National Awards Scheme 2003 winners

Successful applicants in the 2003 round

1 Dr Paul Roche, Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University, PO Box 913, 5 The Parade, Cardiff, CF24 3YB Tel: 0797 9096750 email: paul.roche@astro.cf.ac.uk (Techniquest (link opens in a new window), Cardiff and a consortium including the National Schools Observatory (link opens in a new window), the Faulkes Telescope Project (link opens in a new window) and Cardiff University (link opens in a new window))

A contribution of £81,500 towards Telescopes in Education. The development of robotic telescopes will allow schools to obtain their own astronomical images using remotely-controlled telescopes. This will bring a new dimension to the teaching of astronomy in schools. The use of these telescopes will be supported by the development of teaching resource materials, including software. A previous Science and Technology Facilities Council National Award (2000) to the University of Leicester set up a programme to train teachers in astronomical techniques.

The project will fund the continuing activities of Dr Paul Roche in developing, running and co-ordinating teacher training courses in support of the Faulkes Telescope Project and the National Schools Observatory. It will also see the creation of a national network of Regional Astronomy Resource centres (RARCs) with access to telescope time and data, a resource pool which can be used to run INSET courses, student workshops or loaned to local schools or educational bodies. As well as creating a national network of resources, the RARCs will also create a nation-wide network of people trained to promote and teach astronomy in schools.
 

2 Mr Alan Walker, School of Physics, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Mayfield road, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ Tel: 0131 6505237 email: a.walker@ed.ac.uk (University of Edinburgh (link opens in a new window) with the Scottish Science and Technology Roadshow (link opens in a new window))

A contribution of £33,000 towards the development of PP4SS: Particle Physics for Scottish Schools. SCI-Fun is the Scottish Science and Technology Roadshow, which promotes science to 12-14 year olds across Scotland. It visits up to 100 schools each year as well exhibiting at Science Festivals.

The aim of the PP4SS is to work towards making particle physics a significant component of the Roadshows. This will involve the development of exhibits on Particle Physics suitable to the age group attending the Roadshows. It is planned to include a portable cosmic ray hodoscope, an accelerator simulator and a muon lifetime apparatus. This project will build on the work of the Particle Physics Exhibits Project (link opens in a new window) (PPEP) which received a previous Council National Award.