iSpot Crowd-source nature identification site

From the OU Facebook feed:

iSpot, your place to share nature (www.ispotnature.org), has a new look with a fresh design and exciting additional features, including:
- create a 'Project' gathering observations from a location, species group or time period on one page
- experience iSpot through four core themes: Explore, Identify, Contribute and Personalise
- 'My Spot' becomes 'Your iSpot' with new features to filter observations
- the website will now re-size to fit the device you are using.

...See More

iSpot

iSpot - Your place to share nature. iSpot is a website aimed at helping anyone identify anything in nature. Once you've registered, you can add an observation to the website and suggest an identification yourself or see if anyone else can identify it for you.

WWW.ISPOTNATURE.ORG

Information on this years Royal Institution Christmas lectures

It may seem a bit early to think about Christmas but this years RI lectures look like they be a Cracker :-)

Sparks will fly: How to hack your home

Danielle George, a Professor of Radio Frequency Engineering at The University of Manchester, will present the 2014 CHRISTMAS LECTURES. 

In her three-part series 'Sparks will fly: How to hack your home' Danielle will explore how just a spark of your imagination and some twenty-first century tinkering can change the world. She will take three great British inventions – a light bulb, a telephone and a motor – and show you how to adapt, transform and hack them to do extraordinary things. Danielle will announce the new rules of invention and show you how to use modern tools and technologies and things from your home to have fun and make a difference to the world around you.

Further details here

This should be of interest to Teachers & parents:

I am writing to let you know about a fantastic new game that we have put together in order to support children in learning about their local wildlife and to also enable them to share what they discover with other children around the country.

The game has three main aims:

1) We believe that children have to a large extent lost the connect with nature that they used to have and this game has the aim of improving general basic knowledge of common creatures in the UK through reconnecting kids with nature.

2) To use technology to reduce the amount of screen time kids get by encouraging them outdoors

3) To give parents, schools and other organisations an easy to access, free tool that makes it easy and fun for them to support kids in connecting with nature.

Here it is: http://www.flyonthewall.uk.com/wildlifetrackers/

We need help in raising awareness of the game and have been kindly supported by The Wild Network and various Wildlife Trusts through mentions on their websites and social media sites but also need a LOT more help to bring the tool to as many children as possible.

Kind Regards

Joel Chudleigh

joel@deepfootprints.co.uk

Fly On The Wall

http://www.flyonthewall.uk.com/

May be interest to teachers of year 12 physics students:-

I want to share with you the Weizmann UK Safe Cracking Physics Tournament, where teams of Year 12 students from across the UK have the opportunity to compete in a safe making and breaking competition.

Teams design and build safes which have locking mechanisms based on the principles of physics. They then put their safes to the test in a tournament of 'safe cracking'. They get to be creative, challenge their knowledge, see physics in action and have loads of fun!

I am still in awe of the brilliant ideas the teams had at the last tournament and can't wait to see the next lot of safes. You can see more by watching the following videos, which include safes which can only be opened by using potatoes, making a cup of tea or 'playing' table football! The videos are here: http://bit.ly/1scnPEP

Teams who win the UK tournament will receive a travel grant to cover flights and accommodation to enable them to represent the UK at the International Tournament at the Weizmann Institute of Science where they compete against teams from across the world.

Please can you forward this information to school students and teachers who you think may be interested in participating? Registration for the competition closes at the end of September 2014, and the UK tournament will be held on Sunday 8 February 2015.

Let me know if you have any questions about the competition.

Thank you,

Lydia Wood
Science Projects Coordinator
T. +44 (0)20 7424 6866
lydia@weizmann.org.uk
www.weizmann.org.uk

Registered charity no: 232666

Crowdfunding Astronomy Education

Universe Awareness are raising 15,000 EUR through a Kickstarter campaign to send the education kit "Universe in a Box" to underprivileged communities around the world.

Rewards are available from as little as 5 EUR and there are many astronomy resources on offer if people pledge to the campaign. These include EarthBall (an inflatable globe without national borders) and Universe in a Box itself (a toolkit for teachers and educators to make astronomy and space science accessible) .

