Welcome to the first YPP e-newsletter of 2006.
Our first major event of the year, the BA CREST Science Fair, was a great success: indeed Robert Winston commented that it was 'very, very impressive'. Find out more about this event and forthcoming BA events in this issue of the ypp e-newsletter.
1. BA CREST SCIENCE FAIR 27TH FEBRUARY 2006
2. NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK 2006
3. ENERGY SAVING ACTIVITY
4. NEW BA SCIENCE COMMUNICATORS RESOURCES
5. THE SCIENCE COMMUNICATION CONFERENCE – SCOTLAND AND LONDON
6. NEWS FROM YPP SUPPORTERS
7. RECOMMENDED WEBSITE
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1) BA CREST SCIENCE FAIR 27th FEBRUARY 2006
The BA CREST Science Fair took place on Monday 27th February at the Royal Society, London. Over 100 budding young scientists aged 12-19 displayed their project work in science and technology and competed for a range of top prizes.
Winners included Lydia Arnold, 17, from Manchester, who designed a robotic hand and was selected to represent the UK at the International Science and Engineering Fair, Indianapolis, in May.
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2) NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK 10-19 MARCH 2006
National Science Week 2006 is only 7 days off!
Visit the programme online to see what’s on in your area – with over a thousand events up and down the UK, there’s bound to be something close to you. There is also a wealth of resources on the website for you to do your own activities at home or at school!
Click for the Climate
This week sees the launch of “Click for the Climate”, a campaign that the BA is running in conjunction with the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council).
Climate change is already happening, as scientists report daily, and we must take drastic action to reduce our energy consumption if we are to stop catastrophe.
Even the smallest of actions can make a difference!
That’s why, for National Science Week, we are asking you to make a small pledge towards reducing the amount of carbon dioxide you produce during the Week (though we’d love you to continue when it’s over!). Then, once the week is over, we can see how much carbon dioxide has been saved.
Illuminate
The Illuminate photography competition, which invited people to capture the colour in science, proved to be a great success, with hundreds of entries being submitted from people of all ages from across the UK. The photos have now been judged and the winners chosen...
We will announce and display the winning entries of Illuminate on our website during National Science Week.
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3) ACTIVITY
As part of the National Science Week 2006, everyone is being asked to reduce the amount of energy they use on a daily basis. One example might include walking to school rather than travelling by car.
If you are interested in exploring ways to save energy, you could try the activity below:
Recreate the greenhouse effect (PDF 84KB)
This activity was taken from the National Science Week ‘Exploring Energy’ pack.
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4) NEW BA SCIENCE COMMUNICATORS RESOURCES
BA Science Communicators scheme (for 11-19 year olds) helps students to develop a broader understanding of the role of science and technology in today's society and the ability to communicate relevant issues in an informed and confident way.
To earn a BA Science Communicators award students carry out a range of activities which can include performing a drama, making a radio programme on a scientific issue and producing a poster.
Scientists, engineers and social scientists, are encouraged to explore the social and ethical implications of their research by entering Perspectives - a poster session with a difference. The posters from Perspectives can be used as a teaching aid or as examples of how to think about and illustrate the different implications of scientific issues.
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5) THE SCIENCE COMMUNICATION CONFERENCE – SCOTLAND & LONDON
The BA, with the support of the Scottish Executive and ecsite-UK, is organising a Science Communication Conference in Scotland, to be held on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 April 2006 at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh.
The conference will include an Science Education strand, which will focus on linking formal and informal learning, in light of the Scottish Executive’s review of the science curriculum and other adult learning initiatives.
In London, the 2006 Science Communication Conference will take place on Thursday 13th and Friday 14th July at the Institute of Electrical Engineers. The London conference will also include a Science Education strand.
Both conferences seek to address the key issues facing science communicators in the UK and to play an important role in helping develop a national strategy for science communication.
The conference is aimed at key people engaged in science communication, including policy makers, professionals and academics, in government, research institutions, universities, industry and business, the media, PR, science centres and museums, science education, funding organisations, learned institutions, NGOs and research charities.
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6) NEWS FROM YPP SUPPORTERS
Mid Glamorgan Education Business Partnership encourages schools within the boroughs of Bridgend, Caerphilly West, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf to run BA Science Clubs. In order to recognise the achievements of the children in obtaining their BA First Investigator awards we organise an award ceremony in each of the boroughs during March and again for BA Young Investigators in June.
Local Assembly Members will attend the award ceremonies to present the children with their certificates along with other local dignitaries and sponsors. During the ceremony Gary the Musical Clown will present his science show on Forces.
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7) RECOMMENDED WEBSITE
The Department of Trade and Industry has created a renewable energy education site.
As part of the ‘It's Only Natural Programme’, DTI has developed programmes for primary and secondary schools to provide information and teaching resources for science teachers about eight key renewable energy sources.
Here's the URL:
http://www.dti.gov.uk/renewables/schools/
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