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15-18 February 2012: Bayreuth, Germany
Workshop: Deepening the specificities of inquiry in mathematics

Applications are invited for this, one of five European training sessions organised within the framework of the Fibonacci project. The seminar will cover manifold aspects of inquiry-based mathematics education (IBME), taking into account the following aims:

• Less knowledge acquisition, more problem-solving instruction
• Less orientation towards calculation, more focus on comprehension
• Learning mathematics in context
• Attention not only to results but also to the learning strategies and learning processes.

The target group is mainly science and mathematics educators and teacher trainers and project coordinators. Special attention will be paid to the persons with the capacity to implement and disseminate IBME either in their own countries or abroad.

Participants do not have to be involved in the Fibonacci project. All sessions will be delivered in English. There is no registration fee, but participants will need to cover their own transport and accommodation costs.

More information: www.fibonacci-project.eu
Contact: Dagmar Raab (dagmar.raab@uni-bayreuth.de) or Thomas Stiegler (thomas.stiegler@uni-bayreuth.de)

November 2011 – February 2012: UK, various locations
Workshop: Olympics Physics Competition

Teachers are invited to bring a team of six Year 12 students to a SEPnet (South East Physics Network) partner university campus to participate in a full-day challenge exploring the physics in sport.

Each site will run a series of science challenges around a particular Olympic sport. Students will have the chance to meet a local athlete in that sport and learn more about the physics involved in it.

The events will be held from November 2011 through to February of 2012. Attendance is free of charge and there is no registration deadline. For more information please contact Clare Harvey on the email address below.

Contact: clare.harvey@sepnet.ac.uk

29 January 2011: University of Bristol, UK
Science teaching festival: Festival of Contemporary Science

Bristol ChemLabS is holding its annual festival of cutting-edge science for teachers, trainee teachers, science communicators and technicians.

Twenty leading academics will be giving lectures on subjects as diverse as the Large Hadron Collider, climate change and the identification of penguins. There will also be hands-on workshops covering scanning electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography, patient simulators and virtual microscopes.

Participation costs £20 (including packed lunch and refreshments).

More information: www.chemlabs.bris.ac.uk/outreach
/Festival_of_Contemporary_Science_2011.html
Contact: Tim Harrison (t.g.harrison@bristol.ac.uk)

26 February – 20 March 2011: Oxfordshire
Science Festival: Oxfordshire Science Festival

The Oxfordshire Science Festival will take place over three weeks and will involve more than 130 events scheduled throughout Oxfordshire and its surrounding counties. The festival, which is targeted at young children through to adults, will fuse science with drama, debate, history, and religion and music, providing a programme that will allow individuals to explore a topic that is important and relevant to them. On 26 February the 2011 programme will open with the Science in Your World launch event, in which a variety of interactive science experiments will be held in Bonn Square, Oxford. Events in the festival will be grouped under one of four topical science themes: clean and green, the universe, technology, and health and wellbeing.

Most of the events are free of charge and require no advanced booking, although it is advisable to first check the festival website, where specific details on each event can be found.

More information: www.oxfordshiresciencefestival.co.uk
Contact: questions@oxfordshiresciencefestival.co.uk or tel: +44 (0)790 3233 064

14-27 March 2011: Cambridge, UK
Science festival: Cambridge Science Festival

Over two weeks, the University of Cambridge opens its doors at over 150 mostly free events showing how science, technology, engineering and even mathematics are changing our lives.

Highlights include:

• The fireworks of chemical reactions
• What do drugs do to the brain?
• 'Success of the smelliest' - Dr Tristram Wyatt talks about what the chemicals of attraction of insects, animals, birds can tell us about humans
• Festival of the spoken nerd – music, comedy and interactive maths
• Why are we not all fat?
• A live ‘Twitter brain’ experiment

More information: www.cam.ac.uk/sciencefestival

18-21 March Cyprus Domefest
Science festival: Cyprus Domesfest, Cyprus Science Festival

The Cyprus Domefest is the launch event for the Cyprus Science Festival and is a celebration of Fulldome cinema. A Fulldome film is one in which the image is projected onto the curved roof of a cinema, surrounding the viewer in 360° and so providing a highly immersive visual experience. During the four days that the festival runs, films and animations will be shown consecutively.

Details on how to register for tickets can be found on the festival website. A day ticket will cost € 15 and a four day pass € 40. The deadline for submissions is 28 February 2011.

More information: www.cyprusdomefest.co.uk
Contact: Sotira Trifourki (sotira@cyprusfestivalscience.com or tel: +44 (0)776 891 6088)

19 March 2011: Zaventem, Belgium
Science festival: Playful Science

Playful Science is a festival of science experiments targeted at secondary school students. The festival is organised annually by Science on Stage Belgium, and forms part of the European Science on Stage Festival 2011. It aims to exhibit simple experiments that teachers can easily replicate in the classroom. The festival begins with a 30 minute stage show of chemistry, physics and biology presentations. There will be competitions to see who can obtain the best results from a given science experiment, followed by a lunchtime fair of experiments. The festival will end with a 45 minute science show. Belgium astronaut Frank De Winne will also be present, to tell participants about experiments that can be done in space.

For details on how to register, see the festival website. The registration fee is 10 €.

More information: www.scienceonstage.be
Contact: playfulscience@gmail.com

29 March 2011: Edinburgh, UK
Conference: Engaging in modern genetics

Teachers and schools from Scotland are invited to take part in the Gene Jury conference, which will give 200 school students from all backgrounds the chance to engage with modern genetics and to experience a day at university.