Universe in a Box is a physical toolkit with the materials necessary for implementing more than forty astronomy-related activities for 4-10 year olds. Activities range from explanations of the seasons to stories behind constellations to the scale of our solar system. With the money from the campaign we will send more than 160 boxes around the world to communities who couldn't otherwise afford them, as well as providing training so that the materials are implemented effectively.

Please check out and share our campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unawe/universe-in-a-box

Abi Ashton
Universe in a Box project
Universe Awareness International Office, Leiden University

Today's Google Doodle is about mathematician Maria Gaetana Agnesi...

Maria Gaetana Agnesi, an Italian Mathematician,..is credited with writing the first book discussing both differential and integral calculus

Todays Google Doodle clebrates Dorothy Hodgkin (Protein Crystallographer)

Dorothy Hodgkin was the third woman to win the Nobel prize (for chemistry) for her work including structures for penicillin and Vitamin B12. All done despite suffering from progressive and crippling arthritis. She was also concerned with social inequalities.

Schools compo (ages 7-14) Design a meal for Tim Peake to eat on International Space Station

British Astronaut TIM PEAKE is asking schoolchildren to create a meal for him to eat in space.

The UK Space Agency is today launching a competition for school children between the ages of 7 and 14 to design a British-inspired, balanced and exciting meal for British ESA astronaut Tim Peake to eat during his 6 month mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

The winning contestants will be invited to develop their ideas further with celebrity chef HESTON BLUMENTAL, and these ideas will be turned into real space food that will be launched to the ISS. They will also be invited to an event that will include a live link up with Tim during his stay on the ISS.

http://www.esero.org.uk/news/great-british-space-dinner-competition

Enter MINDSTORMS® Challenge and win a trip to Hawaii!

This may be of interest to school science clubs (Possible arts project too in making video):

The 2014 MoonBots Challenge is an international on-line competition run by Google Lunar XPRIZE that challenges youth from 9 to 17 years old to form a team and design, create and program robots to simulate a lunar mission.
The competition is divided into two phases: in Phase One, teams create and upload a video in which they answer the question, “Why should we go Back to the Moon for Good?”   At the end of Phase One, 25 teams will be selected. They will receive a LEGO® MINDSTORMS® robotics toolkit, LEGO bricks and other materials to create their own robot and lunar landscape.

In Phase Two, the 25 teams will be asked to design their own game-play using the resources provided. Teams will also be asked to create and upload a video showing how they have used their MoonBots game to engage children and adults in their community.

The Grand Prize is a trip for the winning team to visit Hawaii and test out their robot at the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES) Facility on the slopes of the Mauna Kea volcano.

Registration closes on 15 May and Phase One videos must be submitted by midnight (Pacific Time) on 1 June 2015.

For full details, see: http://moonbots.org

Havago Festival at Forum, Norwich on 18th & 19th August

havagofestival.co.uk

Great new venture for Norfolk at the Forum! 

Meander invites you to “HAVAGO”!

Ever wanted to have-a-go at something new, but wanted to “try before you buy”?

If so put the 18th & 19th of August in your diary! “The Havago Festival” is a celebration of skill, a-“share’n-show” opportunity for you to meet the most skilled, passionate creative’s of Norfolk and see what they have to offer.

Music Teachers who will let you try out getting a C on the guitar, dance troupes who teach you a few steps to get you started, crafts and arts professionals of all guises will be there, ready and willing to let you “HAVAGO”.

Free to the public, this two day event is an invitation to all those interested in trying something new and seeing what the Best of Creative Norfolk has to offer..

Norwich Science Cafe 26/3/14

'Nanoparticles: Small things for big applications.'

Norwich Science Cafe is back for a new season on Wednesday March 26th, at the Maddermarket Theatre. The café starts at 7.30pm in the bar and is completely free, just turn up and grab a seat.  

This month’s café is sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry East Anglia Section and is presented by Susan Van Der Heide from the UEA School of Chemistry. 

Susan will explain how and why nanoparticles are made, and will discuss the research being done locally at both UEA and the JIC using nanoparticles for a range of different applications.

Explore the Universe at UEA (FREE Astronomy activities for all ages)

Explore the Universe with FREE Astronomy activities for all ages!

