View forthcoming events

View past events (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)

Throughout 2010: Europe-wide
Science teaching festivals: Science on Stage Europe national events

Science teachers from all over Europe are invited to join the Science on Stage activities in their respective countries. There, they can share good teaching examples and methods with other teachers from their country. The national events also serve to select some of the best European science teachers to attend the European Science on Stage festival on 16-19 April 2011 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

To apply to join your national event, please fill in the contact sheet on the Science on Stage Europe website ('How to join') and return it to the contact email address below. The information will be forwarded to the national contact. The deadlines for the individual national events vary, so do apply soon.

More information: www.science-on-stage.eu
Contact: info@science-on-stage.eu

6-9 January 2010: Nottingham University, UK
Conference: Association for Science Education (ASE) Annual Conference and Exhibition 'Inspirational science, the best in science teaching and learning'

The ASE is the UK's professional association for everyone involved in science education from pre-school to higher education. Its annual conference offers more than 350 varied lectures and workshops from cutting-edge science to hands-on practical teaching activities. It also incorporates the largest science exhibition in Europe, showcasing the latest resources for making science accessible to young people.

There are multicultural and international events throughout, but Wednesday 6 January is International Day, offering activities on the topics 'What works for me', and 'What practical use? - Science education for the future - of individuals and of our world'.

The ASE is a member partner of several international and Europe-wide science education projects including the CoReflect Project, which brings together eight diverse and multi-disciplinary teams from seven European states to develop web-based activities for school children aged 10-11 and 15-17. To find out more about CoReflect, come along to their talks on 6/7 January, or join their reception to try out the resources and meet some of the project members.

Online registration is required, and workshops and courses should be booked in advance. The working language will be English.

More information: www.ase.org.uk
Contact: Cally Oldershaw (callyoldershaw@ase.org.uk) for information on the CoReflect Project

Until 15 January 2010: Germany
Competition: Siemens school competition

This year's Siemens school competition in science, engineering and mathematics is all about energy. Can noise by converted into electricity? Can we get energy from raindrops? How can the slipstream from cars be efficiently used?

Students in Years 11-13 are invited to submit research projects addressing these and other topics. The winners receive prizes of up to 30 000€ to finance their university studies and the winning teachers will be awarded with cash prizes for their departments.

The submission deadline is 15 January 2009 and the competition language is German.

More information: www.siemens-stiftung.org/schuelerwettbewerb
Contact: Christian Haecker (schuelerwettbewerb@siemens-stiftung.de)

20 January 2010: Schoollab network GenaU, Berlin, Germany
Teacher training workshop: Biology

Organised by Science on Stage Germany and financed by the Technologiestiftung Berlin, this half-day workshop (3-6pm) presents two projects.

In the German project, 'Microscopy at school - working with minute organisms', the students developed microbiological media, and learned about sterile technique and incubation methods.

During the Italian 'Bioinformatics gene hunting' project, students learned how to access genomic information from public databases and how to extract and compare information from nucleotide and amino acid sequences. They took part in a simulated genetic counselling activity for a family with a case of cystic fibrosis, one of the most frequent genetic diseases in Western populations. Using this activity, teachers can address all the fundamental topics in genetics and cell biology (e.g. classical genetics, gene structure, protein structure and function, molecular basis of genetic diseases, human physiology). Importantly, it allows the molecular mechanisms underlying cell functions to be discussed in an applied way, and enables the recent fields of genomics and comparative genomics to be used as a starting point for a discussion of evolution.

The working languages are German and (in part) English. Participation is free; interested teachers should register by email.

More information: www.scienceonstage.de
Contact: info@science-on-stage.de

Until 31 January: worldwide
Competition: Funny Maths and Graphs

The Ignition funny maths and graphs competition is looking for mathematical entries that will make people laugh. The funniest entries will be published on the Ignition and Camouflaged Learning websites. There are prizes worth 50 GBP and the change to help develop a mathematics puzzle game for schools.

More information: www.ignitefutures.org.uk/ignition
/other-projects/funny-maths-and-graphs

15 February - 5 March 2010: more than 80 cities worldwide
Student and teacher workshops: Hands-on Particle Physics Masterclasses

The sixth International Hands-on Particle Physics Masterclasses will give more than 6000 high-school students and teachers from around the world the opportunity to work with particle physicists to unravel the hidden secrets of high-energy physics. More than 80 universities and laboratories in 23 countries will host these international research days. Participants will visit a research institute near their schools and work with data gathered at CERN, the world's largest particle physics laboratory. They will examine the collisions of electrons and positrons travelling at close to the speed of light, and use computer programs to analyse the data. Results will be compared and discussed with participants in other countries via video link.

More information: www.physicsmasterclasses.org
Contact: masterclasses@physik.tu-dresden.de

25-26 February 2010: Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, Austria
Science teaching festival: Science on Stage Austria

This year sees the 4th science teaching festival organised by Science on Stage Austria. Schools, universities and industry will present their science teaching projects. The winners of this national competition will be participate in the European Science on Stage festival in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 16-19 April 2011.

More information: www.scienceonstage.at
Contact: Friedlinde Krotscheck (Friedel.Krotscheck@t-online.de)

1-3 March 2010: EMBL Monterotondo, Italy
Training course: Colours of Life: New Frontiers of Microscopy

The European Learning Laboratory for the Life Sciences (ELLS) is an education facility which brings secondary-school teachers into the research lab for a unique hands-on encounter with state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques. ELLS also gives scientists a chance to work with teachers, helping to bridge the widening gap between research and schools.

This course, jointly run by ELLS and the Italian Association of Science Teachers (ANISN), will offer the participants the opportunity to dive in the field of modern microscopy, meeting some of the actors of this old and yet still revolutionary field. During the 3-day programme participants will:

• Explore, together with scientists, some of the cutting-edge technologies in modern microscopy
• Develop inquiry-based microscopy practicals for schools
• Discuss how different technologies can be used in modern life science education.

