Institute of Physics' Public Engagement Grant Scheme 2013 Round 1

For attention of STEM Outreach practitioners/Teachers:

Do you have a fantastic idea for making physics accessible? Do you want to reach a wider audience? Do you need some support to make your outreach activity happen?

The first round of the 2013 Public Engagement Grant from the Institute of Physics is now open for applications. The grants are worth up to £1500 and aim to support physics-based outreach activities in the UK and Ireland throughout 2013. Activities should provide engaging experiences of physics to public audiences.

More information about the grant scheme, including application forms, guidelines and summaries of past projects, is available online at http://www.iop.org/about/grants/outreach/page_38843.html or by emailing physics.society@iop.org.

Closing date: 22 October 2012.

Rik Sargent

Outreach Officer

Institute of Physics

76 Portland Place

London

W1B 1NT

E-mail: rik.sargent@iop,org

Direct tel: +44 (0) 020 7470 4845

www.iop.org

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MiniBeast Mayhem!

To paraphrase Mulder from the X-files "This is no place for
an entomologist..."
But this is! Meet the Species - Mini-beast Mayhem!

Nature - Fusing Science & Film

Another competition that may be of interest:

Nature proudly sponsors the 5th Imagine Science Film Awards November 16th - 19th 

 For the 5th year running, Nature will be sponsoring the "Scientific Merit' and 'Audience' awards at the Imagine Science Film Festival (ISFF). 
Nature has always supported ISFF's commitment to greater collaboration between scientists and filmmakers', ensuring the spotlight is on those who interpret scientific advancements through film. 

 For information, or to submit your film and compete for the $2,500 Nature Scientific Merit Award and the $1,000 Nature Audience Award.
 Visit ISFF 2012

UK Science Funding Opportunities Resource

As a little experiment with Blogger I have created another new blog.
This doesn't (and is unlikely to have many posts, but it aggregates RSS feeds from a variety of UK Science Funding Bodies (Including the Research Councils plus EU). This may be useful to PIs looking for new funding sources.
If anyone knows of an RSS feed or STFC funding opportunities that I could add to the site, I would be really happy. I've had to insert an ugly iframe to their web-page...

The 2012 Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition - Telegraph

Awesome photo gallery from this competition - more at URL (below)

The 2012 Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition - Telegraph

Free "Practical Action" poster resource

A range of colourful posters freely available from Practical Action.
View and download from the links below, or email us to request printed copies of our renewable energy, STEM careers, 100 small things or technology timeline posters.  Please note other posters are only available electronically.
Due to posting costs we can only post to UK addresses.   Please don't forget to say what posters you would like and give us your name and address.

Global Handwashing Day (15th Oct 2012) Guiness World Record Attempt

I've just received news of an exciting new schools initiative from e-Bug.

On the 15^th October 2012, Global Handwashing Day, schools across the country will be taking part in a simultaneous hand hygiene lesson in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record! We would like as many teachers to be involved in the event as possible, and STEM ambassadors can take part in the day by acting as witnesses or stewards for a school attempting the record.

We would be very grateful if the STEM ambassadors could assist us in spreading the word about the event to teachers that they work with. Additionally, do you send out a schools newsletter that we could contribute to, or perhaps you could upload the details in the attached newsletter to your website for teachers to view?

I have attached the newsletter with more information for teachers, and the link for teachers to register their school for an information pack and consent form is:

http://www.e-bug.eu/junior_home.aspx?cc=eng&ss=1&t=Hand%20Hygiene%20day.

Any queries about the event and how STEM ambassadors can get involved can be directed to e-bug@hpa.org.uk

e-Bug background information

e-Bug is an exciting, fun and free microbiology, hygiene and health educational resource for junior (9 – 11yrs) and senior (12 – 15yrs) school students across Europe. Designed by health professionals, with input from schools and young people, and endorsed by the Department of Education, the e-Bug resource comprises of a teacher pack containing detailed lesson plans and an accompanying fun interactive website for students. All resources are available at www.e-Bug.eu .

If you would like to take this initiative forward I would be happy to discuss any of this in more detail. Please let me know if I can provide you with any further information.

