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Throughout 2010: Europe-wide Science teachers from all over Europe are invited to join the Science on Stage activities in their respective countries. There, they can share good teaching examples and methods with other teachers from their country. The national events also serve to select some of the best European science teachers to attend the European Science on Stage festival on 16-19 April 2011 in Copenhagen, Denmark. To apply to join your national event, please fill in the contact sheet on the Science on Stage Europe website ('How to join') and return it to the contact email address below. The information will be forwarded to the national contact. The deadlines for the individual national events vary, so do apply soon. More information: www.science-on-stage.eu 15 February - 5 March 2010: more than 80 cities worldwide The sixth International Hands-on Particle Physics Masterclasses will give more than 6000 high-school students and teachers from around the world the opportunity to work with particle physicists to unravel the hidden secrets of high-energy physics. More than 80 universities and laboratories in 23 countries will host these international research days. Participants will visit a research institute near their schools and work with data gathered at CERN, the world's largest particle physics laboratory. They will examine the collisions of electrons and positrons travelling at close to the speed of light, and use computer programs to analyse the data. Results will be compared and discussed with participants in other countries via video link. More information: www.physicsmasterclasses.org 25-26 February 2010: Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, Austria This year sees the 4th science teaching festival organised by Science on Stage Austria. Schools, universities and industry will present their science teaching projects. The winners of this national competition will be participate in the European Science on Stage festival in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 16-19 April 2011. More information: www.scienceonstage.at 1-3 March 2010: EMBL Monterotondo, Italy The European Learning Laboratory for the Life Sciences (ELLS) is an education facility which brings secondary-school teachers into the research lab for a unique hands-on encounter with state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques. ELLS also gives scientists a chance to work with teachers, helping to bridge the widening gap between research and schools. This course, jointly run by ELLS and the Italian Association of Science Teachers (ANISN), will offer the participants the opportunity to dive in the field of modern microscopy, meeting some of the actors of this old and yet still revolutionary field. During the 3-day programme participants will:
The course will be run in English and is open to 20 European high-school teachers. The registration fee of 50€ includes course materials, catering and three nights' accommodation. The deadline for registration is 24 January 2010. More information: www.embl.org/ells 8 - 10 March 2010: EMBL-EBI, Hinxton, UK The European Learning Laboratory for the Life Sciences (ELLS) is an education facility which brings secondary-school teachers into the research lab for a unique hands-on encounter with state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques. ELLS also gives scientists a chance to work with teachers, helping to bridge the widening gap between research and schools. This 2.5-day LearningLab will provide an interactive introduction to the field of bioinformatics, a central part of modern biology that can be used effectively in the classroom to teach biological concepts. The course is open to 40 European high-school and further education science teachers and will be run in English. The registration fee for the course is £85 GBP including accommodation and catering; participants are expected to meet their own travel costs. Three bursaries of £200 GBP will be offered to assist with teaching cover, course registration and travel costs. Information will be provided at the registration stage. More information: www.embl.de/training 11-13 March 2010: Manchester Central, UK This free, fun science fair offers experiments, explosions, simulators, shows, exhibits, hands-on workshops and more for all school and college students. It also hosts some of the most exciting competitions for young scientists, including the National Science & Engineering Competition, open to 11-18 year olds in the UK who have completed a project or activity in any field of science, technology, engineering or maths. For teachers, there are plenty of opportunities to network with other teachers, and pick up tips on topics and activities to take back to the classroom. 11-12 March are school visit days; on 13 March, the fair is open to everyone. You can register online: www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/register.cfm More information: www.thebigbangfair.co.uk 12-21 March 2010: venues throughout the UK This ten-day programme of science, engineering and technology events and activities across the UK is aimed at people of all ages. In addition, the website provides free resources, such as activity packs, quizzes, how-to guides and more. You might even like to organise your own events, with financial support from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, in partnership with the ETB (Engineering and Technology Board). More information: www.britishscienceassociation.org 18 March 2010: worldwide On the third Thursday in March every year, this maths competition takes place simultaneously in schools around the globe - in 2009, over 4.5 million students from almost 40 countries took part. This 75-minute multiple choice test is set as a test under the teacher's supervision. There are eleven levels of participation from grades 2-12. The key competence tested is logical combination, not pure knowledge of formulas. The competition was started in 1978 by Australian university maths scientists as a means to foster the students' interest in maths. Since 1994, the competition has become international, with France being the second country to join in. Evaluation and result collection, as