The course will be run in English and is open to 20 European high-school teachers. The registration fee of 50€ includes course materials, catering and three nights' accommodation. The deadline for registration is 24 January 2010.

More information: www.embl.org/ells
Contact: ells@embl.de

8 - 10 March 2010: EMBL-EBI, Hinxton, UK
Training course: Enhancing biology teaching using biological databases, ELLS LearningLAB

The European Learning Laboratory for the Life Sciences (ELLS) is an education facility which brings secondary-school teachers into the research lab for a unique hands-on encounter with state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques. ELLS also gives scientists a chance to work with teachers, helping to bridge the widening gap between research and schools.

This 2.5-day LearningLab will provide an interactive introduction to the field of bioinformatics, a central part of modern biology that can be used effectively in the classroom to teach biological concepts. The course is open to 40 European high-school and further education science teachers and will be run in English. The registration fee for the course is £85 GBP including accommodation and catering; participants are expected to meet their own travel costs. Three bursaries of £200 GBP will be offered to assist with teaching cover, course registration and travel costs. Information will be provided at the registration stage.

More information: www.embl.de/training
/courses_conferences/course_ebi
/2010/EBI10-01
Contact: ells@embl.de

11-13 March 2010: Manchester Central, UK
Science fair: The Big Bang

This free, fun science fair offers experiments, explosions, simulators, shows, exhibits, hands-on workshops and more for all school and college students. It also hosts some of the most exciting competitions for young scientists, including the National Science & Engineering Competition, open to 11-18 year olds in the UK who have completed a project or activity in any field of science, technology, engineering or maths.

For teachers, there are plenty of opportunities to network with other teachers, and pick up tips on topics and activities to take back to the classroom.

11-12 March are school visit days; on 13 March, the fair is open to everyone. You can register online: www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/register.cfm

More information: www.thebigbangfair.co.uk
Contact: info@thebigbangfair.co.uk

12-21 March 2010: venues throughout the UK
National Science and Engineering Week: 'Earth'

This ten-day programme of science, engineering and technology events and activities across the UK is aimed at people of all ages. In addition, the website provides free resources, such as activity packs, quizzes, how-to guides and more.

You might even like to organise your own events, with financial support from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, in partnership with the ETB (Engineering and Technology Board).

More information: www.britishscienceassociation.org
/web/nsew

18 March 2010: worldwide
Competition for school students: Mathematical Kangaroo

On the third Thursday in March every year, this maths competition takes place simultaneously in schools around the globe - in 2009, over 4.5 million students from almost 40 countries took part. This 75-minute multiple choice test is set as a test under the teacher's supervision. There are eleven levels of participation from grades 2-12. The key competence tested is logical combination, not pure knowledge of formulas.

The competition was started in 1978 by Australian university maths scientists as a means to foster the students' interest in maths. Since 1994, the competition has become international, with France being the second country to join in.

Evaluation and result collection, as well as the prizes given, are organised at a national level. Special prizes are given for the 'longest kangaroo jump' (the highest number of consecutive correct answers) for each school.

For more information, contact your national organiser. See Wikipedia for your relevant link: http://en.wikipedia.org
/wiki/Mathematical_Kangaroo

19 March 2010: Schoollab network GenaU, Berlin, Germany
Teacher training workshop: Chemistry

Organised by Science on Stage Germany and financed by the Technologiestiftung Berlin, this half-day workshop (3-6pm) presents two projects.

The 'Cologne model' project introduces a collection of 50 school experiments on the topic of polymers (synthesis, properties and manufacture, recycling and analysis). All use permitted and easily acquired chemicals. A selction of the experiments can be tried during the experiments and all participants receive instructions for carrying out all of the experiments.

The project 'Osmosis - new insights into well known phenomena using low-cost equipment' is suitable for biology and chemistry teachers, who have the opportunity to build the equipment, run the experiment and discuss the results.

The working languages are German and (in part) English. Participation is free; interested teachers should register by email.

More information: www.scienceonstage.de
Contact: info@science-on-stage.de

Until 22 April 2010: worldwide
Contest for students: When the world becomes a canvas

The 2nd International School Congress (see below) and the Lamaçães Schools Cluster Portugal are running an arts contest supported by UNESCO National Board, to coincide with the International Year of Biodiversity.

School students of all ages, nationalities and levels can participate either individually or as groups. They are asked to submit posters on the theme of biodiversity in format A1 (84.1 x 59cm), using traditional techniques (drawing, painting, mixed technique, collage).

All colours used must be biological (juice, ashes, soil); digital art is excluded.

The submission needs to be labeled with a title, the author's name, the technique, a description (200 words max) and an email address.

One prize each will be offered in the two categories: primary school (up to 12 years old) and secondary school (up to 18 years old). All participants will be issued a certificate, and all works will be exhibited at the D. Diogo de Sousa Museum in Braga, Portugal.

If applicable, the winning poster will be published in Science in School.

Send your posters by 22 April 2010 to: Escola E.B 2/3 de Lamaçães, Rua Dr. Egídio Guimarães, 4715-248, Braga, Portugal.

Contact: cie.concurso@gmail.com

5-8 May 2010: Braga, Portugal
Conference: 2nd International School Congress

Teachers of all levels, parents, university students and scientists are invited to participate in this year’s international school congress – ‘Natural Resources, Sustainability and Humanity’.

The topics to be covered include:

• Climate change
• Preservation of biodiversity
• The carbon cycle and the role of oceans
• Water use

The total registration fee is depends on which parts of the conference are attended and ranges from 20-150€. The working languages are English and Portuguese.

More information: www.cie-portugal.com
Contact: Angela Mendonca (cie.aelamacaes@gmail.com)

7 May 2010: Oberhausen, Germany
Competition: Innovative Technologies Move Europe V

Teachers and students from across Europe are invited to attend the final event of this year's Innovative Technologies Move Europe competition - for which the topic is energy. Seventeen teams of students and teachers from Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands will present their project results. Each team will have produced a model and solved scientific tasks in a creative way, to build something innovative, artistic or surprising.

