STEM Knowledge Networks
This booklet provides twelve case studies from STEM Knowledge Networks. These were projects supported by the National STEM Centre in partnership with the National Centre for the Excellence in Teaching Mathematics (NCETM). Schools were required to enable at least two or more STEM departments to work collaboratively by releasing teachers…
Wellcome Trust Monitor
The Wellcome Trust Monitor is a unique survey of UK adults' and young people's views of science, biomedical research and science education. • Wave 1 (the baseline survey) was conducted in 2009 by the National Centre for Social Research who interviewed 1,179 adults and 374 young people. • Wave 2 was conducted…
Martian Death Rays
Could there be life on Mars? Perhaps so, although the high intensity of UV light means that it is unlikely to be found on the surface. The experiment demonstrates how bacteria grown on agar plates can be killed off by UV exposure. Curriculum areas covered: • Microbiology • Cell biology • Aseptic technique The…
Is There Life In There?
All life forms on Earth are based on organic biochemistry. This activity requires students to analyse an unknown soil sample (just recovered from a space mission to another planet!) and look for signs of possible indicators for life. Curriculum areas covered: • Cell biology • Food tests, including starch, sugar, protein…
Exo-planets
Finding exoplanets Exoplanets are planets outside our own solar system. Find out how scientists use ingenious methods to spot them. Goldilocks zone Finding the right conditions to support life is a delicate balance, and scientists are on the look out for exoplanets in the ‘Goldilocks zone’ – Not too hot, and…
Life in Our Solar System
Life in the extremes Microbes can survive in the most hostile and inhospitable environments. Might similar places in our solar system be able to support them too? Why are scientists interested in Mars? Why are scientists interested in Mars? Four scientists talk about why they are interested in the red planet, and how they plan…
Are We Alone?
It really is a small world We live in a global network of diverse communities, sharing resources, ideas and technology. As a species, we have always looked to the sky and asked ‘are we alone?’ A sample of one So are we alone? The simple answer is ‘yes’. Right now, we are alone. Despite all our searching…
Fact Sheets
These fact sheets, from the National Physical Laboratory, are ideal posters for the classroom. They include illustrations and images to accompany the text. The following curriculum areas are covered Acoustics: sound, frequency and ultrasound Einstein: relativity, mass energy relation and speed Electricity: current and voltage Ionising…
The Future of Energy
In this Cambridge University film, three academics look at wind power, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and material efficiency as examples of how we can cut our carbon dioxide emissions. Demand for energy is sky-rocketing and producing enough energy to meet this demand has significant environmental impacts and could cause catastrophic…
This Icy World
Cambridge University glaciologist Professor Julian Dowdeswell has spent three years of his life in the Polar Regions. As Director of the Scott Polar Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, this film follows him to Greenland and the Antarctic as his research reveals the challenges we all face from climate change. He…
The Emotional Computer
Can computers understand emotions? Can computers express emotions? Can they feel emotions? This video, from the University of Cambridge, examines the research of Professor Peter Robinson exploring how emotions can be used to improve interaction between humans and computers. The research team is collaborating closely with Professor…
Just Add Water
Rotifers are microscopic animals that survive against all the odds. This film follows Dr Alan Tunnacliffe, award-winning Cambridge researcher at the Institute of Biotechnology, as he tests their super-powers by draining 90% of the water in their microscopic bodies, heats them to boiling point and freezes them in liquid nitrogen. He…
Improving Young People's Engagement with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
This paper, published to coincide with Science and Engineering Week 2013, presents evidence from research carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) to explore how to encourage further engagement in, and take-up of, STEM subjects. It discusses why STEM education is important and looks at how policymakers,…
Sticky Feet
This video features Chris Clemente, from Cambridge University, who is studying the mechanisms that ants and other insects (especially cockroaches) use to walk down as well as up walls. Ants have incredibly sticky feet. With them they can hang onto ceilings, whilst carrying 100 times their body weight. But if they are stuck…
Tunnelworks: Introductory Video
Tunnelworks is a series of teaching and learning resources linking mathematics and science to the Thames Tideway Tunnel project, a major new sewer that will help protect the River Thames from increasing pollution. Background to the project is given in this introductory video which explains when and how the sewer system, which still…
Supporting Scotland's STEM Education and Culture: Second Report
This report, published by the Science and Engineering Education Advisory Group in January 2012, addresses many of the challenges and opportunities arising in implementation of the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) as it affects the delivery of STEM education and engagement. It examines the ways in which STEM education may…
Second Report of the Independent Review of Teachers' Standards
This report sets out the recommendations of an independent Review of Teachers’ Standards, chaired by Sally Coates. The review was launched by the Secretary of State in March 2011 with a remit to review the existing framework of professional standards for teachers. The Review Group comprises excellent teachers, head teachers…