Many thanks

Donna

e-Bug Project Manager

Health Protection Agency Primary Care Unit | Microbiology Department | Gloucester Royal Hospital | Great Western Road | Gloucester | GL1 3NN

T: +44 (0) 8454 225431 | F: +44 (0) 1452 526197 | Web: www.e-bug.eu

Society for General Microbiology - Marvelous Microbes Comic

Another teaching resource - this time a biological one from @SocGenMicro (Society for General Microbiology)

Society for General Microbiology | Teachers - Resources

Marvellous Microbes - A visit to the dentist (Issue 3)

In this issue of Marvellous Microbes a boy, curious to know why he needs to brush and floss his teeth twice a day, takes a trip to the dentist who introduces him to the plaque acid producing bacteria that live on our teeth. The comic includes an experiment to try at home looking at the function of fluoride toothpaste in our daily brushing routine.

• Download now
• Order a free copy now

Institute of Physics STEM Club activity pack

The IOP has this 126 page publication for download or you can request a printed copy.
IFR is mentioned under the Tallest Jelly Competition that we run (And as a previous judge I can say that it really gets a lot of creativity (& scientific thinking)  from the engaged pupils).

Physics Activity Pack For STEM Clubs

The Institute produces an activity pack containing physics-based ideas, resources and activities for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) clubs.

• Download the activity pack (PDF, 10 MB)

Email education@iop.org to order a free copy.
Setting up a STEM club
If you are thinking of starting a starting up a STEM club, visit the British Science Association website.

Are you a chemistry student or an early career researcher with an interest in science communication? Why not enter this competition (Ends 31/8/12)

Chemistry World Competition 2012

If you are passionate about science and keen to communicate it widely, the Chemistry World Science Writing competition offers a fantastic opportunity to do just that. Winning entries will be published by Chemistry World and awarded a cash prize.

There are two categories for entries, writing and multimedia, and your chosen topic should be related to the chemical sciences:

• Written entries should be no more than 800 words
• Multimedia entries may be video or audio and no longer than 5 minutes

To enter, simply fill out the registration form and upload your entry on the following page. If you're already a MyRSC user, go straight through to the submission page

Primary school microscopy resource from the RMS

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Teachers - do you want to enthuse primary school pupils about the microscopic world but don't have any equipment?

Don't panic - The Royal Microscopical Society could come to your aid!
And best of all - it is free!

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The RMS Microscope Activity Kit

Would you like to bring an unseen world to life in lessons, or run an after school club for young explorers? If so, we can help.

We will deliver a fully-equipped RMS Microscope Activity Kit to your school. It contains everything that you need to reveal microscopic life and structures.
Whether it’s daphnia, rock crystals or their own belly-button fluff, your pupils will be enthralled. And, they will develop fine-motor, problem-solving, observational and describing skills as they use the equipment and insist on telling you all about what they see.

You can have the RMS Microscope Activity Kit for a term, and then we collect it.
It couldn’t be easier. And, it’s completely FREE!

There’s a whole unseen world out there. Let your children experience it for themselves.
Request your RMS Microscope Activity Kit today.

Microscope Activity Kit Links

Microscope Activity Kit online request form

What is it?
The RMS Microscope Activity Kit is a freely available microscopy resource for Primary Schools. It is delivered to your school and contains everything you need for six lessons, or six after-school club sessions.

The RMS-approved microscopes are suitable for KS1 and KS2 children. They are robust and easy to use and allow pupils to obtain clear images with minimum setup or assistance. A digital camera is included so that the discoveries can be shared and described with the class via the interactive whiteboard. We have strived to make this a feature of the boxes and have ensured that it is really straightforward to use.
In no time at all, children will be seeing new things, examining the materials provided and using the activity sheets which are mapped to KS targets. They can then move on to making their own slides with samples that they can find and choose.
It’s a great way to encourage children to describe what they see. Whether it is the intricate criss-cross detail of a piece of woven cloth, or the snowy landscape of table-salt, they will want to tell you all about it.

We're NASA & we know it...

It only had to be a matter of (space)time...

I like the way they've latched onto the whole "@MohawkGuyNASA"

meme. A fun way of celebrating the successful landing of the #MSL and a possible cross-curriculum teaching opportunity?

What if?

Randall Munroe (creator of XKCD) has another web-site called "What if..."which " Answers your hypothetical questions with physics, every Tuesday"

Everybody Out

Is there enough energy to move the entire current human population off-planet?

—Adam

There are a bunch of science fiction movies where, because of pollution, overpopulation, or nuclear war, humanity abandons Earth.
But lifting people into space is hard. Barring a massive reduction in the population, is launching the whole human race into space physically possible? Let’s not even worry about where we’re headed—we’ll assume we don’t have to find a new home, but we can’t stay here.

Recommended...!