well as the prizes given, are organised at a national level. Special prizes are given for the 'longest kangaroo jump' (the highest number of consecutive correct answers) for each school. For more information, contact your national organiser. See Wikipedia for your relevant link: http://en.wikipedia.org 19 March 2010: Schoollab network GenaU, Berlin, Germany Organised by Science on Stage Germany and financed by the Technologiestiftung Berlin, this half-day workshop (3-6pm) presents two projects. The 'Cologne model' project introduces a collection of 50 school experiments on the topic of polymers (synthesis, properties and manufacture, recycling and analysis). All use permitted and easily acquired chemicals. A selction of the experiments can be tried during the experiments and all participants receive instructions for carrying out all of the experiments. The project 'Osmosis - new insights into well known phenomena using low-cost equipment' is suitable for biology and chemistry teachers, who have the opportunity to build the equipment, run the experiment and discuss the results. The working languages are German and (in part) English. Participation is free; interested teachers should register by email. More information: www.scienceonstage.de Until 22 April 2010: worldwide The 2nd International School Congress (see below) and the Lamaçães Schools Cluster Portugal are running an arts contest supported by UNESCO National Board, to coincide with the International Year of Biodiversity. School students of all ages, nationalities and levels can participate either individually or as groups. They are asked to submit posters on the theme of biodiversity in format A1 (84.1 x 59cm), using traditional techniques (drawing, painting, mixed technique, collage). All colours used must be biological (juice, ashes, soil); digital art is excluded. The submission needs to be labeled with a title, the author's name, the technique, a description (200 words max) and an email address. One prize each will be offered in the two categories: primary school (up to 12 years old) and secondary school (up to 18 years old). All participants will be issued a certificate, and all works will be exhibited at the D. Diogo de Sousa Museum in Braga, Portugal. If applicable, the winning poster will be published in Science in School. Send your posters by 22 April 2010 to: Escola E.B 2/3 de Lamaçães, Rua Dr. Egídio Guimarães, 4715-248, Braga, Portugal. Contact: cie.concurso@gmail.com 5-8 May 2010: Braga, Portugal Teachers of all levels, parents, university students and scientists are invited to participate in this year’s international school congress – ‘Natural Resources, Sustainability and Humanity’. The topics to be covered include:
The total registration fee is depends on which parts of the conference are attended and ranges from 20-150€. The working languages are English and Portuguese. More information: www.cie-portugal.com 7 May 2010: Oberhausen, Germany Teachers and students from across Europe are invited to attend the final event of this year's Innovative Technologies Move Europe competition - for which the topic is energy. Seventeen teams of students and teachers from Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands will present their project results. Each team will have produced a model and solved scientific tasks in a creative way, to build something innovative, artistic or surprising. For those interested in taking part in next year's competition, information will be available on the Science on Stage Germany website in August 2010. Further information: www.science-on-stage.de Contact: info@science-on-stage.de 10-12 May 2010: EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany The European Learning Laboratory for the Life Sciences (ELLS) is an education facility which brings secondary-school teachers into the research lab for a unique hands-on encounter with state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques. ELLS also gives scientists a chance to work with teachers, helping to bridge the widening gap between research and schools. What makes a cell? How do these basic building blocks assemble into higher-order structures such as tissues, organs and whole organisms? During the 3-day LearningLab participants will take an interdisciplinary look at the dynamic field of cell biology and perform various activities related to cell biological questions. In addition, course participants will have the chance to learn about and acquire strategies to conduct an effective literature search. The course is open to 24 European high-school and further education science teachers and will be run in English. The registration fee for the course is 100 € including course materials, catering and accommodation; participants are expected to meet their own travel costs. Three bursaries of 200 Euro will be offered to assist with teaching cover, course registration and travel costs. Information will be provided at the registration stage. The deadline for application is 25 March 2010. More information: www.embl.de/events/2010/ELLS10-01 June 2010: Erfurt, Germany The Germany-wide project Mäta (Mädchen-Technik-Talente Foren in MINT; forums for girls' talents in technology and STEM) is organising a number of regional congresses to get girls aged 10-16 interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers. The congress in Thuringia is organised by OptoNet e.V. and BWAW Thüringen gGmbH in collaboration with local industry and regional associations. More information: www.bwaw-thueringen.de/leistung 6-13 June 2010: Helsinki, Finland Applications are invited for the Millennium Youth Camp, for 30 talented 16- to 19-years-old who are keen on natural sciences, mathematics and technology. The camp brings young people from all over the world together, and introduces them to Finnish business life and top scientists, as well as increasing awareness of the Millennium Technology Prize. The camp is free of charge, and travel, accommodation and food costs are covered. More information: www.technologyacademy.fi/millennium-youth-camp-fi.html 9-13 June 2010: Mannheim, Germany Schools and families are invited to discover the hands-on experiments, lectures by scientists, scientific shows and much more at the Explore Science festival. 31 January 2010 sees the opening of the school competition to solve challenging problems in unique and imaginative ways. The students will present their results to the public and a jury of scientists during Explore Science. More information: www.explore-science.info 11-12 June 2010: Gläsernes Labor, Berlin-Buch, Germany At the Science on Stage festival 2008 in Berlin, workshops covered concepts, methods and content for modern science lessons. Under the guidance of Science on Stage Germany, 52 teachers from 13 European countries have continued these discussions, concentrating on three topics:
At the final event, the results will be presented in the publication Teaching Science in Europe 3. The book will be available in German and English and can be ordered (free) via email. European teachers are invited to attend the event and learn more about the working groups. Those who would like to join future workshops or to contact the members of the working groups should get in touch by email. More information: www.science-on-stage.de 12 June 2010: Austria, Germany, Switzerland The German Geo magazine is co-operating with Swarovski Optik to run the 12th annual Geo Biodiversity Day (Tag der Artenvielfalt). Ever since 1999, everyone interested in nature has been invited to join this largest central European field day either individually or as a group, to sample as many plant and animal species as possible within 24 hours in an area of their choice. Geo offers help with organising and running your own events on the day, including special materials for schools and teachers: www.geo.de/GEO/natur/oekologie This year's topic is 'The value of nature: why diversity counts', relating to the value individual ecosystems have and how this can be determined. Geo will organise the main activity around Freiburg, Germany, in collaboration with the Freiburg region & biodiversity network, running a sampling with over 100 invited experts. The deadline for registering your own activities at the online portal is May 2010. There's also a competition for school students. Groups of students of any age are invited to sample a 'piece of nature' near them in as much detail as possible, and to document their findings in the form they choose. The activity should be supported by teachers and / or experts. The most original and meticulous submissions (in terms of planning, running and evaluating the activity) will be awarded one of 23 prizes: the first prize is a 5-day school trip in September 2010. Activities should take place in the week before or after 12 June 2010, and entries must be submitted by 8 July 2010. For more information, see: www.geo.de/GEO/natur More information: www.geo-artenvielfalt.de 12-13 June 2010: Bristol, UK The Festival of Nature is a public event held annually on a weekend in June in Bristol. Bristol is recognised internationally as a centre for excellence in wildlife film-making and communicating about the natural world. The Festival is an imaginative weekend of films, animal encounters, exhibitions, walks, talks, workshops and competitions for all ages and interests. It also includes a very popular food market, with local and healthy produce. A full programme of activities will be available about two months before the event. All events are free of charge. More information: www.festivalofnature.org 18 June 2010: Schoollab network GenaU, Berlin, Germany Organised by Science on Stage Germany and financed by the Technologiestiftung Berlin, this half-day workshop (3-6pm) presents two projects. The German part of the workshop, 'Nanotechnology and school', presents four projects. One explains how talented school students can be encouraged by research work to take part in a regional youth research competition (Jugend forscht). In the other three projects, 16-year-old students demonstrate their experiments to produce single-wall nanotubes out of carbon, a field-effect transistor out of graphene, and low-cost and colourful photonic crystals out of latex spheres. The Austrian project, 'The latex motor' investigates the conversion and conservation of energy via four experments using latex. A latex glove is used to convert thermal energy into potential energy, lifting a weight when heated; the heating and cooling of condoms is used to create a motor driven by heat from a spotlight; the same latex motor is reversed to demonstrate that kineic energy can be transformed into thermal energy; refrigeration is demonstrated with a latex loop that is cooled on one side (relaxed) and heated on the other (expanded). The working languages are German and (in part) English. Participation is free; interested teachers should register by email. More information: www.scienceonstage.de 20 June - 13 July 2010: Göttingen, Germany High-school and first-year university students (aged about 16 to 20) from all over the world are invited to participate in the XLAB International Science Camps. Run at the University of Göttingen, in collaboration with other scientific institutes, the camps cover current topics in physics, biology and chemistry. Three weeks of laboratory work are complemented by an elaborate social programme and a three-day trip to Berlin. XLAB also offers experimental science courses all the year round. Application deadline: 1 March 27 June – 5 July 2010: Andøya Rocket Range, Andenes, Norway Young people (aged 17 to 21) who are interested in space and science and have a background in physics and mathematics are invited to apply for the European Space Camp, organised by the Norwegian Association of Young Scientists. Participants spend a week doing technical experiments, taking part in a rocket campaign, working as real rocket scientists, learning how to exploit the knowledge they already possess, and broadening their understanding of applied science. The programme includes group work with hands-on activities related to the rocket launch, lectures and social activities. The deadline for registration is 15 April 2010, and participation is free of charge. The working language is English. More information: www.spacecamp.no June/July each year: Blossin, Germany The Institute for Mathematics at Berlin's Humboldt University organises an annual summer school entitled 'Feeling like maths' (Lust auf Mathematik) at the Jugendbildungszentrum Blossin eV near Berlin, strengthen the bonds between schools and universities, and to inspire and prepare talented students for a career in maths, science or engineering. During this one-week event, 30-40 students from schools in the Berlin network of schools with a maths/science profile (Berliner Netzwerk mathematisch-naturwissenschaftlich profilierter Schulen) work in small groups, each under the supervision of a teacher and a maths research scientist, on a mathematical subject proposed by the scientist. Occasionally, students from other schools may take part. The working language is German. More information: http://didaktik.mathematik. 