The conference will be live streamed, so anyone who cannot attend it in person will be able to watch it over the internet.

More information: www.biology.ed.ac.uk/
projects/GeneJury/conference.html
Contact: Sarah Keer-Keer (skkeer@staffmail.ed.ac.uk or +44 (0)131 650 5384)

1-26 April 2011: Cyprus
Science festival: Cyprus Science Festival

The Cyprus Science Festival is an annual multi-venue festival that takes place over the course of a month. Comprised of a variety of shows, interactive demonstrations, and science cafés, the festival aims to bring people together to explore science and technology and to give them an understanding of the world around them. The theme of the 2011 festival is Space - the Next Frontier, in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's pioneering manned flight into space.

A special schools programme will allow pupils to participate in inquiry based learning activities to include, amongst others, the development of science-based animations, robotics, and rockets. The launch event for the festival is the Cyprus Domefest, which will take place on 18-21 March 2011 in Larnaca, Cyprus.

Information will be made available on the festival website as the details of individual events are finalised. Most of the events are free of charge and require no advanced booking, although it is advisable to first check the festival website, where specific details on each event can be found.

More information: www.cyprusfestivalscience.com
Contact: Sotira Trifourki (sotira@cyprusfestivalscience.com or tel: +44 (0)776 891 6088)

3-6 April 2011: Vienna, Austria
Workshop: Geoscience Information for Teachers - Evolution and Biodiversity

Secondary-school teachers are invited to attend the 9th Geosciences Information For Teachers' (GIFT) workshop on evolution and biodiversity. The workshop programme combines scientific presentations on current research by leading scientists, with hands-on classroom activities presented by science educators. Also, teachers are encouraged to give short presentations about special activities they have developed themselves.

The deadline for applications is 3 December 2010. For the 60 selected teachers, participation and accommodation costs will be covered, as well as transport.

More information: www.atmosphere.mpg.de/enid/gift
Contact: Carlo Laj@lsce.ipsl.fr

5 April 2011: Stevenage, UK
Science day: Mars Explorer challenge teacher and science communicator morning

On the morning of 5 April 2011 teachers and science communicators will have the opportunity to learn about the Mars Explorer school challenge. At 10am - 12.30pm, participants will receive an introduction to Astrium and a tour of Mars rover Bridget, an overview of existing space outreach initiatives and a discussion of how to engage schools in the Calling Mars Explorers programme.

To attend, contact Heather MacRae using the details below.

Contact: Heather MacRae (heather@venturethinking.com or tel: +44 (0)781 576 8699)

14 April 2011: Europe-wide
Science day: MILSET European Science Day for Youth

The European Science Day for Youth (ESDY) happens in schools and youth clubs all across Europe. For one day, young people develop science activities and experiments around a given topic, which this year is chemistry, in honour of UNESCO’s designation of 2011 as the International Year of Chemistry. Students are invited to take photos and videos of the event and share them through the ESDY website.

Participation is free of charge.

More information: http://esdy.milset.org and www.milset.org (for further activities organised by MILSET)
Contact: esdy@milset.org

16 – 18 April 2011: National Space Centre, UK
Teacher training workshop: Space Academy Teachers Conference

The Space Academy Teachers Conference is an intensive three-day residential event for KS3, KS4 and Post-16 science teachers, held at The National Space Centre and the University of Leicester. This opportunity for continued professional development is eligible for subsidy through the DFE/Science Learning Centre Impact Awards.

Over the course of three days, delegates will participate in a large variety of curriculum-focused practical sessions delivered by space academy educators and scientists. The sessions are designed to equip teachers with new ideas for demonstration and practical experiments, which are directly relevant to secondary science education. There will also be an opportunity to attend seminars from some of the UK's leading space scientists.

The deadline for registration is 11 April 2011. The training event is available to teachers from the Midlands, South and East of England, who teach physics, chemistry, biology or a vocational science subject. For teachers from the East Midlands the cost is £90; for all others the cost is £220. For more information or to book a place on the course, please use the contact details given below.

More information: www.esero.org.uk/news/space-academy-teachers-conference
Contact: slcem@le.ac.uk or 0116 252 3771

16-19 April 2011: Copenhagen, Denmark
Science teaching festival: Science on Stage 2011

About 400 science teachers from all over Europe will participate in the next international Science on Stage festival organised by Science on Stage Europe. Participants will have the opportunity to exchange experiences, didactical concepts and teaching methods.

National events to select the participants for the international festival will take place in European countries from the beginning of 2010. To apply to take part, 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

April – May 2011: the Institutes of Technology, Ireland
Science festival: Scifest

Scifest is a series of one-day science fairs hosted by the Institutes of Technology. Each fair includes a competition for the exhibition of projects, a selection of science talks, science demonstrations and a prize-giving ceremony. The fairs will take place in fourteen Institutes of Technology.

Students are eligible to enter if they attend a secondary school within the catchment area of one of the institutes. Each student may enter only one project, but a school may enter as many projects as they wish.

Details will be posted on the contacts page of the Scifest website as they become available.
The deadline for receipt of entry forms is Wednesday 9 March 2011, and participation is free of charge.

More information: www.scifest.ie
Contact: Sheila Porter (sheilax.m.porter@intel.com or +353 (0)16 0689 49)

6-8 May 2011: Brussels, Belgium
Conference: Scientix European Conference

Learn more about science education projects across Europe, get to know the people behind the projects and share your expertise, knowledge and best practices in maths, science and technology education.

Teachers can choose between three types of participation:

• Simply come and listen to the talks and take part in hands-on workshops (register by 18 March)


• Attend the conference and also participate in the Scientix poster competition (register by 1 March)


• Attend the conference and give a presentation in one of the several sessions (register by 31 January).

