MARCH 2007
Contents
Launch of International Polar Year
National Science and Engineering Week
Learning Outside the Classroom
Corner to Learn comes to Yorkshire
sciencehorizons – resource pack and funding available
NEWS FROM ECSITE-UK 1
Ecsite-uk seeks new Director
Ecsite-uk is looking to appoint an outstanding individual to build on the achievements of the last five years and take it forward into a new phase of its development.
For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Linda Conlon, Ecsite-uk Chair, on 0191 2438205
or via email at linda@life.org.uk
Web: www.ecsite-uk.net/about/director.html
Closing date: 16 Mar 2007
NEWS FROM ECSITE IN BRUSSELS
Launch of IPY and IGLO
Science centres, museums and other organisations are being invited to get experimenting with ice, as part of the launch of the International Polar Year (IPY) this March.
Four simple experiments have been developed by IGLO, the International Action on Global Warming (a project run by ASTC), to help get these celebrations started. The activities will feature in the IGLO toolkit along with other ideas and resources.
For more details and resources available go to:
International Polar Year (IPY): www.ipy.org or www.euroipy.org
International Action on Global Warming (IGLO): www.astc.org/iglo/
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR 1
National Science and Engineering Week 2007 (9-18 March)
Many of you will be celebrating National Science and Engineering Week (NSEW), formerly National Science Week, this March. Each year NSEW events across the UK provide people of all ages with an opportunity to take part in science, engineering and technology activities.
For details about events, online resources and how you can vote for the Nation’s favourite experiment go to: www.the-ba.net/nsew
Good luck with all of your NSEW activities!
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR 2
NESTA - Future Innovators
NESTA are looking at ways to develop the innovators of tomorrow. During 2007 their Future Innovators team will launch its first call for ideas - 'Taking the leap'. The aim is to ‘embed effective approaches to developing skills and attitudes necessary for innovation, within mainstream education and informal learning’.
The Future Innovators team will be inviting proposals that demonstrate original approaches to ‘inspiring enterprising attitudes and behaviours around risk in young people, professionals and environments’.
Further details will be available from 6 March at:
www.nesta.org.uk/programmes/future_innovators
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECTOR 3
Learning Outside the Classroom
The latest news on the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto is now available online.
The partnership was launched by the Secretary of State for Education last November at the Natural History Museum. The main aim of the Manifesto is to ensure that there is good variety, and a high quality of learning experiences available to young people outside of the classroom.
Those of you who have already not already signed up to the Manifesto may wish to do so.
For further information and a free copy of the Manifesto document go to: www.teachernet.gov.uk/learningoutsidetheclassroom
NEWS FROM THE REGIONS 1
Opportunity to Recycle!
A new exhibition exploring the surprising science behind domestic waste recycling was opened at Thinktank, Birmingham science museum, in February. The interactive exhibition called Recycle! highlights the issues relating to household wastes like compost, plastic and aluminium, and how science can help us to reuse them, thanks to funding from by SITA Trust and Novelis.
Recycle! is part of a network of SITA Trust funded exhibitions at science centres and museums in England. These aim to explore the waste issue, going beyond the recycling message, and looking at other ways to tackle the problem. Other members of the network are the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, the Centre for Life in Newcastle and Science Museum in London.
More information can be found at: www.sitatrust.org.uk/education/youngpeople
NEWS FROM THE REGIONS 2
Corner to Learn comes to Yorkshire
Professionals working with young people will be offered the opportunity to attend two acclaimed Corner to Learn workshops at Eureka! the Museum for Children on 26 April.
Developed by Neil Griffiths, an established educational author, participants will be able to take part in two highly practical training sessions introducing them to the Storysacks™ and Let’s Learn! concepts.
The sessions are aimed at primary school teachers, early years practitioners, youth workers, after school clubs and museum professionals.
For further information visit: [archived page - link removed]
RESOURCE
sciencehorizons – resource pack and funding available
Resource pack
A free resource pack encouraging people to get talking about new technologies, the future and society, is now available.
Packs cover four topics: mind and body, home and community, work and leisure and people and planet. Each contain stories, cartoons and other resources aimed at supporting community groups, students, families or even groups of friends, through their sciencehorizons discussions.
To register for a free pack, how to feedback your views, or to find out details about larger UK events and go to: www.sciencehorizons.org.uk
Funding opportunity
Some funding is still available to help anyone interested in running facilitated public discussions using the sciencehorizons resources. Organisations can apply for money to help with costs of facilitators, catering, venue, expenses for invited guests, marketing etc.
The briefing notes and enabling fund application form can be downloaded at: www.sciencehorizons.org.uk/guide_run_fac.asp
Events must be run by 25 June 2007, so get your applications in now!
DIARY DATES
TiLEzone London 2007
Tuesday 13 March
Emerging opportunities and issues, for suppliers to leisure developments in Central/ Eastern Europe, France and the Middle East
Organised jointly by UKTI (UK Trade and Investment) and TiLE (Trends in Leisure & Entertainment), the 2nd TiLEzone London Seminar will be at DTI Conference Centre.
To register go to: www.tileweb.org
Science Communication Conference 2007
London: 14 & 15 May
Science Communication Conference 2007 will take place over two days with the second day focusing on climate change and the first on more generic and varied aspects of public engagement. Each day the conference will run sessions in three strands - engaging to inspire & educate, engaging to involve and engaging through the media and PR.
The conference is jointly organised by the BA and the Royal Society.
For further information visit: www.the-ba.net/sciencecommunicationconference
Ecsite Annual Conference 2007
Lisbon: 31 May to 2 June
Now firmly installed in its early summer slot, the Ecsite Annual Conference 2007 will – as in 2005 and ’06 – use new formats for sessions, more interactivity, more debates, more controversies, more networking opportunities…
AC2007 is hosted by the Pavilion of Knowledge.
Online registration open at: www.ecsite-conference.net
For details contact Aliki Giannakopoulou:
agiannakopoulou@ecsite.net
www.ecsite.net
BIG Event 2007
25-27 July 2007 at Magna Science Adventure Centre
The BIG Event is relevant not only for people running science centres and museums, but for artists, presenters, archaeologists, educators, students, front of house staff, evaluators and anyone involved in interactive communication whatever their field.
Keep up to date with all the Event details at www.big.uk.com/events,
or join the mailing list by sending an email to event@big.uk.com
Ecsite-uk
Dr Louise Webb
Ecsite-uk: the Network of Science Centres and Museums
Contact us with news or feedback >
Want to know more about Ecsite-uk? Find out about Ecsite-uk >
Ecsite-uk members include science and discovery centres, museums and companies providing services to the sector. Join Ecsite-uk >