Science and Plants for Schools

'From cereal carbon storage to harmful algal blooms' - a fascinating lecture from Prof Robert Field. 🧑‍🏫

Euglena gracilis is a single cell algae that shows characteristics of both plants and animals. Fair to say the teachers had a few questions...🤯



📸Euglena gracilis, as seen under a transmission light microscope.
Credit: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Euglena-gracilis-as-seen-under-a-transmission-light-microscope-Zeiss-Axioplan-40_fig1_364032464.
📸Teachers in discussion with Professor Robert Field from the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester.

Next up: Dissection & microscopy of a plant vascular tissue. We are using celery! 🔬

We use toluidine blue as our dye of choice. 💙

👀View & download the resource here: https://www.saps.org.uk/teaching-resources/resources/1325/a-level-set-practicals-dissection-and-microscopy-of-a-plant-stem/



📸A presentation slide detailing the preparation of celery petioles.
📸One of our teachers engrossed in viewing a slide containing a dissection under the microscope.
📸Teachers carrying out our 'Dissection and microscopy of plant vascular tissue' practical.
📸Teachers in conversation whilst dissecting celery for the dissection and microscopy of plant vascular tissue.

After a fantastic lecture by Professor Gary Bending 'Uncovering the secret world of the rhizosphere microbiome - the plant's second genome' the post-16 biology teachers had the chance to grill Gary & leave feeling inspired to share knowledge with their students👌



📸Teachers in conversation with Professor Gary Bending from the University of Warwick.

Yesterday SAPS teachers at were exploring species of pondweed for use with our practical demonstrating oxygen evolution during using pondweed.
Bubbles ! 🫧
👀www.saps.org.uk/pondweed



📸Four species of pondweed. Egeria densa, Egeria najas, Cabomba aquatica and Ceratophyllum demersum.
📸Teacher carrying out the bubbling pondweed practical.
📸Boiling tubes containing species of pondweed placed in front of a bright light to show the process of photosynthesis.

🤫Our bananas our fluorescing fantastically!
Cannot wait to see our teachers reactions.

Unexpected view of chlorophyll: https://www.saps.org.uk/teaching-resources/resources/1306/why-do-bananas-fluoresce-an-unexpected-view-of-chlorophyll/ 🔦

Tip: speed up the process for your bananas to show their fluorescence by placing a bunch on top of a VERY ripe banana🍌

Yesterday's icebreaker activity involved the teachers nominating one plant to have its seeds placed in the 'Doomsday Vault'. The vault is a bunker in a frozen Arctic mountainside in Norway.

Nomination: PEAS 🫛🫛🫛. See the photo for some reasons why! 👏

Yesterday we welcomed 8 post-16 biology teachers to the 🌱Plant Science Summer School 2024🌱



📸 Here is some of what is in store.

👋Newsletter👋

In the latest edition tell us how we can better support you using the SAPS Associate Survey; plan ahead by getting plants into different areas of biology; read news stories re renewable energy, cancer drugs & more!

Read online here: https://zc.vg/H335b?m=0 👓



STEM Learning Royal Society of Biology CLEAPSS Teaching Tools in Plant Biology

📸 Roots in the shape of two human faces facing each other. Credit: Lightspring / Shutterstock.
📸 Dr Tom Prescott working in the Jodrell human cell lab, where cancer cells are cultured. Credit: RBG Kew.
📸 Aerial view of trees in the shape of a thought bubble and a break from the trees in the shape of a question mark in the centre. Credit: iStock.

Today is

Inside a school/college/university, inside a classroom, sitting behind a desk or standing in front of a class is someone changing the world.

That someone is a teacher. 🍏

Thank you! 💚🌱💚

🚨Newsletter🚨

Read our latest edition of the for two new resources making links in biology; news stories on seed banks and convergent evolution; engage with a seagrass survey and competitions for you and your students.

👀Read here: https://zc.vg/mEkbY?m=0

Royal Society of Biology STEM Learning CLEAPSS🌱

📸Tradescantia zebrina is a plant where cuttings are easy to take to produce a clone of a plant – a skill demonstrated in our new resource. Read the newsletter for more. Credit: iStock.
📸The Millennium Seed Bank in Wakehurst in Sussex hides an underground collection of over 2.4 billion seeds from around the world, banking them to conserve them for the future. Read a news story about seed banks in the newsletter. Credit: RBG Kew.
📸The glorious sunflower features in a story regarding symmetry. Read the article in the newsletter. Credit: Michael C / Unsplash.

12 May is International Day of Plant Health 🌏🌳💚
The theme:

Check out our related resources focusing on plant health contexts: https://www.saps.org.uk/teaching-resources/resources/1446/plant-health-contexts/

For more: https://www.fao.org/plant-health-day/en #:~:text=The%20United%20Nations%20designated%2012,environment%2C%20and%20boost%20economic%20development

STEM Learning Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

International Day of Plant Health, 12 May | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Healthy plants can help to end hunger, reduce poverty, protect the environment, and boost economic development.