More information: www.scientix.eu/web/guest/conference

13 May 2011: Bocholt, Germany Science
Science festival: Innovative Technologies Move Europe VI, Science on Stage Germany 2011

On 13 May 2011 the final event of the Innovative Technologies Move Europe VI competition will take place in Bocholt, Germany. The competition will take place shortly after the European Science on Stage Festival 2011, which will be held on 16-19 April 2011 in Copenhagen, Denmark, and concludes Science on Stage Germany’s 2011 programme of events. A total of 13 teams of teachers and students from Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Hungary, will work on the topic of sensors.

The event aims to promote the exchange of science teaching methods and ideas, and to encourage students to adopt a creative and interdisciplinary approach to solving problems. Because it has been organised in cooperation with several engineering companies and will take place at Grunewald GmbH & Co KG, the event also gives students the opportunity to discuss career prospects with those working in the engineering field.

Selections of students that will present their projects in May have already taken place, but the next competition, the final for which will take place in 2012, will be announced in the autumn. The working language is English. Participants can take part for free but must be from Nordrhein-Westfalen.

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

10 June – 1 July 2011: Various locations, UK
Teacher training courses: Primary Engineer

Primary Engineer is a non-profit organisation, which aims to encourage young people to consider careers in STEM-related professions in the UK. One way it does this is by offering courses to support primary school teachers. Registration on one of the courses, which are linked to MA credits, includes the following:

• A CPD training session


• Site licensed resources including a courseware CD containing teacher and pupil workbooks, challenge information, certificates, risk assessments


• 12 interactive whiteboard lessons: 6 at KS1 and 6 at KS2

The Structure & Mechanism courses provide primary teachers with practical and theoretical tools that will allow them to create design and technology activities for the classroom.

Computer Control courses provide teachers with a basic understanding of control technology, so that together with their pupils, they can create working models. Course participants are provided with a number of resources, including printable KS1 and 2 children workbooks.

Other courses are aimed at secondary teachers and enable them to support primary teachers in delivering design and technology projects to pupils aged 4-11. Such courses help to ensure effective primary to secondary school transition.

All of the courses are available to teachers from across the UK. The deadline for registration is two weeks in advance of the start date of a particular course. The price varies according to location and will be provided on application.

More information: www.primaryengineer.com/index.php
Contact: Christine James (christine.james@primaryengineer.com or phone 0161 205 7507)

19 June – 12 July, and 31 July – 23 August: Göttingen, Germany
Science camp: XLAB International Science Camp

XLAB is an experimental laboratory, located on the Göttingen University campus, Germany, designed to act as a bridge between school and university. Every summer, XLAB organises two international science camps for high-school and first-year university students (aged 17-20) from all over the world. The camps offer laboratory experience in biology, chemistry and physics. This year, there will be 32 places available on the programme, which will conclude with a three-day trip to Berlin.

The cost for attending a camp is € 1850, which is all-inclusive except for travel expenses to and from Göttingen. Applicants must be fluent in written and spoken English. The deadline for applications is 1 March 2011.

More information: www.xlab-goettingen.de
Contact: Christine Battmer (c.battmer@xlab-goettingen.de or tel: +49 (0)551 391 3618)

19-21 June 2011: Edinburgh, UK
Teacher training workshop: Space as a Context for Science Teaching

This fully-funded training course is split into two parts: a three-day visit to The Edinburgh Royal Observatory followed by one day at the National Science Learning Centre in York.

In the first part, participants will visit the laboratory that is leading the UK’s role in the huge international scientific endeavor billed as ‘the successor to Hubble’, the James Webb Space Telescope. Here, teachers will be able to meet the scientists and engineers working on the telescope.

Practical workshops will provide practical techniques and ideas for teaching aspects of the physics and chemistry curriculum related to the science behind the telescope. Participants will also develop innovative learning materials to use with their classes. The sharing of these materials will form a key part of the second part of the course, which will take place over the course of a day at the National Science Learning Centre in York on 3 October.

The course fee of £916 includes meals, refreshments and accommodation. The ENTHUSE Award for this course is £1716 and can be applied for via the event website.

Contact: Michael Francis (tel: 01904 328 300) or enquiries@national.slcs.ac.uk
More information: see www.esero.org.uk/events or for more detail: http://tinyurl.com/3zlrr9p

20 June – 14 July 2011: UK, various locations
Workshop: Physics GCSE physics taster

Teachers are invited to bring a group of year 9 students to one of SEPnet’s (South East Physics Network) partner university campuses, where for half a day students will be given a taster of GCSE physics. The topic covered will be ‘Energy and Energy Resources’, as detailed in the UK GCSE specification.

A number of taster events will be held in June and July. There will be the option of attending morning or afternoon sessions. Please send an email to the address below to receive more information on how to take part. Attendance is free of charge and there is no registration deadline.

More information: www.sepnet.ac.uk/outreach
/schools/gcse_project.html
Contact: gcse@sepnet.ac.u

23 June – 14 July: UK, various locations
Workshop: Physics A-level transition event

This event is for students who have just finished their GCSEs and have chosen to study A-level physics. During a full day of talks and workshops at a SEPnet (South East Physics Network) partner university campus, participants will be introduced to key concepts at A-level and will be given tips on how to be successful in assessment.

A number of events will be held in June and July. Please send an email to the address below to receive more information on how to take part. Attendance is free of charge and there is no registration deadline.