2-7 July 2010: Turin, Italy The Euroscience Open Forum, organised by Euroscience, is not an ordinary scientific conference, but a forum for discussion of topical issues, an embedded conference (with an exhibition) to showcase European achievements across the scientific and technological spectrum, and an outreach programme, consisting of a large number of events and happenings throughout the ESOF host city, targeted to the general public of all ages. The working language is English. Registration is online; more information about the outreach programme, including evens for teachers will be available soon. More information: www.esof2010.org 5 July 2010: Dortmund, Germany The Germany-wide project Mäta (Mädchen-Technik-Talente Foren in MINT; forum for girls' talents in technology and STEM) is organising a number of regional congresses to get girls aged 10-16 interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers. The congress in Dortmund is organised by IVAM, the international professional association for microtechnology. More information: www.ivam.de (Dortmund website) and www.mst-ausbildung.de/maeta (national project website) 7-15 July 2010: Davidson Institute of Science Education, Israel Secondary-school science teachers from all countries are invited to register for a nine-day seminar at which they can:
The registration fee is $200 and the working language is English More information: davidson.weizmann.ac.il/international Contact: Dr Dvora Cohen (dvora.cohen@weizmann.ac.il) 1 - 25 August 2010: Göttingen, Germany High-school and first-year university students (aged about 16 to 20) from all over the world are invited to participate in the XLAB International Science Camps. Run at the University of Göttingen, in collaboration with other scientific institutes, the camps cover current topics in physics, biology and chemistry. Three weeks of laboratory work are complemented by an elaborate social programme and a three-day trip to Berlin. XLAB also offers experimental science courses all the year round. Application deadline: 15 March 9-13 August 2010: Saskatoon, Canada Teachers from Europe, North America and Asia are invited to participate in the second Science on Stage Canada festival. Hosted at the Canadian Light Source and the University of Saskatchewan, the event is based around a science fair. Participants also have the opportunity to train on the Students on the Beamlines project, try some hands-on science and meet researchers in fields ranging from physics to agriculture. Workshops will focus on various day-to-day issues for teachers. More information: www.scienceonstage.ca (Science on Stage Canada) and www.lightsource.ca/education/students.php (Student on the Beamline) 14-19 September 2010: Birmingham, UK The British Science Festival is one of Europe's largest science festivals, taking place each September. The festival is in a different location in the UK each year, bringing you the latest in science, technology and engineering. The 2010 festival is hosted by the West Midlands in partnership with Aston University, offering loads of events for everyone, including talks, plays, debates, hands-on activities and more. Throughout the festival, a series of special events for school groups is provided. In 2010, the programme for schools will be co-ordinated by ThinkTank and will take place in venues around the city including their own award-winning science museum. Most festival events can be booked through the website. More information: www.britishscienceassociation.org Until 20 September 2010: Germany, Austria and Switzerland The prize for young software developers (Jugendsoftwarepreis) is awarded to students who have developed excellent scientific presentations and interactive educational software. There are prizes of up to 1000€ to be won, and suitable winning entries will be given marketing assistance. The deadline for submissions is 20 September 2010. More information: www.jugendsoftwarepreis.info 24 September 2010: Bolzano, Italy EURAC, the Free University of Bolzano (FUB) and the TIS Innovation Park will organise this second biennial event for the general public. From 5 pm until midnight, you will be able to enjoy hands-on science events at nine different venues throught the city. In 2008, an amazing 6000 visitors took the opportunity to join in the 70 different workshops and events. More information: www.eurac.edu/events 1 October 2010: Germany Science teachers from Germany with innovative teaching ideas, workshops and on-stage activities are invited to apply for participation in the national Science on Stage pre-selection event in Germany, which will take place on 1 October 2010 in Berlin. At this national festival, a jury will propose good teaching examples from Germany to be presented at the international Science on Stage festival on 16-19 April 2011 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The deadline for applications is 30 May 2010. More information: www.science-on-stage.de 15 October 2010: Zweibrücken, Germany The Germany-wide project Mäta (Mädchen-Technik-Talente Foren in MINT; forum for girls' talents in technology and STEM) is organising a number of regional congresses to get girls aged 10-16 interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers. The congress in Zweibrücken is organised by pro-mst, the education foundry. More information: www.pro-mst.de (Zweibrücken website) and www.mst-ausbildung.de/maeta (national project website) 29 October 2010: Kempten University, Germany The Germany-wide project Mäta (Mädchen-Technik-Talente Foren