Ready to Grow: Business Priorities for Education and Skills
This is the third education and skills survey published by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The survey provides an authoritative barometer of business opinion on key education and skills issues. It was conducted in February 2010, with responses received from 694 employers, collectively employing over 2.4 million people,…
Educating the Next Generation of Scientists
This report was published by the National Audit Office in 2010 and evaluates progress by the Department for Education in increasing take-up and achievement in maths and science up to age 18. It also reviews the extent to which specific programmes to raise the quality of school science facilities, recruit and retain science and maths…
STEM Careers Review 2010
This review of STEM careers, led by John Holman, was funded by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation in February 2010. The review covered provision of STEM careers education, information, advice and guidance in England. The report focused on secondary and further education, but recommended the need to commence careers related work from…
Scientific Enquiry and its Place in the National Curriculum
This is a report of a SCORE workshop held in September 2011 at the Royal Society to explore the place of scientific enquiry in the national curriculum. The report summarises the main issues raised and describes the views of the participants. The workshop was chaired by Libby Steele, Head of Education at the Royal Society. The group…
Values and Variables: Mathematics Education in High-Performing Countries
This report, commissioned by the Nuffield Foundation, addresses two questions: • What is the range and type of research evidence from countries with high performance in mathematics that gives insights into the reasons for their relatively high position? • What constitutes high performance in mathematics learning and…
Mathematics in A Level Assessments
A report produced by the Nuffield Foundation on the mathematical content of A level assessments in business studies, computing, economics, geography, psychology and sociology. In the UK fewer students engage with mathematics after the age of 16 than do their peers in other countries. One way of addressing this issue is to consider…
Global Grant-Making: a Review of UK Foundations' Funding for International Development
This report published by the Nuffield Foundation in January 2012 provides an up-to-date picture of the scale of UK foundation resources devoted to international development. It also identifies how these resources are distributed across region and need, and how foundations approach international funding activities. Commissioned…
Leading Debate: 21 Years of the National Curriculum for Science
In July 2010, 21 years after the National Curriculum was first introduced, the Wellcome Trust convened a seminar to reflect on the impact of the National Curriculum for science. Presented in this report are views that emerged from the seminar where delegates considered the National Curriculum’s initial development and subsequent…
Exploring Young People's Views on Science Education
Published by the Wellcome Trust in September 2011, this report aimed to find a deeper understanding of young people’s attitudes to science education, particularly regarding the value young people place on science education (for themselves as individuals and for society in general), as well as the key factors determining their…
Evaluation of the Wellcome Trust Camden STEM Initiative
This report, published in March 2012 by the National Foundation for Educational Research, presents the findings of an evaluation of the Wellcome Trust’s Camden Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Initiative which provided funding to eight Camden schools to develop interdisciplinary projects. Projects…
Darwin Education Initiative
Published by the Wellcome Trust in January 2011, this report provides the findings from the final stage of the evaluation of the Darwin Education Initiative. It includes the findings from follow-up interviews with case study schools which explored the continued use of the Great Plant Hunt and Survival Rivals materials. Of specific…
Acquisition of Science Subject Knowledge and Pedagogy in Initial Teacher Training
Published by the Wellcome Trust in October 201, this report looks at how one-year postgraduate Initial Teacher Training (ITT) courses in England and Wales support trainees’ acquisition of subject knowledge and topic specific pedagogy across the sciences. The study, which was the first of its kind to look into the acquisition…
Subject Choice In STEM: Factors Influencing Young People (Aged 14-19) in Education
The Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Coordinating Centre (EPPICentre) was commissioned by the Wellcome Trust to undertake this systematic review of research about subject choice. The main aim of the review was to examine the factors that influence the STEM subject choices of young people (14-19 years) in education…
Teaching of Social and Ethical Issues Arising From Developments in Biomedical Research
This research, commissioned by the Wellcome trust, was undertaken by an interdisciplinary team led by Ralph Levinson and Dr Sheila Turner at the Institute of Education, University of London between May 1st and December 1st 1999. The project reports on five main areas: • The perceived importance amongst teachers (especially…
Big Picture Teaching Resources: Evaluation Report
This report, commissioned by the Wellcome Trust, evaluates Big Picture, its free publication on bioscience, and explores ways in which it could be developed. It was hoped that this summary of the main findings would be of use to other organisations developing materials for teachers and students, particularly those interested in offering…
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