Earth - Shaking Events

Preparations for the Giant Jump on 7th September have continued apace. At the time of writing, the number of schools and other organisations registered for the jump has increased to 2,262. Of course new registrations will continue to be warmly welcomed throughout the summer holidays - so if you haven't yet signed up but would like to, visit Giant Jump

When you're there, in addition to the registration form, you'll find our new Giant Jump Totaliser, which - we hope - will be steadily rising throughout the next week and beyond as more people register. Which is a not so subtle hint to any teachers at schools as yet unsigned-up. )



Two We Prepared Earlier

You will also find instructions for two types of home-made seismometer... the SWING THING and the SPRINGLOADER. These are (potentially!) earthtremor-detecting devices you can make in good time for the Giant Jump, then put to the test during the jump. Again, you'll find these if you click through from the main Giant Jump webpage. Many apologies for the slight delay in posting these on our website, which has co-incided with many schools' last few days of term - we hope that's not been too inconvenient.


New Team Member

We have successfully recruited a new team member following our offer of work experience with Science Year. She is Sam Nimmo, and don't tell HER this, but we are extremely lucky to have woo'ed her here, since her science communication experience was already very impressive. She has a Masters in Physical Chemistry and was working at the Science Museum in London as an Explainer and Education Officer, until she decided to take a few months for some extensive globetrotting ....On her return we were fortunate enough to nab her - for a while anyway.

She is now up to her neck in Giant Jump preparations, and in particular we need to credit her with the home-made seismometer instructions and other teacher's resources, which she turned a speedy hand to last week. When asked for a quote regarding her experience of Science Year so far, she said "Just say, I'm really happy to be here, working with all you wonderful people". (Well, I made the last bit up, but the first bit she DID say!)



Science Ambassadors

You might by know have heard of Science and Engineering 'Ambassadors'. These are volunteers from science and industry who will be going into schools to inform and hopefully enthuse students about studying science and technology related subjects. Their role will include acting as mentors to young people, providing role models and providing practical help to teachers in the classroom.

On 9 July a meeting was held to bring interested parties up to date on progress so far and to collect information and tips from people already involved in running similar projects. The meeting generated a lot of interest and ideas, and the organisers are now waiting for participants to send in written information.
A comprehensive run-down of the meeting will then be posted on the website in a few weeks' time. Meanwhile, if you have information about projects please send them to Paul Dixon at paul.dixon@dti.gsi.gov.uk



Royal Society Partnership Grants

The Royal Society, who have been keen advocates of school links with science and industry for for over 40 years, are currently offering grants to help make such co-operations possible. These grants range from £250 to £2500, and they are intended to be used by schools to pay for supply teaching cover, travel, equipment costs etc. All teachers need is a suitable project idea - namely, an original and creative science investigation for pupils between the ages of 5 and 16 years old - and a partner scientist/engineer. For more information, please contact Kirsty Brown or Ginny page on education@royalsoc.ac.uk or visit their website on www.royalsoc.ac.uk/scforall/ed_partnership.htm



Flintstones-Style Musical Instruments Enquiry

And now for something completely different! Jane Granby wrote us an email earlier this week asking whether anyone has any advice on the following... On a visit to Israel, she says, "We went to a science park at the Weizman Institute where amongst other things were large rocks which had been carved out to create different sized spaces which when hit served as musical instruments like a xylophone. They appeared as works of art because of their sculptural look!
I would be very interested in contacting anyone who had created anything like this, they would be very suitable for school playground use and demonstrated very well how different sounds could be created."

Any ideas? If so, please email anne.mcnaught@scienceyear.com and I will pass on all responses to Jane.



Jokes

Amazingly, the Association for Science Education this week approached us to ask whether we'd mind if they purloined the jokes that have already appeared in this newsletter ... Hmmm - they must have thought they were EXTREMELY funny. Memo to the ASE, are you getting out enough?

Memo to Science Year correspondents though, thank you so much for the jokes you keep sending, we do appreciate them, honest! Particular thanks to Alex Kinnaird (Age 12) who is the most stalwart of Science Year's joke-mongers:

Science teacher: "Gary, do you know what copper nitrate is? "
Gary: "Yes sir, it's what they pay policemen on nightshift ! "

Also many thanks to George Young (Aged 21 I believe!) for the comprehensive joke digest he sent in... Best one has to be:

Heisenberg must have been contemplating his love life when he discovered the Uncertainty Principle: When he had the time, he didn't have the energy.

Keep those jokes coming ... please!



Any other business!

As ever, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any comments or thoughts regarding the newsletter or website for future weeks – or jokes. The address is: anne.mcnaught@scienceyear.com Thank you!

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