Build your own Mars Science Lab in LEGO!

OK seriously cool science project for schools or just plain interested pupils - 
One of the Curiosity engineers has published details on building a LEGO replica of the #MSL
An act of pure genius!

See the LEGO web-site for more details.

Free Earth Observation data from European Space Agency

This might be a starting point for a interesting school project...

How to get Earth observation data

How do you go about obtaining ESA Earth observation data products for your own use? The answer depends on the type of Earth observation data needed.

Free dataset

Most of the ESA Earth observation datasets are available on the Internet free of charge. Access is granted after user registration through the Earth Observation Principal Investigator Portal, which also provides the detailed content of the free datasets. 

Make some green by going green...

Wearing my f#oodsecurity & #sustainability hat, I had to let people know about this competition:

Waste Reduction Challenge Prize

• The Challenge
• Judging Criteria
• Entry Criteria
• How to Apply
• Timetable
• Enter the Challenge

There has been significant success in reducing waste in recent years, but it remains an enormous challenge and an area which needs new solutions. 

• We throw away more than 7 million tonnes of food and drink every year from our homes - most of which could have been safely consumed.
• UK hospitality sector (hotels, pubs, restaurants and quick service restaurants) could save £724 million a year by tackling food waste.
• Our research shows doubling the number of sofas re-used, could save 52,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. At the moment, 83per cent of sofas are not re-used and are sent to landfill or recycled.
• Between now and 2020, WRAP estimates that electronic waste in the UK will total more than 12 million tonnes. A quarter of this will comprise of IT equipment, consumer electronics and display screens. This 12 million tonnes will include precious metals, which have a total estimated market value of £7 billion.
• Nearly 25 per cent of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) that's taken to household waste recycling centres could be re-used, worth around £200m gross a year.
• By pursuing opportunities for re-use, the UK could reduce its reliance on raw materials by as much as 20 per cent by 2020.

Source: The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP)
Nesta and the Cabinet Office see this as an opportunity to motivate people to consider the challenges facing communities and to be inspired to share their ideas. 
We want to encourage new ideas that can influence and mobilise communities of 'Givers' to make significant reductions in waste and impact behaviours for years to come.

The Challenge

We are offering a prize for the innovation that achieves the biggest measureable reduction in waste, by providing new opportunities for communities to come together to give time, skills and resources.   
People who are part of communities are best placed to understand the needs, motivations and opportunities within these communities.  We think this makes them brilliantly placed to come up with great ideas that could prove to be highly effective.
The Waste Reduction Challenge Prize is not just about ideas, although good ideas will obviously help.  It's about putting ideas into practice. 

Judging Criteria

The successful Finalist will be the one that best meets the criteria outlined below, based on impact.  Additional information is provided in the FAQs and Entry Form.
1.   Innovation
We are looking for new approaches, or ideas combined or implemented in new ways.  
2.   Waste Reduction
The winner/s will need to demonstrate significant measureable reductions in waste.  In selecting up to 25 competitors and when selecting the Finalists, we will be looking for potential to demonstrate waste.  Measureable reductions will need to be demonstrated by Finalists.
3.   Giving and engagement
The winner/s will need to demonstrate that they have created new opportunities for people to give time, skills and resources to reduce waste, including for people who are new to giving.  In selecting up to 25 competitors and when selecting the Finalists, we will be looking for potential to create new opportunities for giving.  Evidence will need to be demonstrated by Finalists.
4.   Other Social Impacts
Judges will also consider the wider social impact of the idea, for example effects on air quality, biodiversity or public safety impacts, or impact on social connections
5.   Potential for sustainability
We are looking for ideas that can be sustained to continue to have significant impact on waste reduction, beyond the life of the Prize. 
6.   Potential for scale
We are looking for ideas that have the potential to grow, be replicated or transfer to another context.   

Entry Criteria

The Prize is open to any organisation based in the UK provided that the benefits of your proposal focus primarily or significantly on England. 
We are open to ideas and proposals from all sources and sectors and all types of organisations. 
The Prize is not open to individuals, although groups and organisations do not have to be legally constituted to enter.  If an unincorporated association or group is selected, they will be supported to become constituted.  
Please ensure that you have, or can quickly put in place, the capacity within your organisation/group to develop and pilot your idea.   
The Challenge is open to for-profit, private companies; however prize funding will only be awarded for projects that have an identifiable public benefit related to the aims of the Challenge and Nesta's charitable objects and where any private benefit to individuals, companies or shareholders is incidental and not excessive.
All entrants need to demonstrate a willingness to share their experiences and learning to help establish a body of knowledge that can bring about a sustained change in the culture of giving and exchange.  Nesta intends to carry out and publish research in the insights gained through Challenge Prizes.
We cannot fund activity which is party-political in intention, use, or presentation nor to support or promote religious activity.  We will not normally fund the purchase of capital equipment. You may not enter the Challenge if you are currently being funded by Nesta's Innovation in Giving Fund.
This deadline for entries is noon 14 September 2012. 