in MINT; forums for girls' talents in technology and STEM) is organising a number of regional congresses to get girls aged 10-16 interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers. The congress in Kempten is organised entirely by girls and young women. Female school students are invited to join in with their own ideas, learn about microsystems technology, nanotechnology or optical technology, and tell others about their experiences. Teachers are invited to participate in the congress by preparing a topic with a group of female students, and encouraged to foster their students by signing them up for the congress. More information: www.fraunhofer.de/jobs-karriere 11 November 2010: Hanover, Germany The Germany-wide project Mäta (Mädchen-Technik-Talente Foren in MINT; forums for girls' talents in technology and STEM) is organising a number of regional congresses to get girls aged 10-16 interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers. The congress in Hanover is coordinated by the institute for microtechnology at the Leibniz University Hanover. More information: www.maedchen-und-technik.de (Hanover website) and www.mst-ausbildung.de/maeta (national project website) 16-19 April 2011: Copenhagen, Denmark About 400 science teachers from all over Europe will participate in the next international Science on Stage festival organised by Science on Stage Europe. Participants will have the opportunity to exchange experiences, didactical concepts and teaching methods. National events to select the participants for the international festival will take place in European countries from the beginning of 2010. To apply to take part, please fill in the contact sheet on the Science on Stage Europe website ('How to join') and return it to the contact email address below. The information will be forwarded to the national contact. The deadlines for the individual national events vary, so do apply soon. More information: www.science-on-stage.eu |
All year: 10 locations around the UK The national network of Science Learning Centres, set up by the UK Department for Skills and Education and the Wellcome Trust, provides continuing professional education for everyone involved in UK science education, at all levels. With nine regional centres and a national centre in York, access to innovative and inspiring courses is within reach across the UK. The centres not only deliver hundreds of courses, but also act as a focus for all the science learning activities in their region. More information: www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk All year: over 200 locations around Germany The co-ordinating body for labs for school students in Germany, Lernort Labor, invites teachers to take their classes to visit these labs at universities, science institutes, science centres, museums and in industry. They provide hands-on science and can be found all across Germany. More information: www.lernort-labor.de All year: Glasgow Science Centre, Glasgow, UK Teachers, classroom assistants, nursery teachers and technicians are invited to visit the Glasgow Science Centre free of charge, to explore and investigate what is on offer. More information: www.glasgowsciencecentre.org All year: many Scottish venues, UK Glasgow Science Centre’s outreach team brings all the fun of the science centre directly to schools and community groups throughout Scotland thanks to its lively travelling Science Circus. Science Circus activities consist of amazing live science shows and interactive exhibits delivered at your venue. More information: www.glasgowsciencecentre.org All year: Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK The Pembrokeshire Darwin Science Festival invites all primary schools in Pembrokeshire to book a rockpool ramble and identification field trip. The course is aimed at Key Stage 2 pupils (ages 8-11), takes half a day and is led by three qualified marine scientists. Cost: £250 with a bus or £170 without a bus. Maximum 30 children. More information: www.darwincentre.com All year: Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK The Pembrokeshire Darwin Science Festival offers a double workshop visit for a maximum of 30 Key Stage 2 pupils (ages 8-11) and costs £200. The group is split into two workshops, which run simultaneously:
Also available are three 90-minute workshops, each for a maximum of 20 pupils and costing £120:
More information: www.darwincentre.com All year: Paris-Montagne, Paris, France Throughout the year, Paris-Montagne runs an outreach programme in all Parisian suburbs and in the Lyon area. The science academy is for high-school students who are interested in science but not confident enough to enrol for undergraduate studies, due to social and cultural hindrances. The organisation offers students personal tutoring and the possibility to discover the world of research by meeting researchers in various fields and by carrying out their own research in real laboratories during their holidays (100 labs, from three hospitals and a dozen universities and research institutes, participated in April 2008). The most dedicated participants in the programme are offered the chance to take part in a summer camp during the Paris-Montagne science festival in July, and also to attend other scientific summer camps in Europe (including Petnica, Kut Diak and Visnjan). Since its creation in 2006, nearly 300 high-school students have participated in the science academy, and each year around 1500 participants visit the Paris Montagne science festival. More information: www.scienceacademie.org All year: Portugal Ciência Viva organises short talks by MIT professors in Portuguese secondary schools, as part of a co-operation between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Portuguese universities in the areas of bioengineering, sustainable energy and transport systems. The students have direct contact with MIT professors and can discuss their ideas and ask questions about these important engineering areas. Schools are selected based on their motivation for participating in the programme and on the projects they have developed in the areas of science and engineering. More information: www.cienciaviva.pt/divulgacao/mit All year: INTECH, Hands-on Interactive