For those interested in taking part in next year's competition, information will be available on the Science on Stage Germany website in August 2010.

Further information: www.science-on-stage.de Contact: info@science-on-stage.de

10-12 May 2010: EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany
Training course: From Cells to Tissues to Organisms - Biology in 3D, ELLS Learning Lab

The European Learning Laboratory for the Life Sciences (ELLS) is an education facility which brings secondary-school teachers into the research lab for a unique hands-on encounter with state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques. ELLS also gives scientists a chance to work with teachers, helping to bridge the widening gap between research and schools.

What makes a cell? How do these basic building blocks assemble into higher-order structures such as tissues, organs and whole organisms? During the 3-day LearningLab participants will take an interdisciplinary look at the dynamic field of cell biology and perform various activities related to cell biological questions. In addition, course participants will have the chance to learn about and acquire strategies to conduct an effective literature search.

The course is open to 24 European high-school and further education science teachers and will be run in English. The registration fee for the course is 100 € including course materials, catering and accommodation; participants are expected to meet their own travel costs. Three bursaries of 200 Euro will be offered to assist with teaching cover, course registration and travel costs. Information will be provided at the registration stage.

The deadline for application is 25 March 2010.

More information: www.embl.de/events/2010/ELLS10-01
Contact: ells@embl.de

June 2010: Erfurt, Germany
Technology congress for girls

The Germany-wide project Mäta (Mädchen-Technik-Talente Foren in MINT; forums for girls' talents in technology and STEM) is organising a number of regional congresses to get girls aged 10-16 interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers.

The congress in Thuringia is organised by OptoNet e.V. and BWAW Thüringen gGmbH in collaboration with local industry and regional associations.

More information: www.bwaw-thueringen.de/leistung
/forsch/p_maeta.htm (Thuringian website) and www.mst-ausbildung.de/maeta (national project website)
Contact: Marion Wadewitz (m.wadewitz@bwaw-thueringen.de), tel: +49 (0)361 340 5637

4 June 2010: Wellcome Trust, London, UK
Conference: Learning about Risk: The challenge for teachers

Developments in science and technology have the potential to greatly enhance human wellbeing but this potential is often tempered with public scepticism and ambivalence as well as a need to engage with the reporting of risk in the media. Risk has become increasingly emphasised in school curricula. This one-day conference will raise the challenges of teaching and learning about risk with leading players in policy and education, as well as providing a report on a research project on science and mathematics teachers' understanding of risk in socio-scientific contexts.

There is no fee for participation and the deadline for registration is 28 May 2010.

More information: https://www.wellcometrustevents.org
/learningaboutrisk
Contact: Verena Collins-Magee (v.collins-magee@wellcome.ac.uk)

6-13 June 2010: Helsinki, Finland
Science camp: Millennium Youth Camp

Applications are invited for the Millennium Youth Camp, for 30 talented 16- to 19-years-old who are keen on natural sciences, mathematics and technology. The camp brings young people from all over the world together, and introduces them to Finnish business life and top scientists, as well as increasing awareness of the Millennium Technology Prize.

The camp is free of charge, and travel, accommodation and food costs are covered.

More information: www.technologyacademy.fi/millennium-youth-camp-fi.html
Contact:

9-13 June 2010: Mannheim, Germany
Science festival: Explore Science

Schools and families are invited to discover the hands-on experiments, lectures by scientists, scientific shows and much more at the Explore Science festival.

31 January 2010 sees the opening of the school competition to solve challenging problems in unique and imaginative ways. The students will present their results to the public and a jury of scientists during Explore Science.

More information: www.explore-science.info

11-12 June 2010: Gläsernes Labor, Berlin-Buch, Germany
Conference: Final event of Teaching Science in Europe 3

At the Science on Stage festival 2008 in Berlin, workshops covered concepts, methods and content for modern science lessons. Under the guidance of Science on Stage Germany, 52 teachers from 13 European countries have continued these discussions, concentrating on three topics:

• Science in kindergarten and primary school
• Are non-formal initiatives always beneficial?
• Moderating science lesson.

At the final event, the results will be presented in the publication Teaching Science in Europe 3. The book will be available in German and English and can be ordered (free) via email.

European teachers are invited to attend the event and learn more about the working groups. Those who would like to join future workshops or to contact the members of the working groups should get in touch by email.

More information: www.science-on-stage.de
Contact: info@science-on-stage.de

12 June 2010: Austria, Germany, Switzerland
School activity: 12^th Geo Biodiversity Day

The German Geo magazine is co-operating with Swarovski Optik to run the 12^th annual Geo Biodiversity Day (Tag der Artenvielfalt). Ever since 1999, everyone interested in nature has been invited to join this largest central European field day either individually or as a group, to sample as many plant and animal species as possible within 24 hours in an area of their choice. Geo offers help with organising and running your own events on the day, including special materials for schools and teachers: www.geo.de/GEO/natur/oekologie
/tag_der_artenvielfalt/53073.html

This year's topic is 'The value of nature: why diversity counts', relating to the value individual ecosystems have and how this can be determined. Geo will organise the main activity around Freiburg, Germany, in collaboration with the Freiburg region & biodiversity network, running a sampling with over 100 invited experts. The deadline for registering your own activities at the online portal is May 2010.

There's also a competition for school students. Groups of students of any age are invited to sample a 'piece of nature' near them in as much detail as possible, and to document their findings in the form they choose. The activity should be supported by teachers and / or experts. The most original and meticulous submissions (in terms of planning, running and evaluating the activity) will be awarded one of 23 prizes: the first prize is a 5-day school trip in September 2010. Activities should take place in the week before or after 12 June 2010, and entries must be submitted by 8 July 2010. For more information, see: www.geo.de/GEO/natur
/oekologie/tag_der_artenvielfalt
/2177.html

More information: www.geo-artenvielfalt.de
Contact: Tom Müller (mueller.tom@geo.de)

12-13 June 2010: Bristol, UK
Science festival: Bristol Festival of Nature

The Festival of Nature is a public event held annually on a weekend in June in Bristol. Bristol is recognised internationally as a centre for excellence in wildlife film-making and communicating about the natural world. The Festival is an imaginative weekend of films, animal encounters, exhibitions, walks, talks, workshops and competitions for all ages and interests. It also includes a very popular food market, with local and healthy produce. A full programme of activities will be available about two months before the event. All events are free of charge.

