Students get taste of science and engineering
15 Feb 2012 by Evoluted New Media
Students are getting a taste of science and engineering thanks to the Royal Society who have awarded grants totalling over £45,000 to help scientists and teachers establish innovative classroom projects.
The latest round of the Partnership Grants Scheme – which has been running since 2000 – has awarded 16 primary and nine secondary schools across the UK up to £3,000 to bring science and engineering to life in the classroom.
Students get the chance to meet and work with scientists and engineers from leading universities and industry, who will help them to build on their scientific understanding in a way that is exciting and relevant to their lives.
“The Royal Society Partnership Grants Scheme may be the first time that some of these pupils have had the opportunity to work with, or even meet, a practising scientist or engineer,” said Professor John Pethica, Vice President of the Royal Society.
“We believe that these experiences are both inspiring and empowering. Not only are the sciences an exciting area to study and offer a vast range of careers, but a sound understanding of how science ‘works’ is important for all of us in our society where we face complex questions and choices and issues where science and technology are critical.”
The scheme allows teachers to develop their scientific knowledge, and gives scientists and engineers the opportunity to develop their communication skills and engage and encourage the next generation of scientists.
Projects receiving funding this year included Build your own particle smasher, which will see pupils at Trinity Catholic School in Nottingham build a linear particle accelerator and investigate collision interactions; and a project investigating materials and gases where students at Cardinal Newman Catholic Primary School in Hersham will develop, build and improve rocket-powered metre-longs cars at. With the help of the Marine Biological Association, Cape Cornwall School will learn how to isolate and grown microalgae and develop as bioreactor in school for potentially harvesting microalgae.
Applications for the next round of funding are open until 24th February, and teachers, scientists, engineers and industry partners interested in applying for a Partnership Grant should visit http://royalsociety.org/education/.