How to apply

The application process is simple:

1. Read the FAQs and Terms and Conditions
2. Complete the online Entry Form
3. Submit the online entry form by noon 14 September 2012.

We will assess the content of the Entry Form against our entry and judging criteria to decide whether to invite you to the next stage to develop your application further.  
At the first stage we want you to capture our imagination with your innovation.  The Entry Form is designed to provide us with an overview of your idea and the limited word count reflects this.  
Please respond directly to the questions and stick to the word limits stated and use examples or evidence to back up your statements wherever possible. 

Challenge Stages and Timetable

Stage 1: Open Call
14 September 2012 - Deadline for Entries

Stage 2: Up to 25 Entries selected
8 October 2012 - Shortlisted entries will be supported to develop a detailed plan.

Stage 3: Around five finalists selected to test their ideas
Finalists selected November 2012 - Finalists will receive funding of up to £10,000 and support to set up and test their projects over a period of six months.
Testing period February - August 2013.

Winner selected and £50,000 Prize Fund awarded
September 2013 - The Finalist/s that demonstrate the biggest waste reduction by  mobilising significant community resources and stand out when assessed against the other judging criteria will win.



Selected organisations must be able to commit to the programme until September 2013, when the Prize will be awarded to the most successful innovation(s).   
Nesta intends to produce a report towards the end of 2013 outlining the insights gained as a result of the Challenge Prize. We aim to:

• Share insights about the value of, and principles for the giving of time, skills and resource at community level to support waste reduction
• Encourage the development of more impactful and cost effective approaches
• Share learning about the effectiveness of using challenge prizes to stimulate social innovation methods

Before you submit an entry, please ensure that you have carefully read the FAQs, the guidance in the Entry Form and our Terms and Conditions.
If you have any further questions or queries relating to the Challenge Prize that have not been answered in the guidance, FAQs and Terms and Conditions, please email givingchallenges@nesta.org.uk.

Enter the Challenge

You will be able to save your progress and your return to your entry at any point before the closing date. You will also receive a PDF copy of your entry after you have submitted. If you would like to view the questions before completing the online form, you can download a PDF version of the Entry Form here.



About Nesta
Nesta is the UK’s innovation foundation. We exist to help bring ideas to life. We do this by providing finance through programmes, investments and grants, and mobilising research, networks and skills. Nesta became an independent charity on 1 April 2012 (charity number 1144091).
About Office for Civil Society
The Office for Civil Society, part of the Cabinet Office, works across government departments to translate the Big Society agenda into practical policies, provides support to voluntary and community organisations and is responsible for delivering a number of key Big Society programmes.

Manufacturing photography competition: Made in Britain

I came across this competition on STEMnet and thought I'd pass it on:
Monday 13 August, 2012  

 

EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, is a powerful force behind UK manufacturing. They have recently launched their 2012 photography competition, with the theme of Made in Britain. The aim of the competition is to change the popular misconception that 'Britain doesn't make anything anymore'.
 
The competition, with the prize of winning up to £5000 worth of Canon photography equipment, invites you to enter your photos that reflect modern day manufacturing. From processes to products and components, the choice is yours.
 

If you're unable to capture images at your own facility, you can still enter - just visit www.policyconnect.org.uk/apmg/made-by-britain where you'll find manufacturers who have agreed to open their doors for you to take a photo at their facility.

 

The Awards are free to enter and open to everyone, whether you work in manufacturing or not, with categories for young people aged 14-19, amateur and professional photographers. 
 
The deadline for entries is 28 September 2012.   Entering the competition is easy:
1) Simply take your photo(s)* 
2) Visit www.eef.org.uk/photo to register and upload your images, adding your captions to bring the images to life.
 
* There is no limit on the number of photos you can enter.

Made By Britain' has been developed as a collaboration between the Associate Parliamentary Manufacturing Group, and the 1851 Royal Commission: an organization with a long and distinguished career in supporting British industry.

Where all the MSL bits landed...

