News

November 2005

The new site design will be introduced during November. We apologise for any inconvenience whilst this work is in progress.

October 2005

Work is in hand planning the 2006 UK-Japan Young Scientist programme culminating in the summer workshop at the University of Surrey. Financial support has already been made available by the DTI Office of Science and Technology, Japan 21, the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, and the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, while the Specialist Schools Trust has also offered to promote the work of the Trust across their schools network, particularly but not exclusively with Science Colleges.

Clifton Scientific Trust welcomes hearing from organisations and individuals interested in working with us in this area.

To this end Clifton Scientific Trust was particularly delighted to be invited to be represented at the Japan Cultural Exchange reception organised by the British Japanese Parliamentary Group at the House of Commons on 24 October.

September 2005

Dr Albone is delighted to be invited to represent Clifton Scientific Trust on the Steering Group of ABLAZE (A Business and Learning Action Group for Education), a new Bristol-based registered charity whose mission is to improve attainment, achievement and attendance in Bristol Schools through partnerships between business and education.

August 2005

Preparatory work has started on an extensive overhaul and update of the site. The result will hopefully be a much fresher and more dynamic site, and a better resource for science communicators.

July 2005

2005 UK-Japan Young Scientist Workshop has unfortunately had to be rescheduled for July 2006 as the result of Japanese fears following the London bombings. In the interim CST will be working with colleagues in Britain and Japan to make the rescheduled Workshop an even better event, while students from the British and Japanese schools involved are now in contact through the secure bilingual JapanUKLive website generously provided as support in kind by Japan 21.

July 2005

Our Primary Science Day focus Medicine on July 8th was a magnificent success. Hosted at Clifton College Preparatory School and with support from Gatsby's Science Enhancement Programme, Gifted and Talented pupils and their teachers from four north Bristol primary schools spent the day working with a team of four young neuroscientists from Bristol University, two GPs, a surgeon and two medical students, following a model that continues to work so well. Previous Primary Science Days have included chemistry, engineering, and perfume science. As one teacher who had not attended reported on the impact of an earlier medicine primary science day on pupils in her school

To say I was amazed at the Yr5 children's response to the day is an understatement. Many of the Yr 5 boys can be unenthusiastic and unresponsive to 'learning' and unable or unwilling to verbalise their thoughts and ideas. All children spoke with great enthusiasm citing many aspects that they found interesting. It was wonderful to see how animated they were and the number of facts they remembered. These they related to the Yr 2 children who in turn were captivated by the Yr5's enthusiasm and the interesting facts they told them.

Full reports are available.

June 2005

Plans are well advanced for the 2005 UK-Japan Young Scientist Workshop at the University of Surrey for the first week in August. Students from 9 schools in Britain and Japan will be working together on open ended projects facilitated by university specialists in areas related to climate change, nanotechnology, clock gene research and global satellite monitoring are in place. Financial support from DTI Office of Science and Technology, Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation and support in kind from the Smallpeice Trust, Japan 21 and the University of Surrey.

May 2005

CST is delighted to be invited to join the steering group of ABLAZE (A Business Learning Action Zone for Education) the new charity which has been set up to carry forward the work of the Bristol Education Action Zone, with which the Trust has been associated for some years.

May 2005

Plans for the UK-Japan Young Scientist Reception on May 19 at the Royal Society of Chemistry, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London have progressed well. Speakers will include not only representatives from the Royal Society of Chemistry and Japan Air Lines who have generously made the provided the venue gratis and funded the reception, respectively, but also form the DTI Office of Science and Technology-Global Policy, the Embassy of Japan, the University of Surrey, the Rikkyo School in England and George Abbot School in Guildford, as well as from Clifton Scientific Trust.

Jan 2005

CST has received unsolicited high commendation from Heather Tomlinson, City of Bristol Director of Education and Lifelong Learning. In her letter of 26 January she writes

I have received some excellent feedback from Primary Headteachers regarding your work for the Clifton Scientific Trust and its impact on children's learning. To quote from one letter

"The self-esteem of the children was raised, many deciding that a career in science was an option that they had not considered before"

As the newly appointed Director of Education in Bristol I am writing to thank you personally for all your hard work in support of city schools. We face a major challenge to raise standards, and we need all the support of our community to meet the challenge. I just wanted you to know how much your efforts are appreciated and that they are making a real difference to children and schools.

Jan 2005

The Japan Science and Technology Agency is broadcasting on Japanese science channel two 30 minute programmes on the UK-Japan Young Scientist Workshop our colleagues in Japan ran with us at the Ritsumeikan University Kyoto in August 2004. They have also produced a DVD of the event which they have sent to every Super Science High School in Japan. Copies are available on request.