Science in Society - Small awards scheme 2008A
Successful applicants in round 2008A
Dr P Roche - G501982/1
Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University
PO Box 913, 5 The Parade, Cardiff, CF24 5YB
“The Starlight Magazine”
Award - £15,000.00
A free popular astronomy magazine will be produced, the target audience being 11-14 year olds their families and teachers. It aims to be interesting, informative and entertaining. It will relate to the school curriculum requirements and highlight STFC science.
Miss SL Sheehy - G502047/1
John Adams Institute, Particle Physics, Physics
University of Oxford, Denys Wilkinson Building, Keble Road
Oxford OX1 3RH
“Accelerate”
Award - £7,898.00
This project will develop and present a 45 minutes interactive science show, including creating/building novel demonstrations and writing a show script. Create an “Accelerate “website and write follow up materials for teachers which can be accessed by via the project’s website. The show will be presented free of charge to an audience of between 100-250 people at each presentation. It is hoped such activity will provide a novel way of engaging students, teachers and the public with current particle and accelerator physics research and enhance understanding of basic physics concepts through exciting, relevant examples and applications. Preconceived ideas will be challenged and students will be persuaded that science is fun relevant and exciting. Young physicists will have a unique opportunity of developing communication skills.
Ms WJ Sadler - G50193/1
Science Made Simple, School of Physics and Astronomy
5 The Parade, Cardiff CF24 3YB
”Herschel and the mysteries of the cold universe”
Award - £13,458.00
A project which aims to create an interactive science show for 11-16 year olds which will tackle the challenging science and technology behind space astronomy projects such as Herschel (due to be launched end of 2008) in an accessible and visual way. The show is intended for presentation in school halls with audiences of 150 or so and will reach at least 1500 students. Arrangements will be made to ensure the show will last beyond STFC funding.
Miss LR Pickard - G501974/1
University College London, Department of Space and Climate Physics
Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Holmbury St. Mary
Dorking Surrey RH5 6NT
“Exploring the Universe with Gravitational Waves”
Award - £750.00
A project designed to explain the science behind gravitational waves, how to detect them, and what we can learn from studying the universe with them. A model will be designed and built to demonstrate propagation of a quadrupolar wave suitable for hands on demonstration. Material for GCSE and A’ Level students will be included.
Ms B Parker - G502163/1
Langton Star Centre, Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
Langton Lane, Nackington Road, Canterbury, CT4 7AS
“A simple cosmic ray detector for use in schools”
Award - £9,000.00
This is to build a prototype model of an easy to use cosmic ray detector for schools using an adaptation of the medipix chip developed at CERN. This will enable schools to carry out cosmic ray experiments without too much difficulty. This scheme will excite students who will have an opportunity of carrying out some interesting experiments and analysis. If the prototype is successful it is hoped eventually to set up a group of school using the equipment and to establish links between schools using these detectors and the Langton Star Centre.
Professor M.A. Barstow - G501866/1
Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, University Road
Leicester, LE1 7RH
“Moon landing – 40th Anniversary Exhibition”
Award - £10,000.00
The aim of this project is to raise the visibility of UK Space Exploration Activity through the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing. This will be in conjunction with a national tour of the musical drama “Moon landing”. STFC funding will provide 2 display units which will present ‘The future return to the Moon’ and the ‘Societal and economic benefits of participation in space exploration’.
Professor JD Barrow - G502204/1
Applied Maths and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge
Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge, CB3 0WA
“Special Issues of Plus celebrating physical sciences”
Award - £7,000.00
Plus is an internet magazine from the Millennium Mathematics Project at the University of Cambridge. It is intended to produce a special issue of Plus in 2009/10 focusing on STFC science areas aimed at readers from 16 upwards. The special issue will include interviews and podcasts.