Join us in celebrating the UEA Astronomy Society’s very first Astronomy showcase, AstroFest 2014! The event is on Saturday, 1st March, 16:00 - 20:00 in the UEA LCR. This date also marks the beginning of the UK National Astronomy Week 2014 (1-8 March).

We will be hosting a series of activities including talks, presentations and demos, games & trivia, arts & crafts, and a theatrical show on the history of astronomy. There will also guided tours of the night sky, as well as telescopes for observing!

This event is free and open to the community, so come and enjoy Astronomy activities for all ages!

AstroFest Activities

Astronomy Talk - By Mark Shepherd from the Norwich Astronomical Society
Games & Trivia - Identify constellations, show off your knowledge of astronomy, make moon craters, launch a rocket, and have tons of fun!
Arts & Crafts - Make your own constellations, glitter galaxies, and more!
Histronomy Theatrical Show:•    Astronomy from Mythology to Science - A brief history of astronomy
Workshops, Presentations & Demos:

•    Solar System model + Planet Exposés - A display of a model of the Solar System, with exposés on the different components.
•    Moon phases demo - A demonstration of why we see the different phases (shapes) of the moon
•    Spectroscopy (Electromagnetic Spectrum) - A demonstration on the electromagnetic spectrum with a focus on visible light.
•    Comet Demo - Building a comet using common household items and observing sublimation
•    Solar and Lunar eclipse demo - demonstration explaining how and why eclipses occur
•    Pulsars demo - presentation on pulsars and a demo illustrating conservation of angular momentum and how pulsars spin•    Imaging Workshop – using an interactive imaging kit to take pictures of objects in the sky

Observing the night sky: (weather permitting)
•    We'll have members of the Norwich Astronomical Society with telescopes out on the field by the LCR, if we have clear skies. The aim is to get more people to appreciate and be comfortable with identifying stars/constellations, planets, galaxies, and other celestial objects that are visible in the night sky.

For more information, contact us via email atuea.astroclub@gmail.com , or find us on Facebook as the UEA Astronomy Club.

Using Games Theory to explain benefits of Forgiveness

(This page is a work in progress - I will be updating it after the event for which it was created has actually occurred).
I'm planning an outreach activity for the Local Methodist Church's Messy Church family event. It involves showing how a branch of mathematics (Game Theory) can demonstrate the benefits of forgiveness in a game.
I'm using the classic Peace-War game.
The cards and the activities text for the game are downloadable from Dropbox, just follow the links. These are both in Adobe PDF format so you will need to install the free Acrobat Reader software if it is not already on your computer. I printed them, used a laminator and then cut the cards up. Despite printing a pattern on the other side, the cards came out a little transparent for my liking. I'd suggest printing on some lightweight coloured card rather than white paper.

Magnificent Women (Stixx Project) - calling women engineers...

As part of our 95th year anniversary celebrations at the Women's Engineering Society we have a schools outreach event called Magnificent Women (and their flying machines) that we are delivering for the first time on 14 March 2014 in London, which uses Stixx (rolled up newspaper) to build aircraft wing structures, to replicate the work that women did during the First World War. I am looking for some experienced helpers for this event who could help me to deliver it to a hundred or so school students. Bizarre request, I know, but any help would be gratefully received.
Beyond this first event we are looking to deliver this activity more widely to schools in the UK, so if you can't make it to London on 14 March but would be willing to get involved at other schools throughout the year then let me know. Further details can be found here http://www.wes.org.uk/magnificent
Additionally, we are looking for women aerospace or aeronautical engineers to complete the activity by speaking to the school students about the work that they currently do, so if you are a woman aerospace engineering willing to get involved then please let me know.

