Issue 5

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Editorial

Welcome to the fifth issue of Science in School
The most exciting recent education event for me was Science on Stage, EIROforum’s international teaching festival. I enjoyed meeting many of the 500 teachers attending from 28 countries – listening to their suggestions, hearing about their experience and marvelling at their innovative teaching ideas. We have two articles in this issue to tell you more about the festival and the European Science Teaching Awards that were presented there...
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Events

Science teaching flies high at Science on Stage 2
Montserrat Capellas remembers some memorable moments at Science on Stage 2, which brought together some of the best science teachers in Europe.
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Awards, rewards – and onwards!
At Science on Stage 2, the European Science Teaching Awards 2007 were presented for the 12 best projects.
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School students Catch a Star! in an astronomical competition
Douglas Pierce-Price reports on the results of the Catch a Star! competition.
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Second European Science Festival: WONDERS 2007
Join the Carousel of Science from Moscow to Lisbon, Reykjavik to Jerusalem with Peter Rebernik.
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Feature article: Thomas Reiter

Down to Earth: interview with Thomas Reiter
Shortly before Christmas 2006, German ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter returned from the International Space Station. Barbara Warmbein asked him about his trip, the experiments he did – and how to become an astronaut.
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Cutting-edge science

Synchrotron light illuminates the orang-utan’s obscure origins
Paul Tafforeau explains what synchrotron X-ray studies of fossil teeth can tell us about the evolution of orang-utans – and our own origins.
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Teaching activities

Fun with genomes: the Mycomuncher DNA Puzzle
Fed up with explaining genomes, genes and proteins? Why not get your students to figure it out for themselves with Johan Leveau’s DNA puzzle?
Read (English, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian) | PDF [240 KB]

Using music in the science classroom
Caroline Molyneux explains how she kick-starts her classes and helps her students remember certain lessons, facts or concepts.
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Projects in science education

Travel wisely: the globe is warming!
Elisabeth Schepers introduces a school programme linking climate change and the future of traffic technology.
Read (English, Greek, Maltese) | PDF [280 KB]

CyberMentor: e-mentoring to strengthen interest and participation of girls in STEM
Diana Schimke puts schoolgirls directly in contact with women scientists.
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Inspirational lessons in the science class
Naheed Alizadeh from the INSPIRE project is trying to make inspirational science lessons, clubs, and master classes regular features of UK schools.
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Science Learning Centres: training for teachers
Anna Gawthorp describes the Science Learning Centres for UK teachers, technicians and classroom assistants.
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Science topics

Fusion in the Universe: where your jewellery comes from
Paola Rebusco, Henri Boffin and Douglas Pierce-Price describe how creating gold is possible, though sadly not in the laboratory.
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Damn lies
Do you have more than the average number of ears? Ben Parker attempts to convince us of the value of statistics – when used correctly.
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Taking the stress out of engineering
Darren Hughes investigates how stress can be manipulated to make safer rails for trains and what we can learn from neutron- and X-ray analysis.
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Plastics, naturally
David Bradley explains how researchers are working to produce environmentally friendly plastics.
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Science and society

Developing a teaching resource on peer review
Ellen Raphael explains why peer review is so important in science, and how an existing guide is being adapted to meet the needs of science teachers.
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Spotlight on education

Twenty First Century Science: developing a new science curriculum
Jenifer Burden explains how a new UK curriculum seeks to address both the scientific needs of all citizens, and the additional needs of future scientists.
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Scientist profile

Making dark matter a little brighter
Jenny List, a young particle physicist tells Barbara Warmbein about leading her own research group to find out how the Universe works.
Read (English, Greek, Polish, Romanian) | PDF [204 KB]

Teacher profile

Launching ideas
Isabel Plantier has been teaching for 25 years and tells Sai Pathmanathan that time really does fly when you’re having fun.
Read (English, Portuguese) | PDF [296 KB]

Reviews