More information: www.festivalofnature.org
Contact: info@festivalofnature.org

14-25 June 2010: UK
Online science event for teachers and students: "I'm a Scientist, Get Me Out of Here!"

"I'm a Scientist, Get Me Out of Here!" is an online science event that gets scientists and young people talking.

For two weeks, students read about the scientists’ work, ask them questions, and chat online with them. The students vote for the scientist they prefer. The scientists with the fewest votes are evicted until only one is left: the winner. The event is supported by resources which develop students’ skills and deepen their understanding.

Participation is free and the registration deadline is 3 May 2010.

More information: www.imascientist.org.uk
Contact: Sophia Collins (sophia@imascientist.org.uk)

18 June 2010: Schoollab network GenaU, Berlin, Germany
Teacher training: Physics

Organised by Science on Stage Germany and financed by the Technologiestiftung Berlin, this half-day workshop (3-6pm) presents two projects.

The German part of the workshop, 'Nanotechnology and school', presents four projects. One explains how talented school students can be encouraged by research work to take part in a regional youth research competition (Jugend forscht). In the other three projects, 16-year-old students demonstrate their experiments to produce single-wall nanotubes out of carbon, a field-effect transistor out of graphene, and low-cost and colourful photonic crystals out of latex spheres.

The Austrian project, 'The latex motor' investigates the conversion and conservation of energy via four experiments using latex. A latex glove is used to convert thermal energy into potential energy, lifting a weight when heated; the heating and cooling of condoms is used to create a motor driven by heat from a spotlight; the same latex motor is reversed to demonstrate that kinetic energy can be transformed into thermal energy; refrigeration is demonstrated with a latex loop that is cooled on one side (relaxed) and heated on the other (expanded).

The working languages are German and (in part) English. Participation is free; interested teachers should register by email.

More information: www.scienceonstage.de
Contact: info@science-on-stage.de

19-30 June 2010: near Moscow, Russia
International Research School

Delegations of up to five students aged 14-17 (plus one adult supervisor) from any country are invited to take part in the International Research School.

The main goal is to give school students, both Russian and from elsewhere, an opportunity to carry out short projects in various fields of science and technology. The projects are designed by young scientists and involve modern methods of research. The students work in international teams (the working language is English) and after five days, present their project results to a committee of experts.

The fee is 350$ per person, including accommodation, catering, transport, tours and other activities.

More information: www.interschool.redu.ru
Contact: Ksenia Salnikova (salnikova@redu.ru)

20 June - 13 July 2010: Göttingen, Germany
Science camp: XLAB International Science Camp

High-school and first-year university students (aged about 16 to 20) from all over the world are invited to participate in the XLAB International Science Camps. Run at the University of Göttingen, in collaboration with other scientific institutes, the camps cover current topics in physics, biology and chemistry. Three weeks of laboratory work are complemented by an elaborate social programme and a three-day trip to Berlin.

XLAB also offers experimental science courses all the year round.

Application deadline: 1 March
More information:
www.xlab-goettingen.de/sciencecamp.html
Contact: sciencecamp@xlab-goettingen.de

27 June – 5 July 2010: Andøya Rocket Range, Andenes, Norway
Science camp: European Space Camp 2010

Young people (aged 17 to 21) who are interested in space and science and have a background in physics and mathematics are invited to apply for the European Space Camp, organised by the Norwegian Association of Young Scientists.

Participants spend a week doing technical experiments, taking part in a rocket campaign, working as real rocket scientists, learning how to exploit the knowledge they already possess, and broadening their understanding of applied science. The programme includes group work with hands-on activities related to the rocket launch, lectures and social activities.

The deadline for registration is 15 April 2010, and participation is free of charge. The working language is English.

More information: www.spacecamp.no
Contact: contact@spacecamp.no

25 June-4 July 2010: London, UK
Science festival: See further: celebrating 350 years of the Royal Society

This year, the Royal Society, the UK’s academy of science, marks its 350th anniversary and to celebrate Southbank Centre and the Royal Society are coming together to explore science and our human impulse to understand the world we live in.

See Further: The Festival of Science + Arts is a ten-day festival filling every corner of Southbank Centre this summer. The festival explores links between the sciences and arts and features a host of cross-disciplinary collaborations, scientific and artistic events.

More information: www.seefurtherfestival.org

28-30 June 2010: ESA, Noordwijk, the Netherlands
Teacher training: Teachers' summer workshop at ESA/ESTEC

Secondary-school teachers from all the member states of the European Space Agency (ESA) are invited to apply for a limited number of places on ESA's teachers' summer workshop.

The event will include:

• Workshops by science communicators and educators
• Hands on activities to take back to use in the classroom
• Resources from the human spaceflight education department (in your language choice)
• A say in what future education resources you would like from the ESA human spaceflight department
• A chance to brainstorm on education experiments that could be performed on the International Space Station
• A visit to Space Expo and ESTEC
• A talk by an astronaut
• Teachers will be able to share their experience in using space in the classroom.

The deadline for registration is 1 June 2010 and successful candidates will be informed by 4 June 2010. There will be a discretionary payment towards transport costs but all other internal workshop costs and accommodation will be covered.

More information: www.congrex.nl/10c22
Contact: esa.conference.bureau@esa.int

30 June 2010: Exeter, UK
School visits: Bright Green

The 'Bright Green' workshop will introduce Year 10 students (ages 14-15) who are enthusiastic and skilled science, technology, engineering and mathematics to the growing number of ‘green’ opportunities that exist locally. It will involve partners from industry and higher education and will explain pathways, both academic and vocational, into several sectors including: renewable energy technologies and green construction to jobs in consultancy, environmental planning, law, ecology, conservation and finance.