More information: www.sepnet.ac.uk/outreach
/schools/gcse_project.html
Contact: gcse@sepnet.ac.uk

25 June – 2 July 2011: Valchava, Switzerland
Science camp: International Wildlife Research Week

Places for the camp are available to twenty 16- to 20-year-olds from all over Europe. Students will conduct a scientific study on an interesting animal or plant species in the Swiss mountains, according to an ecological or behavioural research objective of their choice. Participants will be shown how to collect and analyse data, and will produce a scientific paper, which will be published online.

Registration starts in March 2011.

More information: www.sjf.ch
Contact: info@sjf.ch

26 June – 2 July 2011: Zvenigorod-Moscow, Russia
Workshop: International Research School

The International Research School aims to give schoolchildren (aged 14-17) from across Russia and the rest of the world an opportunity to carry out science and technology projects with real scientific value. Students will work on the projects, the topics for which are decided upon by their teachers, for five days, before presenting them to a committee of experts. The event will be held in a hotel in the Moscow region. Groups should be no larger than seven (one adult supervisor for every three to six students). The total number of participants is 100.

There is a participation fee of $350 per person for international students, and 1500 Rubles for nationals. The fee covers accommodation, catering, transport, tours and other activities during the event.

The working language is English and the deadline for registration is 15 March 2011.

More information: http://interschool.redu.ru
Contact: k.salnikova@redu.ru

26 June – 4 July 2011: Andenes, Norway
Science camp: European Space Camp

European Space Camp allows young people aged 17-20 to build and launch a rocket, working under the supervision of some of Europe’s best rocket scientists. Participants will also receive lectures from experts on topics ranging from rocket physics to the northern lights. The camp takes place over a week at the Andøya Rocket Range, Norway. A range of recreational activities are also organised throughout the week, including swimming in the ocean, a GPS treasure hunt and a whale safari.

Applications are open to students from around the world. Applicants should be fluent in English and passionate about space and rocket physics. A strong grasp of maths and physics is highly desirable.

The deadline for applications is 1 April 2011.

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

27 June – 1 July 2011: London, UK
Science camp: Institute of Education Science Week

The Institute of Education Science Week is an exciting and intensive week of CPD (Continuing Professional Development) courses and events for science teachers and technicians from across the world. The course is organised by and will be held at the Science Learning Centre London. The centre’s aim is to increase student interest, learning and achievement in science.

By booking a weeklong package, schools can send a teacher or technician to one of three courses running each day and to the daily twilight event. Alternatively, one, two, three or four of the days can be booked, as preferred.

To register, download the e-flyer from the festival website. There is no registration deadline, but early booking is advisable as there are only 20 places available. The registration fee for the weeklong package is £600 and shorter packages are priced accordingly. Individual courses cost £130 each. Meals are not included in the fee.

More information: www.slcs.ac.uk/network/lnc10128
Contact: enquiries@london.slcs.ac.uk

July 2011: Leicester, UK
Teacher training workshops: UK Space Education Office (ESERO) INSET days

The Space Academy Project is delivering a range of intensive CPD workshops for key stage 3 and 4 teachers from the Midlands, South and East of England. The workshops will take place at the National Space Centre in Leicester, UK, and will be delivered by teachers. A range of inspiring, curriculum-focused hands-on activities and teaching ideas will be shared and participants will be given a memory stick of resources designed for use in the classroom.

The Space Academy is now taking bookings for specialists and non-specialists in physics, chemistry, biology and BTEC/applied science. For some INSET sessions, qualified teachers will be able to apply for Impact Awards of £200 per day.

For further details and to register for the workshops, see the National Space Centre website, below.

More information: www.spacecentre.co.uk/Page.aspx
/291/ESA_INSETS/ and for other ESERO events www.esero.org.uk/events

4-9 July 2011: Kodreti, Slovenia
Summer camp: Biological Research Summer Camp

Young people aged 14-18 who are interested in research and exploring their surroundings, are invited to join this summer camp in Slovenia.

The camp focuses on the nature and cultural heritage of the western part of the Karst region and lower Vipava Valley. Eight groups of four participants and a mentor will cover different topics (e. g. grasshoppers, birds and bats, natural features, and geology). A group of participants from outside Slovenia will investigate dragonflies. The course costs 80€.

More information: www.zotks.si/www/portal/sl
/stran.asp?id_tema=847&id_strani_var=1092
Contact: tjasa.toni@zotks.si

5 July 2011: Coventry, UK
Teacher training workshop: ESERO space education day

As part of the inaugural UK Space Conference on 5 July 2011 at the University of Warwick, Coventry, the UK Space Education Office (ESERO) is organising a dedicated space education day.

Specifically designed for primary and secondary teachers, the day will include a range of space-related workshops and a plenary lecture given by Dr. Lucie Green, a solar researcher based at University College, London. Participants will be able to engage with inspirational speakers, discuss the role of space in education and take away important contacts of space education providers in their region.

Attendance is free of charge and you can register by returning the online booking form on the ESERO website, below.

More information: www.esero.org.uk/news
/reach-for-the-stars---
esero-uk-space-education-day
Contact: enquiries@nationalstemcentre.org.uk

5 July 2011, UK
Science competition: Mars Explorer Challenge

The Exo Mars probe is scheduled to launch in 2018 and will be a product of the effort of an international team of scientists. On board will be an exploration Mars rover.

Students aged 8 to 16 are invited to put forward their designs for a prototype Mars rover. They could work on their plans in lessons, afterschool clubs, or at home. Entries can be from individuals or from groups of up to six and will be judged by a panel of experts.

