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Dalziel High School Science Fayre:
17 June 2009
Capturing children’s imaginations early and ensuring they consider the Sciences for their chosen school subjects and possibly as a career, is high on the agenda for Dalziel High School in Motherwell, Scotland.
Following the recent relaunch of the MRC Human Genetics Unit’s (HGU) Website, the Unit was approached by Dalziel’s science teacher Margaret Craw, to be invited as one of the major sponsors at their second Annual Science and Technology Fayre.
The Unit took their place, alongside other prestigious organisations including
- Apple
- British National Space Centre
- NASA Kennedy Space Centre
- Microsoft
- and Rolls Royce
who either donated prizes or supported the pupils by working with them during their project.
Only in its second year, the competition was open to 180 S1 pupils at the High School. It was also extended to a further 120 P7 pupils from Dalziel’s associated primary feeder schools: Knowetop, Ladywell and Glencairn, who competed in their own junior section. Out of all the entries, 16 final projects were chosen to go on display.
The Science & Technology Fayre allows pupils to research areas of science and technology which they find interesting. They are required to build a model or devise an experiment to demonstrate science and then present their work using various multi-media.
Dr Joe Rainger (Post-Doctoral Researcher) and Craig Nicol (Design and Publication Manager) from the unit attended the Fayre on 17 June to judge all of the finalists and to present the prize for the best biology project: ‘The Science of Taste Buds’.
Commenting on the experience, Joe Rainger said: “We were extremely impressed by the quality of the projects on show, the thorough research undertaken, the eagerness of the pupils for their work and their excellent and often entertaining working models.
“Additionally, we were blown away with the enthusiasm and energy of the staff in the Science Department and the support given to the project by the school’s Head Teacher. The school truly believes that by empowering the S1 pupils to participate in the Fayre that they are producing the scientists of tomorrow.
“I think the children genuinely enjoyed meeting and engaging with real scientists and companies.”
“The MRC Human Genetics Unit is hoping to work with other schools, particularly in Edinburgh, to apply the success of Dalziel’s Science and Technology Fayre in similar projects as a way of capturing the scientific minds of school children and of potential MRC scientists of the future.”
For further information and for any schools interested in developing such a project, please contact:
Kerry Teakle
Interim Regional Communication Manager
Scotland
Links
'Researcher in Residence' Placement, Plockton High School:
1 July 2009
Emma Hall and Niki Wyatt (PhD Students) recently took time out from their PhD to visit the Highlands for a ‘Researchers in Residence’ placement. The scheme usually links researchers with local schools in order to enrich the scientific teaching and to give pupils the chance to find out more about science as a career. This often involves several visits to the school spread over a term or year; however, due to the remote location of Plockton High School, the project was compressed into three full days at the school.
The shorter time within the school was used to full effect with all years getting involved with various activities. Career talks were given to allow S5 and S6 pupils to see the path taken by current PhD students and to get some advice on University life. These pupils also completed an activity about polydactyl (extra digits) in cats which links directly to research within the unit and gave the pupils the chance to access current research which is not normally covered by textbooks.
S2 pupils extracted DNA from their own cheek cells and learnt about DNA and its purpose. They also got to take their DNA home with them in a necklace!
S3 and 4 pupils took part in two activities designed to teach them about evolution which ties in with both the curriculum and the 150th anniversary of the publication of ‘On the origin of species’. These activities were both hands on with a practical involving salad tongs and different foods to demonstrate the evolution of different beak sizes and shapes in Darwin’s finches of the Galapagos Islands.
Both Emma and Niki encourage others to consider the researchers in residence scheme.
“We found teaching and talking with a different audience really rewarding and useful in terms of public engagement. The pupils seemed to really enjoy the activities and hopefully we dispelled some myths about scientists too!.”
For further information and for any schools interested in developing such a project, please contact:
Kerry Teakle
Interim Regional Communication Manager
Scotland
Links
- Plockton High School
- Event photos (PDF document)