Six schools can participate in the event, each visit lasting approximately two hours. During the visit, each group of up to 25 students will take part in three hands-on workshops and visit an information fair. A small grant will be available towards transport costs.

Contact: rdelourme@cornwall.gov.uk

June/July each year: Blossin, Germany
Summer school: Feeling like Maths

The Institute for Mathematics at Berlin's Humboldt University organises an annual summer school entitled 'Feeling like maths' (Lust auf Mathematik) at the Jugendbildungszentrum Blossin eV near Berlin, strengthen the bonds between schools and universities, and to inspire and prepare talented students for a career in maths, science or engineering.

During this one-week event, 30-40 students from schools in the Berlin network of schools with a maths/science profile (Berliner Netzwerk mathematisch-naturwissenschaftlich profilierter Schulen) work in small groups, each under the supervision of a teacher and a maths research scientist, on a mathematical subject proposed by the scientist. Occasionally, students from other schools may take part. The working language is German.

More information: http://didaktik.mathematik.
hu-berlin.de
/index.php?article_id=39

2-7 July 2010: Turin, Italy
Conference: Euroscience Open Forum

The Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF), organised by Euroscience, is not an ordinary scientific conference, but a forum for discussion of topical issues, an embedded conference (with an exhibition) to showcase European achievements across the scientific and technological spectrum, and an outreach programme, consisting of a large number of events and happenings throughout the ESOF host city, targeted to the general public of all ages.

The working language is English. Registration is online; more information about the outreach programme, including evens for teachers will be available soon.

More information: www.esof2010.org
Contact: info@esof2010.org

3 July, 5 July 2010: Turin, Italy
Teacher training: One Quest, One Thousand Genomes

As part of ESOF, EMBL's European Learning Laboratory for the Life Sciences (ELLS), together with the Tara Oceans project, will present 'One Quest, One Thousand Genomes: A journey to explore the diversity of our planet', featuring:

• A hands-on workshop on metagenomics aimed at secondary-school teachers, to explore the novel approaches to study organisms in a community


• A presentation of the Tara Oceans marine expedition, to explore the oceanic life and ecosystems across the globe.

More information: www.embl.it/ells/esof2010

5 July 2010: Dortmund, Germany
Conference: Technology congress for girls

The Germany-wide project Mäta (Mädchen-Technik-Talente Foren in MINT; forum for girls' talents in technology and STEM) is organising a number of regional congresses to get girls aged 10-16 interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers.

The congress in Dortmund is organised by IVAM, the international professional association for microtechnology.

More information: www.ivam.de (Dortmund website) and www.mst-ausbildung.de/maeta (national project website)
Contact: Florence Bukow (fb@ivam.de), tel: +49 (0)231 974 2147

7-15 July 2010: Davidson Institute of Science Education, Israel
Conference: Sheila Schwartz Family International Leading Science Teacher Seminar

Secondary-school science teachers from all countries are invited to register for a nine-day seminar at which they can:

• Be exposed to cutting-edge research by top scientists
• Develop leadership in school science education
• Establish international collaborations
• Advance their science teaching strategies.

The registration fee is $200 and the working language is English

More information: davidson.weizmann.ac.il/international Contact: Dr Dvora Cohen (dvora.cohen@weizmann.ac.il)

12-18 July 2010: Cheia, Romania
Teacher training workshop: Innovative teaching, hands-on science, gates to research

This one-week international workshop on high school physics is organised mainly by Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP). It will focus on methodological issues, like innovative teaching or hands-on science, and cover sensitive themes like environmental challenges, global warming, and renewable energy sources.

Held in English, the workshop is open to teachers and specialists in science education, mainly from Central and Eastern Europe. The invited lecturers are distinguished researchers, mainly from the USA and Europe. There is no registration fee; participants are expected to meet their own travel and accommodation costs.

More information: www.infp.ro/cheia-workshop
Contact: Victor Barsan (vbarsan@theory.nipne.ro)

1-25 August 2010: Göttingen, Germany
Science camp: XLAB International Science Camp

High-school and first-year university students (aged about 16 to 20) from all over the world are invited to participate in the XLAB International Science Camps. Run at the University of Göttingen, in collaboration with other scientific institutes, the camps cover current topics in physics, biology and chemistry. Three weeks of laboratory work are complemented by an elaborate social programme and a three-day trip to Berlin.

XLAB also offers experimental science courses all the year round.

Application deadline: 15 March
More information:
www.xlab-goettingen.de/sciencecamp.html
Contact: sciencecamp@xlab-goettingen.de

7-14 August 2010: Vilnius, Lithuania
Science camp: International Science Summer Camp

Initiated by MILSET (International Movement for Leisure Activities in Science and Technology), the week-long International Science Summer Camps address the use of science in modern society. They bring together young people from all over Europe to share their common interests and gain a global perspective on the future of science and technology.

The theme this year is 'science for society'. Lectures and workshops will be held by some of the best Lithuanian scientists and scientific organisations. The main goal is to share and create new ideas on how to present and bring science to society. There will be excursions to science institutes and biotechnology companies and museums.

The participation fee is €99.

More information: www.issc.lt and www.milset.org (for further activities organised by MILSET)
Contact: info@issc.lt

9-13 August 2010: Saskatoon, Canada
Science teaching festival: Science on Stage Canada 2

Teachers from Europe, North America and Asia are invited to participate in the second Science on Stage Canada festival.

Hosted at the Canadian Light Source and the University of Saskatchewan, the event is based around a science fair. Participants also have the opportunity to train on the Students on the Beamlines project, try some hands-on science and meet researchers in fields ranging from physics to agriculture. Workshops will focus on various day-to-day issues for teachers.