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (Source: NASA)

 

Also love XKCDs cartoon marking this event:

British Ecological Society: Teaching Resources for Schools

The BES produces a number of resources for schools and provides support in a number of ways.

The Big Biology Give Away.

Join the BES, the Biochemical Society, Society of Biology and the Science Learning Centre London on the 17th September 2012 here at CDH along with a whole host of other biologically minded societies to hear some great biology and collect free resources for your school.
Download the flyer
Register to attend

Wall charts

The BES has three different wall charts available for teachers. Each wall chart is A1 in size and available free to schools on request from the BES Office.

Ecology -A Science that matters

There are two versions of this poster, which focus on national and international ecological issues. The BES has a limited number of these wall charts remaining and there are no plans to publish further editions. These wall charts are suitable for upper secondary and post-16 students. Teachers who are not specialists in ecology may also find they provide background information and support in developing teaching and learning ideas linked to How Science Works, specifically to the work of ecologists.

Developing school grounds for science :PONDS

Published in 2007, this wall chart is useful for teachers who wish to construct, maintain or make use of an existing pond to teach secondary science. This wall chart also links to more extensive material in the Pond Resources area of this website

Developing school grounds for science:HEDGES

Published in 2010, this wall chart is useful fro teachers who wish to construct, maintain and make use of a hedge to teach secondary science. THis wall chart also links to more extensive material in the Hedge Resourcesarea of this website

Norwich Science Cafe 15/8/12

Can massage improve sporting performance? 

 

Every month The Norwich Science Cafe heads to The Maddermarket Theatre where there is the chance to hear scientists and speakers explain all about scientific topics which affect us all. The cafe will take place on August 15^th at 7.30pm in the bar and is completely free, just turn up and grab a seat. Jude Durrant of Totally For You Sports Therapy will be presenting a talk on the potential benefits of massage in sports performance and will include demonstrations. There have been no major studies in this area so the subject is very much up for debate!

 

The cafe gives the public the chance to hear the science behind the subject, before asking questions and debating the subject with those in the know, letting people get the answers they might not normally have access to. The cafe is open to anyone who is interested and after the presentation there will be a group debate and question session to get everyone talking about the information they have just heard. For more information on the cafe or to be added to the mailing list please contact alexatinspire@yahoo.co.uk

 

Contact:

Alexandra Minns alexatinspire@yahoo.co.uk

Twitter @SciCafeNorwich

Congratulations @NASA!

Excellent news about the successful landing of Curiosity Rover on Mars. A major technological achievement (landing on Mars is anything but easy) and the sky-crane technique may pave the way for a manned landing on Mars.

Opportunity is no longer alone on the Red planet!


Video about the Rovers mission and its scientific mission is here (Source: Daily Mail)

First picture from Rover (right) on Mars.

Mars Humour:
ben goldacre ‏@bengoldacre

#curiosity #mars RT @Paul_Cornell: As Eugene Byrne put it: 'The nerds just took Gold in the 560 billion metres'.

My effort is if the rover had landed on any putative Martians pet the the newspaper headline could read "Curiosity killed the cat!"... (Bah-dom-boom! Thank you I'm here until Friday, please try the veal....)

Russia sets new record!

No this isn't at an Olympic event - but it is certainly worthy.

The latest Progress supply ship took only 6 hours from launch to docking at the International Space Station (a new personal best. Previously this took about two days i.e. 8X as long.). They hope to use this new approach with future manned missions as well.

Monday is M-day (Mars-day)

Best wishes to NASA for a successful landing of Curiosity on Mars on Monday after a two-year journey to the red planet.

(MSL Cruise phase. Source: NASA Press Briefing Kit ) 

Seriously amazing technology - the Mars Science Laboratory & Curiosity Rover(Source: NASA Press Briefing Kit) .











Here's hoping that it succeeds in the serious science of the main mission goal of finding evidence of microbial life in Mars past.

Diagram of landing procedure (Source: NASA Press Briefing Kit) 

View William Shatner Curiosity video for NASA
View Wil Wheaton Curiosity video for NASA.

The Royal Institution also have a video  collection of resources.

Also, see All about Space magazine (Free preview of issue 2)

OpenLearn (free Open University) unit on Galaxies, Stars & planets

This may be of interest to those developing an interest in astronomy:
This unit is a general introduction to galaxies, stars and planets, including scale of the universe from the very large to the very small; orbits and gravity; the Solar System; the Sun and other stars; galaxies and the composition of astronomical objects.