Science and Discovery Centre, Winchester, UK Teachers are invited to visit INTECH, the hands-on interactive science and discovery centre free of charge, or to attend a teacher preview session to discover what is available for school visits and workshops. More information: www.intech-uk.com All year: EURAC tower, Bolzano, Italy EURAC, the European Academy Bolzano, is an institute for applied research and further education. Its science café is an evening event series in which scientists and artists meet in an informal atmosphere to engage in scientific dialogue in front of the general public, over a glass of wine, with music and wonderful views of the city of Bolzano. A presenter leads a one-hour-discussion of topical science issues, after which a DJ creates an inviting atmosphere to linger and chat. The discussions (in Italian and German) are recorded and provided online as videos, audio files and photos on the EURAC tower website, where you can also find this year's programme or sign up for the newsletter. Why not plan an evening visit with your class to the science café? More information: http://tower.eurac.edu All year: Matheon, Berlin, Germany The DFG Research Center Matheon offers a range of activities to show that maths can be vivid, up-to-date, and fun. Rent the Center: on request, Matheon researchers come to your school to give a lesson on their research topics, presented in a way appropriate to the students' age. The idea is to demonstrate that not all maths problems have already been solved or are to be found in school books, but that maths is a vivid and creative science. Matheredaktion: five times a year, editors of school newspapers are invited to the Matheon centre to find out about research there and to write about it. In small discussion groups, mathematicians explain current projects in an intelligible way, while answering the young and curious reporters' questions. Mathinside - Urania: under the slogan 'Maths is everywhere', Matheon researchers give a lecture series in Berlin, primarily addressed at students in grades 10-13 (ages 16 and above) but open to everybody. Topics include the use of maths in mobile phones, cars, medical equipment, public transport and the stock exchange. The activities are run in German, but other languages may be possible on request. All year: Institute for Mathematics, Humboldt-University Berlin, Germany The Institute for Mathematics offers a lecture series on maths didactics; in the winter semester 2009/2010 these will place every second Monday at 16:15. The lectures cover various aspects of teaching maths at school, from the primary to the secondary level. Lectures are held in German, and teachers are welcome. For the full programme, see: http://didaktik.mathematik.hu-berlin.de All year: venues throughout Germany The German Telekom Foundation (Deutsche Telekom Stiftung) in collaboration with the German Mathematicians' Union (Deutsche Mathematiker-Vereinigung, DMV) offers a range of workshops and courses for maths teachers in Germany within their project 'Doing maths differently' (Mathematik Anders Machen). There is a range of courses to choose from, aimed at maths departments (Fachkonferenzen) of different primary- and secondary-school types. In each case a tandem of scientists and teachers is formed, ensuring a close link between theory (university) and practice (school). The goal is to develop long-term co-operations, and ideally, several courses (each lasting 3-8 hours) should be run on one complex topic. A list of the courses currently on offer is available online. Customised courses can be developed, should your needs not be met by the current offers. More information and applications: www.schule-interaktiv.de All year: Deutsches Museum, Munich, Germany The Deutsches Museum not only hosts a collection of masterpieces of science and technology, but also offers a rich programme for school children of all ages, and their teachers. For school classes, there are a number of two-hour programmes on different topics, each including an activity designed to meet the requirements of the four main school types in Germany, as well as one-hour guided tours. The Kids' Kingdom is set aside for the youngest researchers, aged 3-8. Alternatively, children may take part in one of the discovery workshops (for children aged 4-8), treasure hunts (ages 8-14) or guided tours (ages 8-12), or join the programmes for 9- to 13-year-olds, in which they can explore certain topics or become tour guides for other children. During the school holidays, there are a range of workshops and activities. Some need to be booked in advance, whereas others are available ad hoc. The museum also holds a lecture series, with talks aimed at three different target audiences: young people, the general public, and university students. The museum's website offers useful educational materials and resources, developed by the museum staff, visiting teachers, and visiting school students. In co-operation with the Technical University of Munich, the museum also hosts the TUMLab, a hands-on science lab offering courses and workshops for students, teachers, and other interested groups or individuals aged 10 and above. Topics include automation technology, computing, a hands-on universe, molecular modelling and robotics. It also offers the 'junior assistant' programme, in which school students are trained to become supervisors and guides for other school classes. In addition, you may attend live video conferences, witnessing research scientists at work in their labs. Finally, you may want to take advantage of the teacher training courses offered throughout the year. Occasionally, competitions are hosted - see the TUMLab website. More information: www.deutsches-museum.de and www.tumlab.de All year: Bildungsnetzwerk Klima & Energie, Oldenburg, Germany The education network climate & energy (Bildungsnetzwerk Klima & Energie) is an initiative run by the city of Oldenburg to foster climate and energy education in schools through a range of options. If you would like to offer your students first-hand experience and information, why not get in touch with one of the network's many cooperation partners from industry? They have a list of two dozen companies ranging from energy