More information: www.scienceonstage.ca (Science on Stage Canada) and www.lightsource.ca/education/students.php (Student on the Beamline)
Contact: Dr Johanne Patry (Science on Stage Canada) and Tracy Walker (Students on the Beamlines)

9 September 2010: Kassel, Germany
Teacher training: Englischsprachiger Biologie- und Chemieunterricht an deutschen Schulen

In this workshop, biology and chemistry teachers who teach in English will develop English-language teaching materials in small working groups and present them to all participants. Teachers from outside Germany are warmly welcome. The participation fee is €10.

More information: www.vdbiol.de
Contact: info@vbio.de

11-20 September 2010: Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea Science Camp 2010

School students and science teachers are invited to take part in the Baltic Sea Science Camp 2010. This is your chance to learn what marine science is all about, experience working at sea in an international team, taking samples and analysing them, and trying to find answers to important questions.

The camp is open to 20 students aged 15-19 and five school teachers from Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania, Poland and Germany. All need to be interested in marine science and skilled in English.

Participation is free of charge and the application deadline is 15 July 2010.

More information: www.southbalticweblab.eu
Contact: Sven Hille or Lena Fassnacht (sven.hille@io-warnemuende.de)

14-19 September 2010: Birmingham, UK
Conference: British Science Festival

The British Science Festival is one of Europe's largest science festivals, taking place each September. The festival is in a different location in the UK each year, bringing you the latest in science, technology and engineering. The 2010 festival is hosted by the West Midlands in partnership with Aston University, offering loads of events for everyone, including talks, plays, debates, hands-on activities and more.

Throughout the festival, a series of special events for school groups is provided. In 2010, the programme for schools will be co-ordinated by ThinkTank and will take place in venues around the city including their own award-winning science museum.

Most festival events can be booked through the website.

More information: www.britishscienceassociation.org
/web/BritishScienceFestival

20-24 September 2010: Innsbruck, Austria
Teacher training: Teacher Competencies for Education for Sustainable Development

Teachers and teacher trainers are invited to take part in this workshop, part of the EU Comenius project 'SUPPORT – partnership and participation for a sustainable tomorrow'.

Keynote speeches by international experts will highlight different topics on the subject of education for sustainable development. Participants will have the chance to discuss the competencies required, test methods, exchange experiences, and find ways to implement the findings in their own work. School visits and excursions in the beautiful Tyrolean mountains will form part of the programme.

The participation fee is €350, plus € 700 for accommodation and meals.

More information: http://support-edu.org/Teacher-ESD-Comp
Contact: forum.salzburg@umweltbildung.at

21-22 September 2010: Bayreuth, Germany
Conference: Raising Awareness about Inquiry-based Science and Mathematics Education in European Countries

The Fibonacci project is a major European project, funded by the EU (7th Framework Programme), aiming at a large dissemination of inquiry-based science and mathematics education in Europe, and gathering 38 partners in 24 European countries.

The launch conference of the Fibonacci project is aimed at educationalists, researchers, scientists, policy makers and stakeholders, and will address the following issues:

• Raising awareness of the project objectives, involving in particular the scientific community
• Sharing experience in inquiry-based science and mathematics education
• Emphasising the role of learning environments
• Bridging the gap between theory and practice in inquiry-based mathematics and science education
• Organising networks for inquiry-based mathematics and science education.

Keynote speakers include Pierre Léna (see the Science in School feature article on him). To learn more about the Pollen project, the forerunner of the Fibonacci project, see the Science in School article Catch them young: university meets primary school.

The conference is free of charge and the working language is English.

More information: www.fibonacci-project.eu/conference
Contact: info@fibonacci-conference.eu

22-24 September 2010: CusMiBio, Milan, Italy
Teacher training: Molecole e cellule a colori

The European Learning Laboratory for the Life Sciences (ELLS) is an education facility which brings secondary-school teachers into the research lab for a unique hands-on encounter with state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques. ELLS also gives scientists a chance to work with teachers, helping to bridge the widening gap between research and schools.

During the three-day LearningLab, organised in collaboration with the CusMiBio (Milan, Italy) participants will explore - together with scientists - some of the cutting-edge technologies based on the use of colours in molecular and cell biology. Participants will also have the chance to perform experiments based on advanced microscopy and citofluorimetry.

The course is open to 20 Italian high-school science teachers and will be run in Italian. The registration fee for the course is € 100 including course materials, catering and accommodation; participants are expected to meet their own travel costs. The deadline for application is 20 June 2010.

More information: www.embl.it/training/scienceforschools
/teacher_training/learninglabs/2010
/22-24sept10/index.html
Contact: cusmibio@unimi.it

24 September 2010: Bolzano, Italy
Science event: Researcher's night

EURAC, the Free University of Bolzano (FUB) and the TIS Innovation Park will organise this second biennial event for the general public. From 5 pm until midnight, you will be able to enjoy hands-on science events at nine different venues throught the city. In 2008, an amazing 6000 visitors took the opportunity to join in the 70 different workshops and events.

More information: www.eurac.edu/events
/index_de.htm?which=11154
Contact: Julia Reichert (julia.reichert@eurac.edu)

24-25 September 2010: Poznan, Poland
Science teaching festival: Science on Stage 4

For the fourth Science on Stage Poland event, 400 science teachers from across Poland will flock to Poznan to share ideas and inspiration with their colleagues in 29 demonstrations, 13 performances and 23 multimedia presentations on the subject of energy. The participants will also compete for the honour of representing Poland at the international Science on Stage festival in Copenhagen, Denmark, in April 2011.

More information:www.staff.amu.edu.pl/~fizscena
Contact: Wojciech Nawrocik (nawrocik@amu.edu.pl)

24-26 September 2010: Palermo, Italy
Science event: Researcher's Night and Weekend of Research 2010

This year, the University of Palermo will organise the Notte Europea dei Ricercatori e Weekend della Ricerca 2010. The event is associated with the European Researchers' Night, which will take place simultaneously in all the European countries.

The main event will be held from Friday night to Sunday night in Palermo's central park Giardino Inglese, where researchers will display their activities. In addition, many university laboratories and museums will open their doors to the public, often offering interactive experiments.

