Attention teachers! Did you know that you can borrow samples of Moonrock and Meteorites?Well you can! With the science and technology facility council’s Loan Scheme.
Valuable samples of moon rock and soil were brought back to Earth by NASA’s Apollo astronauts. STFC is the only authorised source for the loan of this precious material to educational or scientific organisations within the United Kingdom. Four educational packages are available free of charge (including special security delivery/collection) for short term loans of lunar samples and meteorites.
The samples were collected during NASA’s manned space missions to the Moon in the late 1960′s and early 1970′s. During these missions the Apollo astronauts brought back to earth 382 kilograms of lunar material. NASA decided to use a small proportion of the rock and soil to develop lunar and planetary sciences educational packages.
They are of interest to everyone from a young child to a geology student. Each package also contains different examples of meteorites, put together by the Natural History Museum. Some sets have sectioned samples, and every set has chunk-sized pieces of meteorite that can be handled. Comprehensive support material is included with each loan. Hundreds of schools, colleges, universities, museums and astronomical societies throughout the UK have enjoyed the samples since the scheme began. Please give them at least four months notice. For further information and how to apply for a loan, read thenotes for borrowers + applicationthen visit thefrequently asked questions.
The Biochemical Society have grants of up to £1000 available to help fund activities that communicate the excitement of molecular bioscience, or more general biology, to young people and the community. Their activities library has some ideas you could use, including downloadable activity cards, useful links and details of past activities for inspiration. The deadline for the next round of applications is 30th April 2012. For more details please see here.
Bright club are looking for students and researchers to take part in the next Newcastle event which will take place in June, the meeting for those interested in taking part is next week, see below for details.
Newcastle Bright Club is the thinking person’s variety night, blending comedy, music, art, new writing, science, performance, and anything else that can happen on a stage. The Centre Life are welcoming along some of the north east’s finest academics, researchers and students for a variety night like no other.
Newcastle Bright Club
Training session
Weds 25 April
12.30pm-2.30pm
Centre for Life – meet at main visitor reception
A great public engagement opportunity for north east based students and researchers!
Footage of some previous Newcastle Bright Club acts can be found below:
If you’re interested in finding out more or even taking part in Newcastle Bright Club please get in touch with Sheela Joy on sheela.joy@life.org.uk or 0191 243 8292.
Cost: FREE with lunch and refreshments included. Places must be pre-booked through the Science Learning Centre North East. (Failure to attend without prior notice will incur a £25 administration fee.)
Application is now open for the British Science Association’s Strictly Engineering between 5 April-16 May 2012 (midnight).
All postgraduate engineers (MSc to professors) based in the UK working in any engineering area, either in academia or industry, are eligible.
You need to be available on the following dates:
- Workshops: London 26 June; Aberdeen, 3 July; Manchester, 12 July (10h – 16h30).
- British Science Festival: 7-9 July
- Develop poster: ~25h spread throughout July and August (this is just a rough estimate, more or less time might be required)
Only up to 34 applications will be selected.
The British Science Association will consider how well your proposal is written, if you have a clear message you want to pass on to the general public and if the skills developed by this project will potentially benefit your and others in the future. They may also consider diversity criteria in similarly marked proposals.
Putting the Business into STEM
30 May at Teesside University. 4.30pm – 7pm.
A series of free regional events bringing together teachers and businesses to inspire students with the excitement and potential of STEM subjects.
Join local teachers and businesses at one of these informal events to explore how to work together to engage secondary school students with the opportunities offered by STEM.
Real-world experience
Bring practical experience and contemporary applications of STEM into school to engage students with the relevance of studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).
Employability skills
Create STEM challenges to help students develop vital skills for future employment including communications, project management, team-working and problem-solving.
Networking
Build connections across the local community working with businesses, teachers, students and parents to raise the profile of STEM industries and careers.
Your regional event:
Middlesbrough: 30 May at Teesside University. 4.30pm – 7pm.
Come along at 3.30pm for a welcome from the Dean of the School of Science and Engineering and a tour of their cutting-edge facilities.
There are 12 events being held round the country, for details of other dates and venues and to book your free places visit: www.stemnet.org.uk/bis or call 07531 810881
Everyone is welcome to attend, whether you are experienced in engaging students with STEM or looking for guidance and support to begin Putting the Business into STEM Education.
The Royal Society of Chemistry have just launched their ‘Chemistry in the Olympics’ website and global experiment.
The site went live last week, featuring information and data entry pages for their global experiment, and dozens of resources exploring chemistry in sport. The global experiment will test the effects of sports drinks on athletic performance and encourage participation in students of all ages. Children in school and at home are encouraged to take part, ideally before the start of this year’s London Olympics!
Alistair Brownlee, twice world champion triathlete and former chemistry student, introduces the global experiment site and talks about the role chemistry played in his own education and how chemistry is vital to his sport.
