STARDATE Friday 3rd July 2009 Issue 320
Presenting the Planet Science Great Summer SingalongTo the tune of English Country Garden
How many different links can you find
In a Planet Science newsletter?
We took a break - we hope you do not mind
From your normal weekly newsletter
First, a king of giveaways
The chance to see Ricky Gervais
At the Birmingham NIA
The show’s called ‘Science’
Over 18’s only
For this Planet Science giveaway!
Are you a fan of quizzes that you find
In your Planet Science newsletter?
We’ll show you two of them, (just cos we’re kind)
From our mighty PS Quiz-setter
Tennis Teaser is the one
To win a towel from Wimbledon
And parents who dread a long summer drive
Can print off a quiz or two, keeps the darlings quiet
And helps their parents - to survive!
We’re proud of SciCast, our sister site.
Buckley’s Baking Powder Fifties-style
Is one type of film, another Pouring Treacle why not enter?
Might be worth your while?
Don’t forget to contact us, if you want some PS stuff,
Posters, postcards and Flipside mags
First come, first served and when they’ve gone, they’ve gone!
(note to self - must get more mailbags...)
This is the end but just before we leave you
Have you heard of Potatoes for Schools?
There’s stuff to do, you can even grow spuds too
Don’t miss out - you need to check the rules.
Finally we need a pun, for this song to end upon.
The joke is the thing that all our readers seek.
So here’s our archive, wander round at will
And from us, it’s goodbye till next week!
1. Ricky Gervais Giveaway
SciCast - branching out to films about careers.Over 18’s only:
We have a pair of tickets for Ricky Gervais ‘Science‘ on Wednesday 25 November at the NIA in Birmingham up for grabs. These are very desirable, folks!
If you’d like to win it then send your name and address and the words ‘RIIICKKKAAAY’ in the subject line, to planet-science.news@nesta.org.uk. The draw will take place at 4pm on Wednesday 8th July.
2. SciCast North-East Awards 2009
Yesterday (2nd July) saw the first SciCast North-East Awards event,
organised by Newcastle Science Fest and Science City Newcastle. Blue
Peter scientist Steve Mould hosted, in his trademark high-energy style
(which, thankfully, wasn't as destructive as it looked), as we
celebrated SciCast films made in the region. While the judges
deliberated Steve shared some of his favourite demonstrations, playing
with shapes of constant width like 50p coins. It's more fun than it
sounds, honest.Decisions made, the winners of prizes, including a day with a media lab's green screen setup were King Edward VIth School with their stunning Top Gear-inspired film 'Rocket Wars.' Their winnings include a day working with a media lab green-screen setup. Runners-up Sacred Heart School walked away with family passes to the Centre for Life.
The films made for the competition will, of course, also be submitted to the 2010 national competition. SciCast North-East, meanwhile, will return next year too.
3. NOTICEBOARD
a) Battle for Planet Science
Episodes 7, 8 & 9 - Superheroes to the Rescue and Preparing for Battle Oh No! The superheroes haven't made it back in time, but their DNA has been cloned. The new superhero clones need help choosing their outfits and accessories. Next week it's time to Battle for Planet Science...Play Battle for Planet Science here
b) NEW GAME
Yes ANOTHER* new game! We are spoiling you. Body Bits Pinball. We tried, and failed, to make a pinball table out of a normal cartoon person, it seemed like such a great idea. Sigh. Then we thought, why be boring and have a normal cartoon person when all we really want are certain organs and features - and Bob’s your uncle, the Body Bits Pinball machine was born. He’s a bit all over the place, as you’ll see, but very funny and very frustrating to play.Play Body Bit Pinball here
*Last week’s new game was Mission Adaptation.
c) Take part in Honesty Lab - British Science Association
Your morality will be tested to the limit as you view a selection of video clips and rate whether or not they are dishonest. And if listening to everyone else’s misdemeanours leaves you feeling penitent, get it off your chest in the rogue’s gallery confessional. The project was launched in partnership with the British Science Association and sponsored by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). To enter, visit www.honestylab.com.The findings from Honesty Lab will be presented at the British Science Festival, taking place in Guildford on:
Tuesday 8th September 13.30 till 15.30
d) Reminder: Planet Super Powers evaluation
Did you use any of the ideas from our Planet Super Powers competition, as featured in the newsletter over the last few months? Did you take the general idea and run with it yourself, or did your students enter the competition? Did you see it, think 'that looks good fun' but didn't get round to it for whatever reason?!We'd like to hear from everyone about your/your students' experience of the Planet Super Powers project please, especially if you invented lessons of your own based on the idea which we may disseminate.
If you wouldn't mind awfully writing briefly to Dr Elsa Ekevall at planetsuperpowers@f2s.com with MY PSP in the subject line, we will put you into the draw for a couple of mugs that mean you'll never have a bungled beverage again.
e) Futurelab launches Vision Mapper - free online resource
Vision Mapper supports education leaders embarking on school redesign, planning a curriculum change or just needing support for long-term decision making or strategy setting. It provides inspirational and practical materials to challenge and support futures thinking, including six possible future scenarios, current trends that should be considered when planning for the future and case-studies of successful long-term planning initiatives.For more information please visit www.visionmapper.org.uk
4. The Winners’ Enclosure
Remember last time when we were giving away William Shatner’s book? The lucky winner is Karen Mason of Sutton in Ashfield. The winner of the signed print of Justin Quinnell’s SS Great Britain and sun track pinhole image, and camera obscura kit is Catherine Owen of Saltash. Well done folks! Live long and prosper, by the way.5. The Winners’ Enclosure
Planet Science Website and Newsletter will be moving from NESTA to another organisation in the near future – more exiting news to come of that soon.In the meantime please be aware that we will be asking you to sign up for the newsletters again if you wish to continue receiving them. This is because we cannot legally hand over your data to another organisation, even if you might want us to!
Don’t try to sign up again yet, we’ll give you further instructions when the new databases are in place.
If you would like to view the Planet Science Newsletter Archive click here.
You can also read back issues of Wired-Up for younger teens here.
Or you can read back issues of Hay-Wire for Under 10s.
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