Consortia Sets to Bring Science Exhibits to Classrooms across UK

• Purpose-built mobile exhibits to boost teaching in scientific enquiry skills at KS2 and KS3 levels
• Investigate-uk project pilots in inner-city and rural schools across the South West and South East
• Project supported by Dfes and the Office of Science and Innovation

26 April 2007 - As a direct response to helping overcome challenges commonly faced by UK teachers in teaching scientific enquiry skills, science centres and the Science Learning Centre in the South West and South East region have come together to launch the Investigate-uk project.

The outreach programme includes providing schools with a unique suite of table-top interactive science exhibits, tailored to enrich the learning of science enquiry and investigation skills in the classrooms.

'These exhibits are excellent additional resources to help KS2 and KS3 teachers, who have repeatedly urged for more support in teaching scientific enquiry skills. The kits are designed to be mobile, engaging and to help make connections between science and its real-world applications.' Says Rachel Murray, Director of Learning, At-Bristol science centre.

In addition, they cover a broad range of themes on Energy, Forces and Structures, allowing a cross-topic approach to investigation and incorporating a diversity of subjects to reinforce pupils' understanding and confidence. This meets the suggested approach as highlighted in Ofstead's report, which encourages teaching that enables students to apply knowledge and skills learned in one subject to others.' Adds Rachel Murray.

Schools will also benefit from a series of CPD workshops, written resources and onsite classroom training as part of this outreach project. This multi-level support system acts to minimise the pitfalls encountered by many outreach models, including the 'parachuting in' effect. It offers a more holistic approach whilst maximising the potential for learning and positive changes in attitudes towards science.

The project will pilot in inner-city schools and geographically isolated rural schools from the South West and South East region. These schools are specially recruited for the project as they are often under represented in science centres and their participation in the project will also ensure a diversity of school profile in the project.

The Investigate-uk consortium comprises of INTECH science centre, The Porthcurno Telegraph Museum, the Science Learning Centre South West and At-Bristol science centre, which also leads the project.

'Besides trialling the unique approach of using mobile interactive, we also hope to demonstrate the effectiveness of an integrated approach, with science centres, Science Learning Centres and schools leveraging (on) the combined best of their distinct skills and knowledge to enhance science teaching.

At the end of the project, we hope it will provide a proven and sustainable model that can continue to be supported by the government, so that schools across the nation will stand to benefit.' Says Rachel Murray. ###

For press enquiries, please contact:
Porthcurno Telegraph Museum: 01736 810966 / lesleyallen@porthcurno.org.uk
At-Bristol: 0117 915 7152 / 07967 33 4152 / mavis.choong@at-bristol.org.uk

Notes to Editor:

1. There are three separate interactive kits and each containing eight exhibits, they are:

• Energy - Store it, Food Fuel, Pump it Up, Under Pressure, Hot or Cold, Reflect it, Seeing Sound, Future Fuel
• Structures - Engineering Bridges, Molecules, Earthquake Table, Structure of Light, The game of Life, Materials Testing, States of Matter, Rock Crystals
• Forces - Nature, Flight, Electromagnetic, Gravity, Air Resistance, Forces in the Body

2. The project is jointly funded by the Office of Science and Innovation (OSI) and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). The funding is awarded to small consortia of 3 - 4 science and discovery centres/museums in the UK for enrichment activities. These enrichment activities are to be supported with pre- and post- event resources, which can add value with respect to both Government objectives and science centre missions. www.ecsite-uk.net/projects/sci-cent-enrichment-activities.html

3. About the members in the consortium

• At-Bristol is a leading science centre in the UK and a major player in the worldwide science centre movement. It aims to be a world-class science centre that makes distinctive, valued and recognised contributions to informal science learning and public engagement with science across Europe. A registered charity, At-Bristol has hosted more than three million visits and continually strives towards making science accessible to all. www.at-bristol.org.uk (Registered charity no. 1049954)
• The Science Learning Centre for the South West is a partnership between At-Bristol and the Universities of Bristol and Plymouth. At-Bristol is the only science centre in the UK to be at the heart of this DfES funded initiative, delivering continuous professional development to science educators across the south west region. www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk
• Porthcurno Telegraph Museum is an award-winning Accredited museum, located at the far West tip of Cornwall. Housed in the secret tunnels and surrounding buildings, once the nerve centre of the British Empire's communications network, the Museum focuses on improving the public understanding of the history and scientific principles relating to communications, specifically telegraphy and telecommunications. www.porthcurno.org.uk (Registered charity no. 1062233)
• INTECH, the hands on science and discovery centre located near Winchester, is also the host organisation for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight SETPOINT and is an independent registered educational charity. The exhibition is housed in a purpose built 3500 square metre, award winning, building and includes 100 interactive exhibits which demonstrate the science and technology of the world in an engaging and exciting way. It is visited by over 80,000 people per annum. www.intech-uk.com (Registered Charity No. 294582, Registered in England No. 2014929)