Health and disease are themes that run through this issue of Science in School. In our feature article, Alan Leshner describes his varied career, including his involvement in a major campaign to show that schizophrenia is a brain disease and not a result of environment. In contrast to this concern with the public awareness of mental illness, Sabine Hentze deals with illness on a personal scale – counselling patients and families affected by genetic diseases.

Bent u nieuwsgierig naar hoe het leven er over honderd jaar uit zal zien? Of had u altijd al in het oude Egypte willen wonen? Volgens Jim Al-Khalili zou het op een dag mogelijk kunnen zijn – zou het echt kunnen? Is tijdreizen echte wetenschap of science fiction? Lees er meer over in het feature story van dit nummer.

In this issue’s feature article, Leroy Hood, the ‘father of systems biology’ describes his commitment to encouraging concept-driven, hands-on science teaching. He explains how he introduced this approach across schools in Seattle – and why his achievements in science may be due to his small-town upbringing.

Are you curious to find out what life will be like in a hundred years’ time? Or have you always fancied living in ancient Egypt? According to Jim Al-Khalili, it may one day be possible – or will it? Is time travel science fact or science fiction? Find out more in this issue’s feature article.

“Intelligence is of secondary importance in research.” So says our featured scientist, cosmologist Tamara Davis. For her, interest and inspiration are far more important for success in science. Tamara herself certainly lacks neither interest nor inspiration (nor, I suspect, intelligence). She tells Henri Boffin about her work on dark energy, supernovae, the speed of light, and life elsewhere in the Universe – and how she combines this with playing world-class sport.

«Прежде, чем начать, мне хотелось бы отметить две вещи: половина из того, что я говорю Вам будет ошибочной; и я даже не знаю, какая это половина». Эта преамбула известного специалиста в области молекулярной биологии Ueil Schibler в его выступлении перед студентами иллюстрирует затруднительный аспект науки. Единственный способ определить, какая половина неверна, а какая правдива – опровергнуть существующие «истины» и заменить их новыми.

“Before I start, I’d like to mention two things: half of what I’m telling you will be wrong; and I don’t even know which half.” This introduction by renowned molecular biologist Ueli Schibler to his students illustrates a discomforting aspect of science. The only way to find out which half is wrong and which is right, is by disproving existing ‘truths’ and replacing them with new ones.

En nuestro artículo editorial Vienna Leigh entrevista al profesor Lewis Wolpert, quien conduce un grupo de investigación sobre el desarrollo del embrión y es un propulsor de la comunicación científica. El comparte con nosotros sus ideas controversiales sobre religión, ciencia, educación y mucho más. Tanto si están de acuerdo con él o no, ¿por qué no nos dejan sus comentarios en nuestro sitio web?

ברוכים הבאים לגילון הראשון של העיתון "מדע בבית הספר". עיתון זה שם לו למטרה לתת השראה בתחום הוראת המדעים בבתי הספר בכל אירופה. אנו מקווים שתתרשמו, תתידעו ותשאבו השראה מהמאמרים אותם בחרנו.

In our feature article, Vienna Leigh interviews Professor Lewis Wolpert, who leads a research group on the development of the embryo and is active in science communication. He shares with us his controversial ideas about belief, science education and much more. Whether you agree with him or not, why not leave your comments on our website?