Dawn Bonfield office@wes.org.uk

Science Communication Masterclass (for Scientists) at UEA

Come and meet some engagement practitioners in a free lunchtime masterclass session: Tuesday February 11^th – MED 1.02 – 12.00-1.30pm

Dr Laura Bowater (Norwich Medical School) MED & Dr Kay Yeoman (School of Biological Sciences)

A masterclass on engagement with schools (e.g. Kay’s mobile family science lab) and on their publication, ‘Science Communication: a practical guide for scientists’

Science communication is a rapidly expanding area and meaningful engagement between scientists and the public requires effective communication. Designed to help the novice scientist get started with science communication, this unique guide begins with a short history of science communication before discussing the design and delivery of an effective engagement event. Along with numerous case studies written by highly regarded international contributors, the book discusses how to approach face–to–face science communication and engagement activities with the public while providing tips to avoid potential pitfalls. This book has been written for scientists at all stages of their career, including undergraduates and postgraduates wishing to engage with effective science communication for the first time, or looking to develop their science communication portfolio.

http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-111999313X.html?cid=RSS_WILEY2_CHEMISTRY

PUBLICATION: Kay Yeoman, ‘Keeping it in the family’

http://www.uea.ac.uk/documents/1006177/1325318/Keeping+it+in+the+family/384a8946-d9cd-42b7-b9d6-eb7f5b5ba618

Book your place by Tuesday 4^th February: community@uea.ac.uk

Funding for school STEM activities...

Teachers & Head teachers please note this opportunity:

This is an exciting opportunity for students to take part in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) activity and help integrate STEM enrichment in school practice between February and July 2014, to be chosen from those listed on the STEM Directories.

STEM Directories?

The STEM Directories are an easy way to find Enhancement and Enrichment (E&E) opportunities to support your science, engineering, design and mathematics teaching. Some schemes bring exciting activities into your school, others can provide a memorable day out for your students or a nationwide competition to help motivate your science club. They might involve bringing a real scientist, engineer or mathematician into the classroom, give your students access to equipment not readily available or simulate real-life applications of science and technology. Many schemes can provide supporting teaching materials to help get the most of the activity.

You can also read comments left by other teachers who have used the scheme and rate schemes that you have hosted

The Royal Institution is currently administering a STEM grants scheme, generously supported by The Causeway Foundation. We are offering grants of up to £500 for eligible state-funded schools or academies in the UK to take part in an activity from the STEM Directories (www.stemdirectories.org.uk) before July 2014.

Round one is now open and will close on Friday 31 January at 5pm. For more information and to apply, visit the STEM Directories website.

Please ensure you have read the grant terms thoroughly, particularly the eligibility criteria and the guidance on what to include in your application. Please note that if you are successful, the grant will be paid directly to your chosen activity provider. Priority will be given to schools meeting certain criteria; please see the grant terms for more details.

If you have any questions that are not covered by the grant terms, please email maths@ri.ac.uk.

Best wishes,

Sam

Samantha Durbin

Clothworkers' Associate in Mathematics (Secondary)

Royal Institution of Great Britain, 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS

e. sdurbin@ri.ac.uk

t. 020 7670 2915

www.rigb.org

www.richannel.org

"Yuri's Day" public event (Norwich Astronomical Society) on 12th April 2014

This may be of interest to Norfolk residents interested in Astronomy & Space:-
I am happy so say the Norwich Astronomical Society will be hosting a public event to celebrate the first ever trip into space by Yuri Gagarin.
Although celebrated across the world, “Yuri’s Night” is not generally recognised in the West and this will be the first time a UK Astronomical Society has ever celebrated Yuri Gagarin’s momentous flight.

Currently there are 357 affiliated Yuri’s Night star parties across 57 countries … we are proud to be one of them! Our event, “Yuri’s Day” is to take place on Saturday 12th April at Seething Observatory near Norwich.

The day is split into two parts. It will have a children’s’ day-time event from 2-6pm where schools and organisations will be actively involved providing activities and talks for other children with the Society acting as a ‘facilitator’ for the event. If possible we will provide solar telescopes for viewing the sun and there will be access to the conventional telescopes and facilities for demonstrations. Needless to say, the somewhat infamous rocket launching session is already booked!  In the evening from 7pm there will be a more adult approach with a lecture given by Dr David Balcombe, viewing of the stars through the Society’s telescopes and general access to the Society’s facilities.

More information will be forthcoming as the event develops.

Andy Gardiner
Chairman
Norwich Astronomical Society
(http://www.norwichastro.org.uk/)