More information: http://portale.unipa.it/eventi/rap
Contact: Aurelio Agliolo Gallitto (agliolo@fisica.unipa.it), Simonpietro Agnello (agnello@fisica.unipa.it)

25 September 2010: Maynooth, Ireland
Conference: Frontiers of Physics 2010

The annual conference for physics teachers in Ireland will be hosted this year by the Department of Experimental Physics at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. During the day, demonstrations and workshops for post-primary physics teachers aims to:

• Inform teachers about the exciting and innovative work at the frontiers of physics that is being carried out in Ireland


• Provide teachers with examples of simple and inexpensive physics demonstrations


• Highlight the latest developments and resources available in physics teaching.

Teachers from outside Ireland are very welcome to attend. The working language is English. The registration fee is 35€ (including tea/coffee and lunch) and the deadline for registration is 17 September 2010.

More information: http://physics.nuim.ie/frontiers2010
Contact: creidhe.osullivan@nuim.ie

1 October 2010: Berlin, Germany
Science teaching festival: Science on Stage Germany

Science teachers from Germany with innovative teaching ideas, workshops and on-stage activities are invited to apply for participation in the national Science on Stage pre-selection event in Germany, which will take place on 1 October 2010 in Berlin.

At this national festival, a jury will propose good teaching examples from Germany to be presented at the international Science on Stage festival on 16-19 April 2011 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The deadline for applications is 30 May 2010.

More information: www.science-on-stage.de
Contact: info@science-on-stage.de

1-3 October 2010: Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Science teaching festival: Ciencia en Acción

The 11th Ciencia en Acción event - the Spanish and Portuguese Science on Stage event - has drawn entries from over 900 teachers, students, scientists and journalists from Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico,
Peru, Salvador, Uruguay and the UK. The best 100 projects will be presented at Ciencia en Acción.

The winning teams from the Ciencia en Acción will be chose to represent Spain in the international Science on Stage festival in Copenhagen, Denmark, in April 2011.

More information: www.cienciaenaccion.org
Contact: Rosa Ros (ros@mat.upc.es) or Ana Nohorona (anoronha@cienciaviva.pt)

2 October 2010: Budapest, Hungary
Science teaching festival: Science on Stage Hungary

Hungarian-speaking science teachers with innovative and inspiring teaching ideas, demonstrations, workshops, projects and on-stage activities are invited to apply for participation in the national Science on Stage pre-selection event in Hungary, which will take place at the Palace of Wonders science centre in Budapest's Millennium Park.

At this festival, a jury will propose good teaching examples from Hungary to be presented at the international Science on Stage festival on 16-19 April 2011 in Copenhagen, Denmark. In addition, Hungarian-speaking teachers from other countries are invited to join and present their work, if their home countries will not be sending a delegation to Copenhagen.

To apply, teachers should send an abstract (maximum 2 pages) of the workshop or activity to be presented. The deadline for applications is 15 July 2010.

More information (in Hungarian): www.szinpadon-a-tudomany.hu
Contact: Csaba Sükösd (sukosd@reak.bme.hu)

5 October-April 2011: the Netherlands
Competition: Imagine school competition

The Foundation Imagine Life Sciences was established in 2005 and is affiliated with the Delft University of Technology, in the Netherlands. It connects scientific research, education and development aid.

The foundation holds an annual Imagine competition for secondary-school students, offering them an in-depth introduction to the life sciences. Scientists submit ideas for project proposals, which are then transformed by the students into a business plan. A jury selects the best proposals, which are subsequently presented by the pupils at a scientific congress. The best proposal is carried out by Imagine a developing country.

Science in School has previously published an article about the Imagine competition. See here.

More information: http://foundation-imagine.org
Contact: info@foundation-imagine.org

15 October 2010: Zweibrücken, Germany
Conference: Technology congress for girls

The Germany-wide project Mäta (Mädchen-Technik-Talente Foren in MINT; forum for girls' talents in technology and STEM) is organising a number of regional congresses to get girls aged 10-16 interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers.

The congress in Zweibrücken is organised by pro-mst, the education foundry.

More information: www.pro-mst.de (Zweibrücken website) and www.mst-ausbildung.de/maeta (national project website)
Contact: Silke Weber (silke.weber@gh-kl.de), tel: +49 (0)6332 914 408

1-31 October 2010: The Netherlands
Science event: October, month of knowledge (Oktober Kennismaand)

During the month of October, a great variety of institutions in the Netherlands will take part in a unique event to bring science and technology closer to the public. During Oktober Kennismaand, universities, research institutes, observatories, companies, museums and libraries all over the Netherlands open their doors for young and old. This year, there will be almost 900 fascinating activities and events in the programme.

This is a free and unique event for teachers and students. Educational materials are available online, as well as a newsletter that teachers can register for and a list of events suitable for children. See: www.oktoberkennismaand.nl/pagina/docenten

More information: www.oktoberkennismaand.nl
Contact: info@oktoberkennismaand.nl

29 October 2010: Kempten University, Germany
Conference: Technology congress for girls

The Germany-wide project Mäta (Mädchen-Technik-Talente Foren in MINT; forums for girls' talents in technology and STEM) is organising a number of regional congresses to get girls aged 10-16 interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers.

The congress in Kempten is organised entirely by girls and young women. Female school students are invited to join in with their own ideas, learn about microsystems technology, nanotechnology or optical technology, and tell others about their experiences.

Teachers are invited to participate in the congress by preparing a topic with a group of female students, and encouraged to foster their students by signing them up for the congress.

More information: www.fraunhofer.de/jobs-karriere
/Nachwuchsfoerderung
/maedchen-technik-kongress
/index.jsp (Kempten website) and www.mst-ausbildung.de/maeta (national project website)
Contact: Sabine Scherbaum, tel: +49 (0)89 547 59 236

1-7 November 2010: venues throughout the Czech Republic
Science festival: 10th Czech Science and Technology Week

Held each year at the beginning of November, the Science and Technology Week is one of the largest science communication events in the Czech Republic, presenting the latest scientific achievements and current research approaches. It is organised by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in the framework of the European Science Week.

