SSERC Bulletin 275 CompleteMake ‘space’ for partnership working
A look at how an emerging partnership between SSERC and the Aero Space Scientific Educational Trust (ASSET) has potential to benefit space education to be benefit of learners in Scotland.
The STEM Ambassadors in Scotland team has achieved the IiV Award, demonstrating our commitment to enhancing our volunteers’ experiences.
STEM Ambassadors in Scotland Week
Information, events and resources available for secondary practitioners from STEM Ambassadors in Scotland to celebrate STEM Ambassadors in Scotland Week 2022
Nuffield Research Placements and ESERO-UK Space Champion
Our new STEM Enrichment Partnerships with Nuffield Research Placements and ESERO-UK have now been launched
Digital Xtra enabling digital creativity across Scotland
The Digital Xtra Fund is an opportunity for schools to receive financial assistance towards digital projects that can link closely with the Young STEM Leader Programme and the STEM Ambassador Programme
The SSERC team has developed a trio of microbiological experiments suitable for BGE Science classes, incorporating important health and safety advice throughout.
SSERC professional learning courses
List of upcoming secondary and technician courses from January to June 2022.
Home and dry – drying agents in organic chemistry
After running into problems during an Advanced Higher practical, we decided to look into the drying of organic liquids and review the different agents that can be used.
Investigating equipotentials and electric fields
We all love demonstrating electric fields with castor oil and semolina. However, this method using conductive plastic has the advantage of linking fields with equipotentials, leading to some quantitative work.
Health and Safety
Meet the newest member of the team.
Electrical Safety and PAT update
An update to inform you of the new equipment class introduced in IET 5th edition Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment : – CLASS 2(FE)
We have recently had a few reports of data projector bulbs exploding. Many of these contain mercury. We assess the risks and offer advice on how to reduce the likelihood and deal with the situation should it arise.
SSERC has produced a poster that you can download and display in your staff base, prep room or classroom. Here’s what we’ve done and why we’ve done it.
Working with radioactive sources – risk assessment
Information on the newly available example operational radiation risk assessments SSERC has produced. These focus on the information and control measures that need to be considered by the user when performing standard school demonstrations with radioactive sources. Find out where to access them and how they should be used.
SSERC Bulletin 276 CompleteHealth and Safety
A look at the hazards of glass in the laboratory or prep-room.
Working with radioactive materials – HSE inspections
The Health and Safety Executive’s Field Operations Division is undertaking a programme of inspections across England, Wales and Scotland to see how schools manage the safe use and storage of the radioactive sources used in science teaching. Here’s what to do.
Chemicals in Early Years settings and Primary schools
Download complete Health & Safety section here
Activities & Professional Learning
A review of our British Science Week resource, “Our Growing Brain”, in partnership with STEM Ambassadors in Scotland.
List of upcoming secondary and technician courses from May 2022 to February 2023. Including a brief description of new courses for 2022/23.
Making a DIY desiccator for keeping chemicals dehydrated.
Newton’s Rings experiment using an LED light source. As Low pressure Sodium lamps are increasingly more difficult to source, we look at using a yellow LED light source as an alternative.
In response to a recent enquiry, we look at an experiment using a simple constant current source (LM334z) to show that Q=CV.
Wider STEM Engagement
Activities for Young STEM Leaders to lead in Technologies
Update on the Nuffield Research Placements programme, including evaluation from last year’s cycle.
Highlighting STEM Ambassadors, what they have to offer and how to engage with them.
List of upcoming events linked to the WSE programmes from SSERC.
Health and Safety
Contrary to what some people think, you can still keep and use mercury thermometers – they just need a little more care than other liquid in glass designs.
The dose of radiation you get by carrying out a school demonstration is very low. In this article, we look at what dose is, how we reduce it and how the dose from school activities compares with other common practices.
An overview of the health and safety implications of working with mud versus soil samples, with respect to microbiology, and how to safely sample human blood for microscopy.
Activities & Professional Learning
A look at the different methods for generating oxygen for use in the laboratory.
List of upcoming secondary and technician courses. Including a brief description of new courses for 2022/23.
Stephen Watson, a Biology teacher from Berwickshire High School in the Scottish Borders, reflects on his professional learning experience on the Biology Summer School in June 2022.
Biology Summer School – The Roslin Trip
Lauren King, a Biology teacher from Auchmuty High School in Fife, reflects on her professional learning at the Easter Bush Science Outreach Centre (EBSOC) (Roslin Institute) during the Biology Summer School in June 2022.
Wider STEM Engagement
Young STEM Leaders at Barrhead
List of upcoming events linked to the WSE programmes from SSERC.
