Science in School email alert 8: May 2008

Dear Science in School subscribers,

I am pleased to inform you that the eighth issue of Science in School is now available to read and download at www.scienceinschool.org. Those of you who have subscribed to a print copy should receive it soon. If you haven’t yet subscribed, you can do so (free) online: www.scienceinschool.org/subscriptions

Contents

Our feature article takes us into space. Bernardo Patti from ESA spoke to Anna-Lynn Wegener about the Columbus mission. This efficiently packed research laboratory with minimal space has now joined the International Space Station (ISS) and will help us to learn more about biology, physiology, fluid dynamics and material sciences both in space and on Earth. The ISS’s most recent addition, however, has been the transport shuttle Jules Verne. This Automated Transfer Vehicle has been the first one to dock completely automatically. The technology and required training behind this is amazing – Adam Williams gives us a flavour of their extent.

We all know about another automated space mission – the mission to Mars. But what if we were to set out and permanently live on the Red Planet? Margarita Marinova investigates the possibility of establishing life on Mars. It is not all just science fiction! One of the issues to be addressed though is how to establish an atmosphere. One of the most mysterious atmospheres though, believe it or not, is that of the Sun. To elucidate some of the issues, a special programme of research, the International Heliophysical Year, is underway. And Lucie Green describes some of the recent advances. Another issue to be addressed when thinking about making Mars habitable is warming it up. Now this is exactly the problem we are currently facing on our own planet, Earth. Or are we? In the second of two articles, Rasmus Benestad examines the evidence that humans are actually causing climate change.

A warm climate and welcome was what Europeans students encountered in Valencia. This is where the passion for science and the renowned Mediterranean passion intertwined to bear fruit in form of the EU Contest for Young Scientists. Anne MJG Piret assisted the jury at this high-profile event for creative young people and lets us partake in the excitement. Spain is also the native country of cancer researcher Joan Massagué. Although he left for the USA 28 years ago, he has not severed all bonds, but is on the contrary helping to set up the new Institute for Research in Biomedicine in Barcelona. In an interview with Sarah Sherwood he talks about his recent work and encourages young people to go for it – since “talent and passion for science can come from anywhere”.

And none to better prove this than Prudence Motowo, protagonist of our second scientist profile. Leaving Mutare in Zimbabwe for the UK, she took with her some of the questions that her native wildlife evoked in her, and is now studying a recently discovered archaeal species, Haloferax volcanii, a salt-loving single-celled organism. In the UK, she may also have come across ginger beer. Though not so well known in many countries, this traditional fermented low-alcohol drink is very tasty – and can be made in school. Dean Madden gives his recipe together with a wealth of suggestions as to where to go from there: fermentation, flavourings, yeast and alcohol content are just some of the possible topics to address.

Flavours are also important in this issue`s other teaching activity – namely those found in chewing gum. Ken Gadd and Luca Szalay make it possible to measure the acidity of gum in the classroom – just as is done in industry. This is one of 72 standard analytical procedures that have been adapted for students by the StandardBase project. You can find out more about this great project, its goals and use in another article by the same authors.

Not only industrial procedures can be adapted for use in the classroom – so can the exhibits of a science centre! Amito Haarhuis describes the Science Center at School project. It involves students choosing their own exhibits to build, planning how to do so and finally demonstrating their successful products. Both teachers and students enjoyed it a lot. Especially girls seem to profit from this approach – they gained confidence in their technical abilities.

Confidence is what Paul Matthews needs to take an ambitious step. The experienced bioinformatician decided to give up an established career to brave the front of a classroom – he is going back to school, as a teacher. Vienna Leigh spoke to him about his reasons, hopes and fears. You, on the other hand, may fear when you see a growling dog snarling and drooling. He may be suffering from rabies. This disease, which has still no cure, is caused by a virus. Winfried Weissenhorn’s group in Grenoble has now uncovered a possible way to tackle this and similar viruses. They can render them harmless by trapping them inside their cocoons – Claire Ainsworth investigates.

Getting involved

The number of translated articles on our website is increasing steadily. Italian, Spanish and Greek are particularly well represented, but we have articles in 25 languages. If you would like more articles online in your native language, you might like to either translate some yourself, or encourage others to help. Translation guidelines are available online.

Finally, why not consider submitting your own article to Science in School? See our online author guidelines, or ask us for advice.

Unsubscribing

If you prefer not to receive emails when subsequent issues are published, you can unsubscribe via the Science in School website. Alternatively, send me an email requesting your removal from the mailing list.

Best regards,

Marlene Rau
Assistant Editor of Science in School
www.scienceinschool.org

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Science in School is a European journal to promote inspiring science teaching. It covers not only biology, physics and chemistry, but also maths and earth sciences, highlighting the best in teaching and cutting-edge research, and focusing on interdisciplinary work. The contents include teaching materials, recent discoveries in science, education projects, interviews with young scientists and inspiring teachers, book reviews, and European events for teachers.
Science in School is freely available. Online articles are published in many European languages and a print version is distributed in English.

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