It is aimed at the general public and offers lectures, public debates, exhibitions, open days at science institutes, hands-on activities, movies, and much more.

More information: www.tydenvedy.cz

Contact: Karina Novak (knovakova@ssc.cas.cz)

5-6 November 2010: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
Conference: 11th EMBO / EMBL Joint Conference on Science and Society - 'The Difference between the Sexes - From Biology to Behaviour'

Teachers and school students are invited to attend this year's EMBO / EMBL Joint Conference on Science and Society.

The four sessions of the conference cover:

• Sex and evolution
• Sexual divergence in development: genetic, hormonal and physiological differences
• Behavioural and cognitive studies of sexual selection
• Rethinking ‘maleness’ vs. ‘femaleness’

The conference fee is €40 (€20 for students).

More information and registration of individuals: www.embl.de/training/courses_conferences/
conference/2010/SNS10-01/index.html

Teachers who want to attend with school groups should contact Ruth Hazlewood (ruth.hazlewood@embl.de).

10-14 November 2010: Split, Croatia
Conference: 1st Croatian Workshop on Chemical Education

This conference focuses on the problems of effective chemistry teaching and learning, and on inquiry-based learning. Primary- and secondary-school chemistry teachers, teacher trainers and education researchers are invited to attend.

More information: www.pmfst.hr/~vladusic/cwce
Contact: Dr Nenad Judaš (judas@chem.pmf.hr)

11 November 2010: Hanover, Germany
Conference: Technology congress for girls

The Germany-wide project Mäta (Mädchen-Technik-Talente Foren in MINT; forums for girls' talents in technology and STEM) is organising a number of regional congresses to get girls aged 10-16 interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers.

The congress in Hanover is coordinated by the institute for microtechnology at the Leibniz University Hanover.

More information: www.maedchen-und-technik.de (Hanover website) and www.mst-ausbildung.de/maeta (national project website)
Contact: Anja Wienecke (wienecke@imt.uni-hannover.de), tel: 0511-7622395

11-13 November 2010: Bratislava, Slovakia
Science festival for students: Festival Vedy a Techniky

Each year during the Slovak Week of Science, about 150 young scientists (under 20) from across the country gather to present their science and technology projects in a competition with an exhibition that is open to the general public and sees about 2000 visitors annually.

The festival cooperates with similar events in France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic or Hungary, fostering a positive exchange of experiences and networking.

The registration for projects has been closed on 10 October 2010.

More information: www.festivalvat.sk
Contact: j.ristvej@amavet.sk

11-14 November: Siauliai, Lithuania Conference: Information & Communication Technology in Natural Science Education

The Natural Science Education Research Centre in Lithuania organises this international scientific conference which will cover various topics including:

• Changes in natural science education (NSE) in the context of modern information and communication technology (ICT)
• Science teachers’ competence and its development in the field of using ICT
• Virtual teaching / learning environment and its usage in the process of teaching sciences in comprehensive school

Registration deadline: 20 September
Cost: EUR 120 for general participants and EUR 60 Euros for students from outside Lithuania, LTL 120 / 60 for participants from Lithuania

More information and registration: www.gutc.su.lt/ICT_conference_2010.htm

Contact: ict2010lithuania@inbox.lt

20 November 2010: Brussels, Belgium
Science day for girls: Greenlight for Girls

This free event, organised by the social initiative ‘Greenlight for girls’ and hosted at the International School of Brussels, aims to encourage 11-15-year old girls from Brussels and its surroundings to take up careers in science, technology, engineering and maths, by emphasising the link between science and fun. The day unfolds in workshop form covering a wide variety of topics - from digital music to DNA research. There will also be a fun experiment lab with activities and entertainment, as well as lunch.

Please encourage girls at your school to register early, since registration is limited to 300 girls, and as we wish to include students from all over Brussels, we may need to limit the number of registrations per school.

More Information: www.greenlightforgirls.org/event-registration

30 November – 5 December: Bordeaux, France
Science film festival: CinemaScience

This international film festival, unique in Europe, is organised by the CNRS in collaboration with several institutional and private partners. Using film as a tool to popularise science, it will present comedies, dramas, thrillers and science fiction films, but also lectures and science documentaries about topics ranging from space exploration to genetics, sociology or mathematics. Each screening is followed by a discussion between the public, members of the cast and crew (director, actor, screenwriter, producer) and scientists (researchers, engineers and technicians).

Access to the village festival and the workshops is free. The entrance fee for the film projections is EUR 3.50-5 per ticket (possibility of group rates). Students and teachers will be given a place for lunch at the shelter, but food is the responsibility of the class.

If you need financial help (transport and tickets) to attend the festival you can fill out an application via the General Council of Gironde at http://www.cnrs.fr/cinemascience/spip.php?article223

More information: www.cnrs.fr/cinemascience
Contact: cinemascience@services.cnrs.fr

3-5 December: Belgrade, Serbia
Science festival: Festival Nauke

The fourth edition of Belgrade's science festival will be held in three locations: The former department store Kluz, the Student Cultural Centre and the gallery of the National Bank of Serbia. This year the public will be able to enjoy 25 interactive stands, four exhibitions, fun lectures for children, 27 lectures, a science film festival and more, presented by more than 200 scientists and science demonstrators, covering everything from maths and physics to chemistry and biodiversity.

In parallel, there's a science and art programmeto be held at the gallery of the National Bank of Serbia.

To organise a visit with your school, contact the festival team via email.

More information: www.festivalnauke.org
Contact: kontakt@festivalnauke.org

---

If you organise events or competitions that would be of interest to European science teachers and you would like to see them mentioned in Science in School, please email details, including date, location, title, abstract, price, language, registration deadline, website and contact email address to editor@scienceinschool.org.