Oct 25, 2019 | Professional development, Secondary, Updates, Young Scientists Journal
Earlier this month I was invited to speak at a conference of Nordic international schools who meet regularly for information exchange and professional development. It was refreshing to learn from others at this conference and to have an opportunity to share my ideas about science education, particularly through the workshops I led on teaching numeracy skills in science, and on Young Scientists Journal. Meeting teachers and educational leaders from across the Nordic and Baltic countries was very enriching; it’s always great to meet...
Aug 7, 2016 | Secondary, Updates, Young Scientists Journal
John Holman (RSC, Wellcome Trust, University of York) ran a session at the ASE meeting in January 2016 on attitudes to practical science at schools around the world. This was my response to a call for reflections in July following the meeting. “Thank you for your email and the attached report. John and I have met since the ASE meeting in January to discuss the role of Young Scientists Journal in encouraging and inspiring school students to engage in science projects with publication as a motivating end-point. I would like to...
May 6, 2016 | Communication, Primary, Secondary, Updates, Young Scientists Journal
I have a postcard glued onto my notebook with a quote from Maria Mitchell: “We especially need imagination in science. It is not all mathematics, nor all logic but is somewhat beauty and poetry.” I like to think that Harry Kroto would have approved. He was driven by imagination and creativity, and spent his life inspiring these qualities in others. I knew Harry was very ill but the news of his death still came as a shock last weekend. I was at a science show, witnessing a dynamic science communicator...
May 4, 2016 | Communication, Secondary, Updates, Young Scientists Journal
Sometimes, a series of fortunate events in the course of a week make you smile. Together, they can bring into focus something you’ve been thinking about in your subconscious. Three things intersected this week to make me reflect on how important it is to ignite sparks in science, to illuminate people’s imaginations – and there are so many ways of doing that. Last Monday I was lucky enough to be invited to the UK final of Famelab, a wonderful competition where young scientists stand up in...