providers and solar power companies to architects of eco-friendly houses. Contact the network to get in touch with one of them, or see the previous projects for inspiration: www.oldenburg.de/stadtol There are a range of places to visit in the area that are related to energy production and climate, including a solar-powered boat, a water mill and a wind-power park: www.oldenburg.de/stadtol The network also lends a wide range of materials for use in class - from books and experimental boxes to games and measuring instruments, suitable for both primary and secondary education: www.oldenburg.de/stadtol More information: www.oldenburg.de/stadtol All year: EWE AG, Oldenburg, Germany The energy provider EWE offers a range of activities for local primary, secondary and vocational schools. Free teaching materials, such as comics, magazines, posters and experimental boxes, can be ordered. EWE also offer a number of online games for both primary and secondary students, on energy topics relevant to the curriculum. EWE representative give talks on energy-related topics covered in the primary- and secondary-school curricula, including household energy use, practical ways to save energy, and sources of energy. The 'Energiemobile', a lorry containing mobile workspaces, measuring instruments, multimedia and other materials, can be booked to visit school. Alternatively, your school might want to join EWE's new project, 'Sonnenklar', aimed at secondary and vocational schools. Solar panels are mounted on the school's roof, and EWE provide teaching materials, computers, its 'energy mobile' truck and teacher training on energy topics. More information: www.ewe.de/ewe-ist-mehr/schulen.php All year: Münster, Germany The 'Light up your life' programme offers girls in grade 8 and above (aged 14+) an insight into future-oriented jobs and fosters their interests in science, mathematics and technology. Using light as a topic relevant to many areas of everyday life, such as displays of mobile phones, colours in cosmetics, the workings of traffic lights, LCD-alarm clocks or domestic lighting, workhops demonstrate the versatility of light. The girls can explore the phenomena of light in hands-on experiments, complemented by visits to companies and research institutes working with light, to get an insight into the variety of possible jobs. The programme is complemented by a web community, and participants get a certificate at the end. More information: www.lightupyourlife.de All year: Environmental Education Centre, Oldenburg, Germany The regional environmental education centre Oldenburg (Umweltbildungszentrum) is one of 28 regional environmental education centres (RUZ) in Lower Saxony. The centre offers free courses for school classes on the topics of energy (renewable and sustainable energy); healthy food from environmentally friendly agriculture (in co-operation with organic farmers); experiencing nature (exploring the woods and waters, watching migratory birds, excursions to the moor); health education; development (sustainable companies run by schoolchildren, workshops on sustainability). Further offers include advice for teachers on the topics of environment, energy and development; training courses for teachers and kindergarten employees; a library of environmental education materials and more. More information: www.oldenburg.de/stadtol All year: venues across Germany The 'Taste MINT' programme offers female students in their last year of secondary school (grades 12 or 13, Abiturientinnen) who are interested in taking up a career in science, technology, engineering or mathematics, the possibility to assess their strengths in these areas. Individual and team sessions over three days simulate the requirements for these jobs. The girls subsequently receive personal feedback and advice, including whether a university or technical college (Fachhochschule) might be more appropriate. At the end of the three days, each participant receives a written report on her abilities, which can be used to apply to university. More information: www.tastemint.de All year: venues across the UK Starchaser Industrie offers a wide range of educational activities complementing the English national curriculum, to inspire students at all levels in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. On offer are downloadable educational materials; interactive shows, workshops, real rockets, and presentations at your school; rocket kits and much more. More information: www.space4schools.co.uk All year: Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany Münster University's didactics workshop (Didaktischen Werkstatt Sachunterricht) offers a number of support activities for primary-school science teachers and their pupils, including workshops and training for teachers, as well as an open lab for teachers who need help preparing a bigger project. Visiting school classes can do practical work on a number of topics, such as building vehicles, musical instruments, sundials or other measuring instruments, electrical circuits and much more. Boxes of materials to teach science topics such as magnetism, salt, bridges and gravity can be borrowed by primary-school teachers. These boxes are available throughout Germany. More information: www.uni-muenster.de/Sachunterrichtsdidaktik All year: Museum König, Bonn, Germany The joint project 'Natur beflügelt' (Winged Nature) by the Alexander-König-Gesellschaft and the Museum König gives school students aged 11-16 who are interested in science the opportunity to discover and explore biodiversity. Three types of projects are on offer: a weekly science club at the museum every Saturday; a range of holiday workshops and excursions on a number of topics; and the resources to help schools to set up student clubs (Arbeitsgemeinschaft). More information: www.zfmk.de/web/Foerderer All year: Deutsches Museum, Bonn, Germany The Deutsches Museum Bonn not only offers topical tours for school groups from the age of 12, but also regular workshops on different topics for children aged 4-13. Some workshops are offered during the school holidays. In addition, the museum's experimental kitchen offers students from grades 2-10 (aged 8-17) the opportunity to discover hands-on chemistry using materials