring of Heliothis moths, one of Australia's most damaging insects pests, using a trap provided by CSIRO.
- a survey of earthworm abundance, again using a kit provided on application.
- survey work in support of conservation of the birdwing butterfly.
- trapping fruit flies on specific dates to contribute to a map of their distribution.
- collecting dung beetles, with a kit from CSIRO, and identification using a book developed for the project. The beetles collected are sent to CSIRO scientists for identification. Once they are identified the beetles are sent back to the finder pinned out and labelled within a box, in the same way as insect researchers keep their specimens.
- surveying to determine the distribution of the Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum) and collection of its seed, from as many different places as possible, in an attempt to create a diverse gene pool for use in breeding programmes.
Cost of membership is A$39 per year. The easiest way to join is by faxing your name, address and credit card details to the address below.
Contact
CSIRO's Double Helix, PO Box 225, Dickson ACT 2602, Australia
Tel: 06 276 6643
Fax: 06 276 6641.
Japan-UK Young Science Partners
This is an informal linkage of those involved in Science for Real experiences in Britain and Japan. The idea originated at a Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation funded science teachers' workshop at Bristol in 1994. Workshops are planned for 1996 at Bristol and in 1998 at Tokyo.
Contact
Dr Akira Takaesu, Musashi High School, 1-26-1 Toyotama-kami, Nerima-ku,
Tokyo 176, Japan
or
Dr Eric Albone, Clifton Scientific
Trust.
Science Competitions
A number of activities have been developed in recent years, which encourage young people to become involved in scientific research. Many encourage a group approach; some are linked with CREST schemes (pp66-67). One example is the Zeneca Life Science Programme. This provides a series of open-ended topics to investigate. Students gain access to the CREST Award Scheme; those who submit outstanding projects can also be entered by their schools for regional prizes. Regional winners are entered for a national prize competition, in which a Young Life Scientist of the Year is selected.
Chemistry Club
The Chemistry Club is an initiative of the Salters' Institute of Industrial Chemistry. The main objective is to make chemistry more visible, more interesting and more attractive to pupils in schools, especially those aged 11 to 14, by creating a network of Chemistry Clubs in schools which are linked with local companies and universities. The Clubs provide an opportunity for youngsters to experiment with wet bench top chemistry where there may be little opportunity for this in lessons. Over the past three years over 5000 children from 500 schools (10% of the secondary schools in England and Wales) have experienced the fun of practical chemistry through The Chemistry Club.
At The Chemistry Club Festivals of Chemistry Grand National Final in 1994, the prize winners were Hungerhill School, Doncaster, with a project on Antacids and Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School, with a project on Chemistry and Colours.
Contact
Mrs Annelise Nunn at The Salters' Company, Salters' Hall, Fore Street,
London EC2Y 5DE
Tel: 0171 588 5216.
Design a Museum Exhibit
Design a Museum Exhibit is organised by the Wellcome Centre for Medical Science for students in Year 12 and 13, studying science and/or technology at Advanced Level or other post-16 courses such as GNVQ. The object is to design an exhibit that explains an area of biomedical science to the general public. Teams of three, four or five must be jointly supervised by a technology teacher and a science teacher.
Contact
Education Officer, The Wellcome Centre for Medical Science, 210 Euston
Road, London NW1 2BE.
Tel: 0171 611 8888.
Science Challenge
The Science Challenge is a national educational initiative, relevant to Science Curricula for 9-13 year olds in the UK. The Challenge has two stages. At the first stage, whole classes engage in small group investigative activities. Each class member's contribution can be rewarded by a special personalised Science Challenge Certificate; Governors, parents and others from the community can become involved as helpers, judges or to present certificates. At the second stage the class submits a summary of its investigation and judges select three primary and three secondary schools to compete for cash prizes and class outings in a series of regional finals, for which expenses are paid. This scheme is run jointly by the Association for Science Education and the British Association for the Advancement of Science and is sponsored by Nuclear Electric.
Health Matters Schools Award
The Health Matters Schools Award is for 11-16 year olds working in teams of not less than five students, up to a whole class, researching areas of disease prevention and health promotion. Students deploy investigative skills and record their findings accurately and imaginatively. Submissions to the judging panel drawn from ASE, the Science Museum and the sponsors, SmithKline Beecham, should include evidence of the individual team members' contributions in diaries and photographs. National Winners have their entry professionally built and exhibited in the Science Museum, as part of the Health Matters gallery.
Contact
For both of the above schemes:
Caroline McGrath, The Science Centre, Runnymede Centre, Chertsey Road,
Addlestone, Weybridge KT15 2EP
Tel: 01932 564157 or 01932 567243.
Duracell Science and Technology UK Schools Competition
The Duracell Science and Technology UK Schools Competition challenges 14-17 year old students to use their imagination and creativity to design a device, an exploration or a display of a scientific phenomenon using Duracell battery power. Work can be conducted within the curriculum or within a science or technology club. Each entry can be the work of up to three students. Organised by the Association for Science Education and sponsored by Duracell.
Contact
Duracell Schools Competition Hotline 0171 240 5341.
The Prince Philip Prize
The Prince Philip Prize is awarded annually for studies in animal biology. The prize is in the form of a medal for the individual winner, and a certificate for the winner's school. The school also receives an award of money to be used in promoting the teaching of animal biology. An entry is normally a well illustrated, 3000 word account of practical work on animal behaviour, physiology, etc. Projects undertaken within the Scientific Research in Schools Scheme could be suitable, as could A-Level projects. No account is taken of the entrant's age in judging, although entrants must be under 19 years of age on the 1st of January of the year of entry.
Contact
The Secretary, Awards Committee, The Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY.
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