Children from Yorkshire and the Humber keep a close eye on the world around them
Posted on 10 March 2005
They are pupils of six schools in the Yorkshire area that are to receive packs containing hand lenses and other resources from CNAP, a bioscience research centre based at the University of York.
As part of National Science Week 2005, CNAP received funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to increase public engagement in bioscience. CNAP already runs the Hidden Worlds-Secret Lives project, backed by Yorkshire Forward, which introduces children to the hidden worlds through the use of microscopes.
To build on the scheme's success in schools across the region, CNAP is giving children their own means of exploring the world around them - small hand lenses that let the user see objects up to 10 times bigger than their actual size.
The packs, which are to be sent to schools in the run-up to National Science Week 2005 starting on 11 March, contain a hand lens for each pupil, a Petri dish for collecting samples, an activity booklet and teacher's notes. At the end of the lesson, the school is encouraged to allow the children to keep the lenses so that they can use them to further observe the world around them in their own time.
Professor Dianna Bowles, CNAP's Director, said: "We hope through the use of simple hand lenses, children will see some of the incredible detail of the natural world, and this, in turn, will stimulate their curiosity about biology."
Similar packs will be handed out to members of the public as part of the Hidden Worlds Secret Lives display at the York Festival of Science and Technology, at York St. John College on Saturday 19 March.
Notes to editors:
- CNAP is a bioscience research centre in the Department of Biology at the University of York. It aims to solve problems for industry, society and the environment through its research. One of CNAP’s central objectives is to increase public engagement with bioscience through a programme of high quality outreach activities. These activities are funded through external grants and from core funding to CNAP from the Garfield Weston Foundation. Full details of all outreach activities can be found on www.understandingbiology.org
- Adventures in Bioscience is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). For further information on the work of the BBSRC please visit www.bbsrc.ac.uk. Additional funds come from Hidden Worlds Secret Lives funding.
- The Hidden Worlds – Secret Lives project is part-funded by Yorkshire Forward for a period of 18 months. Funding for the bio-education development programme was been awarded to Professor Dianna Bowles OBE, CNAP Director and Weston Chair of Biochemistry and Dr Caroline Calvert, Head of CNAP Outreach. For further information on the Hidden Worlds - Secret Lives project please contact Nicola Smith, CNAP’s Schools Officer (email: ns14@york.ac.uk, telephone 01904 328769/ 07717 878886).
- Over the past year, Yorkshire Forward has achieved its best ever performance, creating or safeguarding more than 16,000 new jobs; creating and attracting more than 700 new businesses, providing more than 47,000 learning opportunities and reclaiming more than 140 hectares of brownfield land - achieving or exceeding all of the targets it was set.
- Yorkshire Forward’s investment across the region is maximised by attracting European Regional Development Funding from the Objective One and Two programmes.
- York was recognised as one of Britain's "Science Cities" in Chancellor Gordon Brown's pre-budget statement on 2 December 2004. This confirmed the Government's continued investment in science and technology to drive forward the UK's position in the global economy. A £100 million technology investment programme is to be channelled over the next 10 years to promote 'Science Cities' for the North, starting with Manchester, Newcastle and York.
- The York Festival of Science and Technology runs from 11 March to 20 March coinciding with National Science Week. It aims to bring science to life with a diverse series of fun and interactive science and technology-related events. More information from Festival organiser Ben Wright on 01904 554493.