Winners will be entitled to a behind-the-scenes tour of Astrium, which is the home of Bridget, one of the three prototype rovers being developed for the Exo Mars probe. Bridget will also pay a visit to the winning school. A winners' reception will be held in London during World Space Week in October 2011. Entries must be submitted by 30 June, 2011.

Registration details can be found by following the link below.

More information: www.esero.org.uk/news/mars-explorer-challenge

5-10 July 2011: London, UK
The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition

Explore over 20 fascinating exhibits, interact with the science that is shaping our world, question scientists about their research. As well as the panel discussions and café scientifique, there will be hands-on family workshops over the weekend. The event is free of charge.

More information: http://royalsociety.org/summer-science/2011

10-30 July 2011: Putorana Plateau, Russia Science camp: MILSET Integrated Junior Educational & Scientific Expedition

The Integrated Junior Educational & Scientific Expedition gives Russian students aged 14-17 the opportunity to visit the Putorana Plateau; a mountainous area on the north-western edge of the central siberian plateau, Russia. Students will work in the field in groups (three students to one tutor) to gather material on a particular scientific area, such as geology, bio-geochemistry, and social and cultural psychology; or on an alternative educational topic, such as the history and culture of Russian villages, and Polish studies. Students either live in camp-sites or in local people’s houses. At the end of each expedition, all of the groups come together to present their results at a conference. The total number of participants is 200.

The deadline for registration is 30 of April 2011 and the participation fee is $ 400. This sum does not cover travel expenses.

Contact: k.salnikova@redu.ru

11-14 July 2011: Noordwijk, the Netherlands
Teacher training: ESA's 2011 Teachers Summer Workshop

Develop new skills and network with teachers from across Europe. This is the second in the Teachers Summer Workshop series organised by the European Space Agency (ESA). Participants will have the opportunity to gain practical skills that will enable them to enhance their teaching of the sciences. New, innovative, and inspiring tools and methods will be presented, using space as a means for attracting students to science.

The programme is designed to provide participants with ample time during the workshop to test the activities and become sufficiently confident with the material so that they can adapt it to the requirements of their national curricula. During the workshop, teachers will participate in a programme of activities that will take them on a voyage through the Solar System, looking at how humans explore space, the science of the Sun, and the study of Earth from space.

There is no participation fee, and accommodation for participants will be organised and covered by ESA. A limited amount of financial support is available to offset travel cost for teachers from ESA member and cooperating states.

Places are limited and the deadline is 5 June 2011. The working language is English.

More information: www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Education
/SEM594Z57NG_0.html
Contact: education@esa.int

11-15 July 2011: Porto, Portugal
Teacher training workshop: da biologia molecular à niologia sintética - da leitura à escrita do DNA

The teacher training course da biologia molecular à biologia sintética - da leitura à escrita do DNA (from molecular biology to synthetic biology - from the reading to the writing of the DNA) will take place between 11 and 15 July at the Portuguese institute of molecular and cellular biology.

Working with researchers from the institute, 20 high-school teachers will be given the scientific background and practical skills needed to teach molecular biology, synthetic biology and recombinant technology in the classroom.

The registration deadline is 25 May. The course costs €100. Note that the working language is Portuguese.

More information at: www.ibmc.up.pt/cfp-biologiasintetica/
Contact: ESCOLAS@IBMC.UP.PT

14-22 July 2011: Wrexham, UK
Wrexham Science Festival

The Wrexham Science Festival will include talks, workshops and demonstrations to get you thinking about science. Events will be based around four themes – 'Earth and the Universe', 'animal world', 'human mind and body', and 'bright sparks'. The event is free of charge.

More information: www.wrexhamsf.com/en

18-23 July 2011: Bratislava, Slovakia
Science fair: MILSET Expo-Sciences International

Expo-Sciences International is an exhibition of science projects created by school children from around the world. Project categories range from behavioural and social sciences to physics and astronomy. The fair also includes workshops, animations and conferences.

The registration fee for students is € 250. For teachers, the fee is € 400, unless they supervise more than 4 students, in which case it is reduced to € 250. There should be at least one teacher or other responsible adult per 3 participants.

The registration fee covers all meals, accommodation, transportation and activities.

The deadline for registration is 1 May 2011. Note that non-MILSET partner organisations need to first obtain accreditation from MILSET.

More information: www.esi2011.sk
Contact: amavet@amavet.sk

25-28 July 2011: Munich, Germany
Training course for teachers: Science Education as a Tool for Active Citizenship

The Science Education as a Tool for Active Citizenship (SETAC) training course has been designed to allow teachers to debate and explore issues relating to science education and active citizenship. Through a series of lectures, roundtables, museum visits, interactive workshops and practical activities, participants will be able to study and reflect on areas such as:

• The role of science in everyday life
• Young people’s motivation in science
• Dialogue and debate as learning tools at school
• Scientific literacy and active citizenship

The course is open to teachers, head teachers and teacher trainers from all EU-member and associated countries. It will be held in English by an international group of experts. Funding for attendance can be obtained through the European Union’s Comenius grants.

The deadline for registration is 10 January 2011.

More information: www.museoscienza.org/setac
Contact: Sara Calcagnini (calcagnini@museoscienza.it)

27 July – 10 August 2011: London, UK
Science camp: The London International Youth Science Forum

LIYSF is a two-week residential course held at Imperial College London for 17- to 21-year-old science students. It attracts 300 of the brightest young scientists from around the world. The event includes lectures and demonstrations from leading scientists, visits to industrial sites, research centres, scientific institutions and organisations, including world-class laboratories and universities. Held in English, LIYSF 2011 will explore the future developments in the sciences, with lecture demonstrations, specialist seminars and debates led by a team of scientists and experts and scientific visits.

