A hundred scientists in over 100 Norfolk schools
March 10 2010
To kick-off National Science and Engineering Week, an ambitious project will see over 130 Norfolk schools receive visits from over 100 different scientists on Friday March 12th and into next week. From Sheringham to Thetford, and from Great Yarmouth to King’s Lynn, scientists will be criss-crossing the county to give a flavour of what working in science is all about.
The project is being co-ordinated by the Teacher Scientist Network, an innovative science education charity hosted by the John Innes Centre. The JIC is currently celebrating its centenary, and this project was thought up to help mark this occasion. “An event of this scale has probably never happened before, anywhere in the country. Norwich has a great concentration of top-class scientists working in the city, so it’s appropriate that we should be taking on such a huge project,” said Dr Phil Smith MBE, coordinator of the Teacher Scientist Network.
“We have scientists going back to their old primary schools, others going to school with their kids, we even have some who will be doing mini-roadshows visiting several schools on the day,”
Lucy Foulston will be visiting Loddon Infant School. “I think it is really important to dispel some of the myths about scientists and for children to find out about what real scientists are like and what we do day-to-day" she said. “I hope to do a short assembly where the pupils can have a chance to dress up like scientists and learn a bit about the equipment that we use.”
“I'm going to get to give something back to my two childhood schools, Roydon Primary and Diss High School, for the first time since I left them, over 20 years ago,” said John Innes Centre wheat geneticist Simon Orford. “I would like to think what I do on Friday is remembered in later life by some of the pupils I speak to. I think I'm lucky being involved in the big 'food security' issue in terms of wheat improvement and production. I am hoping to actually sow some wheat in these school's gardens and for the pupils to report back on simple characteristics such as how tall they grow.”
The JIC scientists are being joined by other scientists from across the Norwich Research Park, including the UEA and the Institute of Food Research (IFR). Frances Shaw is a PhD student at the IFR, who will be visiting the Archbishop Sancroft High School in Harleston. “I’m taking part because I think this is a really worthwhile cause. I believe that a small amount of my time could make a huge difference in the student’s perceptions and expectations of a science education,” she said.
Acting Director of the John Innes Centre, Prof Mike Bevan, is going to be visiting Easton College, and Dr Chris Ridout is going on a whistle-stop tour of 10 schools on the day, starting at Litcham Primary at 9am, and finally finishing in Great Massingham at 3pm.
For Phil Smith, it is the enthusiasm of some of the younger scientists that was especially pleasing. “It’s great that so many of our young scientists are taking the time to engage with children through this project.”
Scientists, teachers and students will feedback their experiences and reactions and these will be displayed on an interactive map that will act as a record of the project.
http://www.jic.ac.uk/events/nsew2010/schools.htm
The Teacher Scientist Network (TSN) is an innovative science education charity hosted by the John Innes Centre that pairs working scientists with teachers in long-term partnerships, to help bring science classes to life. “We contacted all of Norfolk’s schools, to tell them about this project, and to ask them what they would want a visiting scientist to do,” said Phil. “This reflects TSN’s approach; we always try to respond to the school’s needs when we partner scientists and teachers. I’m delighted that we have been able to meet all of the requests we received from schools (~ 80) and many more on top.” All school hosting visits are listed at www.tsn.org.uk/439.htm
National Science and Engineering Week is coordinated by the British Science Association and is a nationwide celebration of science and engineering. This event will kick-off a series of events for schools and the public that will include plays, talks and demonstrations. The Forum in Norwich will be taken over by scientists for the week. Saturday 20th March will be Science in Norwich Day, as scientists from Norwich’s world-leading research institutes, the UEA, and others come together to show why Norwich is one of the UK’s leading cities of science. More information on the National Science and Engineering Week events at the John Innes Centre are online at
http://www.jic.ac.uk/corporate/media-and-public/current-releases/100305NSEW2010.htm
Contacts:
Dr Phil Smith: in advance, phil.smith@jic.ac.uk, 01603 450304
JIC Press Office:
Andrew Chapple, andrew.chapple@jic.ac.uk
01603 251490
Notes to editors:
The Teacher Scientist Network (TSN) is an educational charity striving to enhance science teaching across Norfolk.
TSN is generously hosted by the John Innes Centre and funded by grant support.
* Dr. Phil Smith is himself visiting 3 schools during the day as he gallivants around Gorleston - you are welcome to join him on his travels. 09:15 - 09:45 Stradbroke Primary; 10:40 - 11:40 Hopton Primary; 13:25 - 15:10 Lynn Grove High School
The John Innes Centre, www.jic.ac.uk, is an independent, world-leading research centre in plant and microbial sciences with over 500 staff. JIC is based on Norwich Research Park and carries out high quality fundamental, strategic and applied research to understand how plants and microbes work at the molecular, cellular and genetic levels. The JIC also trains scientists and students, collaborates with many other research laboratories and communicates its science to end-users and the general public. The JIC is grant-aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.
More information on the National Science and Engineering Week events at the John Innes Centre are online at
http://www.jic.ac.uk/corporate/media-and-public/current-releases/100305NSEW2010.htm
National Science and Education Week 2010 is coordinated by the British Science Association, http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/NSEW/index.htm