Dr JA Wilson - G501858/1
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham
Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT
“Spark Chambers detecting cosmic rays from outer space”
Award - £4,200.00
This project is in part a continuation of a previous PPARC award in which a programme of school and off campus visits with a transportable Spark Chamber will continue to take place. It will then produce an exciting programme to illustrate that cosmic rays are raining down upon us; the observed lines of sparks represent the trails of charged particles from “outer space”; to make the connection between the production of these particles (mainly muons i.e. heavy electrons) in the upper atmosphere and the production of new forms of matter in accelerator experiments; to point the audience to the imminent exciting physics to be explored soon at the CERN Large Hadron Collider.
Professor P Kalmus - G501823/1
Physics, Queen Mary, University of London
Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS
“Particle Physics Talks”
Award - £1,190.00
STFC funding would allow for the purchase of a new laptop computer which is now required for the continuation of another 20 talks by the applicant to a variety of audiences in and around the London area.
Mrs M Zavallis-Roebuck - G502071/1
Design Technology, Stretford Grammar School, Granby Road, off Edge Lane
Stretford, Manchester, M32 8JB
“Project Helios”
Award - £1,500.00
A project for students to research, develop and test a receiver to observe the Sun. There will be collaboration with The School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering University of Manchester. It is intended to produce a high quality DVD for distribution.
Dr SJ Barber - G501925/2
Open University, PSSRI, Faculty of Science, Walton Hall
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK7 6AT
“Rosetta on the Road (follow – on, Spring 2008)”
Award - £1,700.00
The aim is to continue to use the Science in Society funded” Rosetta on the Road” education outreach package to engage, inform and enthuse school children and general public about STFC science and Technology. The project will include the development of appropriate animation for a big screen. It is hoped to take Rosetta on the Road onto a large video wall on the Xscape leisure complex in Central Milton Keynes. The exhibition will also be used for the high profile Halley lecture at St. Paul’s school to be delivered by Professor Pillinger.
Dr EL Gomez - G50194X/1
Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University, PO Box 913
5 The Parade, Cardiff, CF24 5YB
“Seeing the Universe in high definition”
Award - £4,240.00
A scheme to promote UK astronomy by producing high definition video podcasts (vodcasts) to inspire and excite the public which will reach an audience who would not otherwise be interested in astronomy or science. Content will be included which will be appropriate to the National Curriculum and supplement learning in the classroom. Currently no UK based programme for the production of broadcast quality, high definition astronomy vodcasts is available.
Ms H MacRae - G502198/1
The Ideas Foundation, c/o Ogilvy and Mather,10 Cabot Square
Canary Wharf, London E14 4BA
“Media Space”
Award - £9,500.00
Summer schools and master classes will be delivered with some institutions of Higher Education. It is intended to attract some 100 disadvantaged but gifted students with an interest in science and creativity in order to raise their achievements and stimulate an interest in science. Student challenges will be based on photographic images. Students will work with scientists, science communication specialists, journalists and museum curators in order to develop magazine, retail and exhibition products.
Dr P Roche - G502004/1
Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University, PO Box 913
5 The Parade, Cardiff, CF24 5YB
“Facilitating Astronomy Communication and Education in the UK (FACE UK)”
Award - £3,600.00
This proposal is directly targeted at the “gatekeepers” so as to facilitate astronomy education in the U.K. A series of free booklets will be produced and distributed to all astronomical societies and university astronomy departments in the UK. In addition an updated version of the “How to manual for teachers and astronomers is available on www.astronomy-education.com. It is hoped to produce a paper copy of this manual for distribution as well.
Mr SLI Tudor - G50218X/1
Physics, Ysgol Uwchradd Glan Clwyd, Fford Dinbych
Llanelwy,St.Asaph, LL17 0RP
“How to run a Space Camp at your School?”
Award - £880.00
The applicant intends to start an astronomy club in September 2008 at Ysgol Glan Clwyd which will include Space Camp activities and a course in GCSE Astronomy. STFC funding will enable the applicant to attend a course which will deliver the necessary training.
Chairperson's report 2008(A).
Page last updated: 19 August 2008
by Helen Watt