The fee for participation is £1395 per place. This covers accommodation in a university hall of residence including dinner, bed and breakfast. The full programme of lectures, seminars and visits (including transport within and outside of London), together with the social programme, maps and other necessary documentation, are also covered.

Registration is now open.

More information: www.liysf.org.uk
Contact: richard.myhill@liysf.org.uk

2-15 August 2011: Petnica Science Center, Serbia
Science camp: Petnica International Summer Science Camp

The Petnica International Summer Science Camp is a camp for students who have completed secondary school and for undergraduate university students. The participants will carry out scientific research on their own projects and communicate their results and ideas. They can also attend a range of lectures and lab sessions, do fieldwork and learn how to use important scientific software packages. The main criteria for admission are motivation for extracurricular work and demonstrated interest in science and independent thinking. Grades are important, but more important is an open mind.

The participation fee is €500 including meals, accommodation, and excursions. If you need financial support, do not hesitate to contact the organisers. The working language is English and the registration deadline is 31 May 2011.

More information: http://pi.petnica.rs
Contact e-mail address: pi@petnica.rs

3 September 2011 onwards: Modena, Italy
Teacher training: NanoLab

The physics department at the University of Modena, Italy, is offering a series of five fortnightly training courses for up to 30 secondary-school physics and science teachers, starting on 3 September. Entitled 'Nanosciences in the laboratory' (Le nanoscienze in laboratorio), each of the courses consists of:

• A seminar by a research scientist in the field
   
• Simple experiments to be carried out in lessons, led by expert teachers. Some of the activities were developed as part of the European project Nanoyou.

Topics include:

• Nanostructured surfaces and nanotribology
• Conductive polymers
• Memory shape materials
• Nanoparticles and nanosensors
• Nanoscale microscopy.

Preregistration is open now. Registration is from 1-15 September.

More information: www.physicscom.unimore.it
Contact: annamaria.lisotti@unimore.it

3-12 September 2011: Wolin and Sopot, Poland
Science camp: Baltic Sea Science Camp 2011

The Baltic Sea Science Camp is an international camp for school students, which is hosted by Szczecin University and the Institute of Oceanology PAN and will take place on the Islands of Wolin and Sopot, Poland. The camp is suitable for students aged 15-19, who are interested in marine science. The focus is on the coastal zone as a dynamic area of natural change and of increasing human use.

Applications are open to students and teachers from Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, or any other region in the close vicinity of the Southern Baltic Sea. Participation is free of charge and scholarships are available. Please see the event website for details on how to apply.

More information: www.southbalticweblab.eu/news
/items/apply-now.html
Contact: Artur Skowronek, Szczecin University (skowron@univ.szczecin.pl), or Regina Terlecka, Institute of Oceanology PAN (terlecka@iopan.gda.pl)

9 September 2011: Kassel, Germany
Teacher training: Bilingual biology and chemistry teaching in Germany schools

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.

Topics covered will include:

• Teaching biology and chemistry in Great Britain
• Teaching evolution and plant breeding - a practical approach for introducing students to biological database research
• Student projects on gender differences - teaching experimental design and presentation.

Teachers from outside Germany are warmly welcome. The participation fee is €15.

More information: www.vbio.de/der_vbio
/aktivitaeten/vbio_veranstaltungen_2011
Contact: lars.schueler@hamburg.de

10-15 September 2011: Bradford, UK
Science festival: British Science Festival

The British Science Festival is one of Europe's largest science festivals, bringing the latest in science, technology and engineering. During the festival, attendants are invited to take part in heated debates, join in on large-scale discussions, watch plays and films and take fieldtrips. The theme of the festival in 2011 will be ‘exploring new worlds’. Throughout the festival, a series of special events for school groups is provided.

Booking for the festival events opens in June 2011.

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

12-15 September 2011: Leicester, UK
Workshop: Integrating inquiry across curricula

Applications are invited for this, one of five European training sessions organised within the framework of the Fibonacci project. The workshop will explore how to make effective links between science and different school curriculum areas in order to support learning in each subject, without losing the development of quality inquiry methods.

The target group is mainly science and mathematics educators and teacher trainers and project coordinators. Special attention will be paid to the persons with the capacity to implement and disseminate inquiry-based science and mathematics education (IBSME) either in their own countries or abroad.

Participants do not have to be involved in the Fibonacci project. All sessions will be delivered in English. There is no registration fee, but participants will need to cover their own transport and accommodation costs.

More information: www.fibonacci-project.eu
Contact: Ann Brant (iab6@le.ac.uk) or Tina Jarvis (jar@le.ac.uk)

13-17 September 2011: Joensuu, Finland
Conference: Act Now! Forests For Future

This global conference for children and young people offers hands-on workshops, panel discussions, a cultural programme and other exciting activities as Environment Online (ENO) schools and partners from all sectors of society share what they do for forests. Participants can explore the potential of forests as well as the importance of their protection. The conference will gather together 2000-3000 students and teachers from about 100 countries.

More information: www.actnow.fi

18 September 2011: Cologne-Porz, Germany Science day: German Aerospace Day

On 18 September 2011, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) will, for the 11th time, host the German Aerospace Day event. Here, adults and children with enthusiasm for aerospace will gain first-hand experience of excellent research work. During the day there will be a career stand offering information on entry-level opportunities at DLR, student placements, graduate dissertations and doctorates and current vacancies.