and substances from their everyday lives. Students in grades 9 and 10 (ages 15-17) are invited to use the experimental learning station 'Mannometer: Nanometer!' on nanotechnology. School groups are required to book in advance. Primary-school teachers might like to visit with a class of up to 25 students from grades 2-4 (ages 8-11) to use the experimental boxes on the topic of 'swimming and sinking'. The museum staff can help to run the experiments. A special programme is offered for students of five-year-secondary schools (Hauptschule) in grade 8 (ages 14-15) who are interested in a chemistry-related career. The 'lab license for the experimental kitchen' (Laborführerschein ExperimentierKüche) consists of four workshops at the museum, complemented by visits to three potential employers who offer vocational training in chemistry-related jobs. Workshops and discussions are combined with excursions and opportunities to talk to people who are already doing a vocational training for one of these jobs. More information: www.deutsches-museum.de/bonn All year: many European countries The Roberta initiative is a project developed in Germany by the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems, and it has now been adapted to other European countries. It addresses the lack of engineers by raising girls' and boys' interest in the technical professions. With the use of standardised robotics kits, Roberta allows a hands-on introduction to technology. A network of regional centres (currently in Austria, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK) provide training and support for interested Roberta course instructors (e.g. teachers, educators, skilled students), as well as lending robot construction kits. In addition, Roberta academies at extracurricular learning locations offer regular taster courses for schools in their region, so that teachers can try out the concept. More information: www.roberta-home.de/en All year: many venues across Germany The German Telecom Foundation has teamed up with schools, universities and regional partners from industry and science to support junior engineering academies (Junior-Ingenieur-Akademien, JIA) across Germany. These regional projects aim to show students from grade 8 onwards (aged 15+) what the work of engineers, scientists and researchers is like, in order to interest them in engineering careers. Activities at school complement visits to companies and science institutes, as well as workshops, excursions, internships and more. See also the SIA project for students from grade 10 onwards (aged 17+). To specifically foster the enthusiasm of girls in these subjects, the Fraunhofer Society has joined in, offering a continuous programme for students from grade 8 through to the beginning of university studies in engineering. More information: www.telekom-stiftung.de/dtag/cms/content All year: many venues across Germany The SIA project (Schüler-Ingenieur Akademie), a collaboration between schools, high schools and industry, supports secondary-school students who are interested and talented in science and technology, to help them enter a career in engineering. Conditions at the different locations vary, but generally, students from grade 10 or 12 onwards (aged 16+ or 18+) are encouraged to take part in extracurricular teaching and lab courses, as well as other related activities, over the course of 1-3 school years. More information: www.sia-bw.de, www.sia.ulm.de, www.sia-online.de and www.telekom-stiftung.de If you're interested in starting your own SIA, see: www.telekom-stiftung.de/dtag/cms/content All year: education centre for chemistry teachers, Bremen and Oldenburg, Germany Since May 2002, the education centre for chemistry teachers in Bremen and Oldenburg, run by both towns' universities, offers courses and teacher training across the whole of northern Germany, from primary- to secondary-school level. Courses are taught at the two universities and directly in schools. The costs for the courses vary. More information: www.chemie.uni-bremen.de/lehrerfortbildung Contact: Prof. Ilka Parchmann, Prof. Mathias Wickleder, Dr Holger Lüschen All year: UK cities Secondary-school science teachers (from the UK or elsewhere) are invited to attend one-day courses in biotechnology, genetics, forensics and PCR. Organised by Edvotek in collaboration with the Society of Biology, these courses offer the opportunity to:
The courses cost £95 + VAT and are run in English. More information: http://edvotek.co.uk From February 2010: Deutsches Museum, Munich, Germany In Autumn 2009, the German Museum (Deutsches Museum) in Munich opened its new Centre for New Technologies (ZNT), focusing on gene, bio- and nanotechnology, to answer questions such as 'Should humankind be allowed to redefine itself?', 'Where are the borders between human and machine, nature and technology?', 'Do we really want to surround ourselves with intelligent materials and artificial life?'. To complement the exhibition, there will be a creative writing lab for school students, in which they can discover the stories behind the inventions and the debates behind the facts, through writing their own fictional texts. A team of exhibition curators and young scientists will introduce the topic of the writing lab from the areas of bio- and nanotechnology. Experts in creative writing help the students develop their own ideas. A total number of 10 writing labs are planned, which can be run over several weeks or as block seminars. Target audience are individual students or entire school classes of grades 9 and above. The museum is looking for teachers - not only of any science subjects, but also of German, social studies, literature or ethics - who would like to join the project with their students. The organisers will co-operate with you to ensure a smooth integration of the project into your curriculum. More information: www.deutsches-museum.de/information |
If you organise events or competitions that would be of interest to European science teachers and you would like to see them mentioned in Science in School, please email details - including date, location, title, abstract, price, language, registration deadline, website and contact email address - to editor@scienceinschool.org.