For school students, the DLR School Lab will prepare experiments on research topics relating to aeronautics, spaceflight, energy and transport. DLR scientists will also describe their work in a range of lectures. Entry to all parts of the main event is free of charge.

More information: http://tinyurl.com/aerospaceday Contact: Andreas Schütz (+49 2203 6010)

7 – 9 October 2011: Lleida, Spain
Science festival: Science on Stage Spain, Ciencia en Acción

The twelfth edition of Ciencia en Acción (Science in Action) will take place at the Science Park i Lleida Agri-Food Technologic (PCiTAL) in Lleida, Spain. The event aims to present science in an attractive and motivating way to students, teachers, researchers and science communicators through competitive workshops and performances. Participants will have the opportunity to attend lectures and to actively participate in demonstrations.

Ciencia en Acción is Spain’s national event for the Europe-wide science festival, Science on Stage. Winners of the national event will have the opportunity to participate in the 2013 international final, which will take place in Słubice - Frankfurt (Oder).

The deadline for proposals is 15th May 2011. The competition will be held in Spanish and Portuguese.

More information: www.cienciaenaccion.org

8 October 2011: NEMO Science Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Workshops: NIght of the Nerds

After the huge success of the 2010 edition, the NEMO Science Centre is repeating the Night of the Nerds as part of the Oktober Kennismaand.

Specially designed for young people between the ages of 16 and 20, visitors can participate in workshops, clinics and experiments. You can experience augmented reality, play chess with your brain, solve a crime with CSI, do light graffiti or molecular cooking, take gadgets apart, make electronic music, design 3D games or your own apps for your smart phone, go on a space trip with Kinect, enter an ecomarathon or a dance battle and much more.

Entrance fee: €7.50
Time: 18:30 - 24:00
More information: www.nightofthenerds.nl
Contact: Peggy Alders Boss (tel. +32 (0)61828 7476) or Nathalie Samartzi (tel. +32(0)6349 33003)

9 - 12 October 2011: Grenoble, France
Teacher training workshop: EIROforum Teachers School 2011

EIROforum (publishers of Science in School) invites 30 European science teachers to attend a three-day course on the ‘Physics and chemistry of life’ at the European Photon and Neutron Science Campus in Grenoble.

In small groups, participants will attend a series of short lectures and laboratory tutorials given by top scientists from EMBL, ESRF, ILL and the European XFEL. Time will be allowed for participants to exchange their classroom experience, and for lab visits.

The working language is English. There are no course fees. Teachers selected to attend the course will have the cost of their travel (up to a maximum of 400 Euros), accommodation and food covered by EIROforum.

More information: www.epn-campus.eu/eiro-teachers-school/home
Contact: ets2011@epn-campus.eu

10-12 October 2011: Helsinki, Finland
Workshop: Using the external environment of the school

Applications are invited for this, one of five European training sessions organised within the framework of the Fibonacci project. Schools are more and more open to using their external environment to teach science, and the main issue of this workshop will be how to bridge the gap between informal and formal education, and include inquiry-based science and mathematics education (IBSME).

The target group is mainly science and mathematics educators and teacher trainers and project coordinators. Special attention will be paid to the persons with the capacity to implement and disseminate IBSME either in their own countries or abroad.

Participants do not have to be involved in the Fibonacci project. All sessions will be delivered in English. There is no registration fee, but participants will need to cover their own transport and accommodation costs.

More information: www.fibonacci-project.eu
Contact: Hannu Salmi (hannu.salmi@helsinki.fi) or Arja Kaasinen (arja.kaasinen@helsinki.fi)

4-5 November 2011: Heidelberg, Germany
Conference: Making sense of mental illness: biology, medicine and society

Teachers and their students are invited to attend the 12th EMBO / EMBL multidisciplinary conference on science and society, which has the title 'Making sense of mental illness: biology, medicine and society'.

The conference will address the often-challenging issues surrounding neurological and behavioural disorders and attitudes towards them. Experts from a wide range of disciplines will explore the ethical and social implications of mental illness and will explain the latest scientific knowledge on their causes and treatment. The conference will also debate a number of difficult topics including the definition of mental disorders, financial interests in their diagnosis and treatment, and controversial therapies. The tradition of this conference series is to promote dialogue between a wide range of professionals and members of the public.

The conference will be run in English and the registration deadline is 2 October 2011. It costs 40€ (20€ for university students). High-school students can register for free.

More information: www.embo.org/policy-and-society/science-society
/conferences/2011.html
Contact: Alexandra Bendiscioli (Bendisci@embo.org)

9 – 11 November 2011: Hinxton, Cambridge
Teacher training workshop: EMBL-EBI, Better Biology with Bioinformatics

The European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI), part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), trains scientists how to use public databases containing the vast amounts of data generated every day from biological experiments. It also helps teachers and students to gain a better understanding of how bioinformatics can lead to discoveries that impact on our lives.

This three-day workshop features interactive talks and activities that will inspire secondary school teachers to bring bioinformatics into the science classroom. For example, participants will compare DNA sequences from two people to see how tiny changes in our genome make us very different from one another.

Participants do not need to have any prior knowledge about bioinformatics. The course will be open to 30 participants and will be run in English. The application deadline is 16 September 2011 (12 noon). The course fee of 100 GBP covers accommodation for two nights, meals and course materials (travel expenses are not included). Details on how to apply for one of six 100 GBP bursaries can be found by following the link below.

More information: www.ebi.ac.uk/training/onsite/111109_ELLS.html
Contact: For questions about the course, contact Mary Todd Bergman (mary@ebi.ac.uk ; +44 1223 494 665) or Vicky Schneider (Vicky@ebi.ac.uk) and for questions about registration contact Alison Barker (alison@ebi.ac.uk ; +44 1223 492 650).

10-13 November 2011: Luxembourg
Science festival: Luxembourg Science Festival

The eighth edition of the Luxembourg Science Festival will take place on 10-13 November 2011 in the National Museum of Natural History and the Centre Culturel de Rencontre Abbaye de Neumünster, Luxembourg-Grund. A range of the activities will be suitable for schoolchildren. In honour of UNESCO declaring 2011 to be the International Year of Chemistry, the festival will include chemistry-themed workshops. There will also be workshops focusing on the world of colour, which will cover chemistry, physics and biology.

More information: www.science-festival.lu

From 17 November 2011: worldwide (in German)
School competition: Chemical dreams of the future – 2050

What do scientists and engineers dream of? And what is really possible? Many things that sound like dreams have actually long since been investigated in the laboratory. In this competition, we want to introduce some visions and investigate them further.

Teams of 3-5 students from Years 7-11 (13- to 18-year-olds) can take part in this competition, which runs in German. In the first round, students can use Internet research to answer eight questions. Teams that correctly answer six or more questions receive a certificate and a small prize.

In the second round, teams use household objects to carry out two experiments and then write a report. Winners will receive prizes of books and journal subscriptions. Members of the three best teams will be invited to the ACHEMA in June 2012 to receive their trophy and prize money of 250€ each.

The competition is open to teams of students in the 7th – 11th class. Registration – which is free – is open from 1 October and the competition begins on 17 November 2011.

More information: www.dechemax.de/wettbewerb
Contact: dechemax@dechema.de

16 November 2011: London, UK
Talk: Meet the Ancestors?

In 2010, scientists found some intriguing fossilised skeletons in a cave in South Africa. Almost two million years old, they may be the ancestor to the first humans, and shift the location of early human origins from east Africa to South Africa. Join Professors Chris Stringer and Lee Berger in the Attenborough Studio at the Natural History Museum from 14:30 - 15:00 to discuss how the fossils were found and how the remains fit into the story of human evolution.

British and South African schools will be watching via a live link and emailing questions in advance.

More information: http://goo.gl/flENL
Contact: Grace Kimble g.kimble@nhm.ac.uk

17 – 23 November 2011: Antwerp, Belgium
Science festival: Plasmas. Fusion! Energy?

Plasmas. Fusion! Energy? is a science show focussing on present and future energy problems, nuclear fusion and plasmas. Held at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, it is targeted at science teachers and their students (aged 17 – 18 years). The show is preceded by a teacher training workshop, which will equip teachers with the expertise they will need to prepare their students for the show. Due to popular demand, the show will run twice, on 17-18 and 22-23 November.

Registration is now open and will close once all sessions are fully booked. The working language will be Dutch. The entrance fee for students is 5 Euros; teachers get in free.

More information: www.ua.ac.be/fusieshow Contact: els.moons@ua.ac.be

28-30 November 2011: Berlin, Germany
Workshop: Implementing and expanding a reference centre

Applications are invited for this, one of five European training sessions organised within the framework of the Fibonacci project. The aim is to discuss the building blocks that need to be taken into account when starting or expanding a reference centre to promote inquiry-based science and mathematics education (IBSME) in schools.

The target group is mainly science and mathematics educators and teacher trainers and project coordinators. Special attention will be paid to the persons with the capacity to implement and disseminate IBSME either in their own countries or abroad.

Participants do not have to be involved in the Fibonacci project. All sessions will be delivered in English. There is no registration fee, but participants will need to cover their own transport and accommodation costs.

More information: www.fibonacci-project.eu
Contact: Nese Ersoy (nese.ersoy@fu-berlin.de) or Petra Skiebe-Corrette (skiebe@zedat.fu-berlin.de)

30 November – 3 December 2011: Riga, Latvia
Conference: 8th IOSTE Symposium for Central and Eastern Europe

The 8th IOSTE (International Organization for Science and Technology Education) Symposium for Central and Eastern Europe will take place at the University of Latvia in Riga, Latvia, between 30 November and 3 December 2011.

The symposium is designed to promote the development and dissemination of conceptual research, professional practice and theory relating to science and technology education, primarily in central and Eastern Europe but also worldwide. All specialists working in this field, as well as teachers and researchers involved in science education at all levels, are invited to attend and participate in the symposium. Participants will have the opportunity to share new ideas and to network with colleagues from different countries.

The cost for attending the symposium is 80 Euros. The working language is English. The registration deadline is 15 September 2011.

More information: www.ioste.lu.lv
Contact: ioste.latvia2011@gmail.com or +371 67372575

18 October – 20 December 2011: Modena, Italy
Teacher training workshop: NanoLab

NanoLab is a professional development course designed to provide secondary school science teachers with the theoretical and practical tools needed to introduce nanoscience and nanotechnology into the classroom. The course is organised by and will take place at the Physics Department of the University of Modena e Reggio Emilia in Modena, Italy. Five afternoon sessions will take place between October and November, each with a different focus: nanoparticles; nanostructured surfaces and nanobiology; conductive polymers; microscopy at the nanoscale; smart materials. See the workshop website, below, for the dates of the sessions.

Each session will consist of a seminar conducted by a scientist working on the focus topic, and a hands-on teacher-led lab introducing simple experiments that are easily replicable in class. A maximum of 30 will be allowed to participate in the labs.

The registration deadline is 30th September 2011. The sessions are free of charge.

More information: www.physicscom.unimore.it Contact: Annamaria Lisotti (annamaria.lisotti@unimore.it)

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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.