For (6-12/05) explore our range of resources on plant disease from identifying the cause of to understanding how healthy are your trees. 🔎

Resources: https://www.saps.org.uk/resource-collections/plant-disease/ 🦟🌳🦠

For info: https://planthealthaction.org/national-plant-health-week 💚

CLEAPSS STEM Learning Royal Society of Biology

📸 White fly covering leaves (credit: iStock).
Bramble rust seen under the microscope.
Evidence of plant disease discovered at our Train the Trainer event.

Whilst we think everyday should be today is officially 🌎💚🌍💚🌏

A reminder of the importance of conservation & sustainability for a healthier planet. For more info: https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2024/

Check out our resources: https://www.saps.org.uk/?s=conservation

Have you come across the 7 Science Leadership Benchmarks yet? 🔬🧪🌾

The benchmarks identify what ‘good’ looks like & outline a framework of benchmarks that you can use to improve science provision in your school. 💚

https://www.stem.org.uk/science-leadership-benchmarks STEM Learning

www.stem.org.uk

Have your say! ✋

The Science Teaching Survey is an annual opportunity for and to have their voices heard. All those in secondary schools in the UK and Ireland are invited to take part. Your responses will contribute to robust and detailed evidence that will help better support and represent educators, and influence curriculum and policy change.

Be a part of this year’s research and complete the survey by 30 April.

Complete the survey here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/RSBSOCIALS/

Royal Society of Biology

Don't just take it from us, see what teachers from previous summer schools have to say👁‍🗨📷

If you are a teacher of post-16 looking to enhance your teaching of & collaborate with like-minded teachers - the SAPS is for you!

Apply now to join us from 30th June to 3rd July for a truly unique course hosted by some of the leading lights in plant science and bring contemporary plant science to your classroom.

Bursaries available. For more information visit:
https://www.saps.org.uk/growth-hub/saps-plant-science-summer-school/

Applications close 05/05👌

Association for Science Education Royal Society of Biology STEM LearningCLEAPSS Teaching Tools in Plant Biology

📢Post-16 teachers of biology📢

We are now receiving applications for the Plant Science Summer School, 30.06 - 03.07 💚

👀Full details here: https://www.saps.org.uk/growth-hub/saps-plant-science-summer-school/
Bursaries available for teachers from state-funded schools.

📩[email protected] for an application form.

Applications close: 5th May 2024.



Association for Science Education Royal Society of Biology STEM Learning CLEAPSS

📸Teachers from previous a previous Summer School carrying out plant science practicals and in conversation with Professor George Lomonossoff (John Innes Centre) after his lecture.

📢Calling post-16 biology teachers📢

Applications soon to open for the 30/06 - 04/07 2024.

For more info visit: https://www.saps.org.uk/growth-hub/saps-plant-science-summer-school/ 💚🌱

Register your interest with your name & place of work to [email protected] 📩

SAPS Plant Science Summer School - Science & Plants for Schools This course initially developed with the National STEM Learning Centre gives a select group of post-16 biology teachers the opportunity to join a plant science summer school hosted by some of the leading lights in plant science.

is a national celebration of technical support staff, recognising the importance of their essential roles in schools & colleges.

Flood the socials on 08/03 & find out more here: https://techognition.org/ Prizes to be won!

👨‍🔬🧑‍💻🦠🔬💡💫🎒🌿
Royal Society of Biology

#TECHOGNITION Celebrating School and FE College Technicians, recognising the importance of this essential role in education. Brought to you by Preproom.org and UNISON.

We were so excited to see the magnificent cactus plant Strophocactus wittii about to flower at Cambridge University Botanic Garden 💚

A rare unusual cactus which spirals around tree trunks with leaf-like, flattened stems. Found in rainforests of the Amazon Basin🌎

📸

Image 1 & 2: Screenshot taken from footage of the Moonflower about to flower. One with members of the (rather excited) team.
Image 3: The Moonflower flowering.

📣 Calling all ! Encourage your pupils to enter ’s for !

Up to 10 finalist teams (aged 13-16) will present their ideas to a panel of experts and the top 3 teams will receive up to £5,000 in grants to make their dream a reality!

Learn more and apply by 26 April at http://uk.ourechochallenge.org 💡🌎🌱

Association for Science Education STEM Learning Royal Society of Biology

OurEcho Challenge UK 2024 The OurEcho Challenge is a STEM contest that empowers young changemakers to take a closer look at biodiversity in their communities. Young leaders will first identify threats to local ecosystems and then propose solutions to help preserve, protect, or restore those natural resources. During the 2023...

📢Calling Primary Teachers📢

Support in to plant awareness & how it can be improved for primary school students by completing this short survey: 💭
https://reading.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/plants-in-primary-education-outreach-survey 🌱

⚠️WARNING⚠️

We are switching to a different web server today and you may experience some difficulty accessing the website from 11:30. Disruption should last no more than 30 mins (hopefully much less).

We hope this is not too much of an inconvenience. Thank you for your patience 😊

Are you interested in supporting students to become more ‘Plant Positive’? 💚

Do you want to be part of a small-scale educational project❓

Read more from the image below and complete an expression of interest form using this link: https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/yaCl5V

Deadline: Thursday 29 February 2024



Association for Science EducationRoyal Society of BiologySTEM Learning

📢It's here!

The latest edition of our is available online featuring a new resource addressing misconceptions in biology, an opportunity to apply for the Summer School, engage in a small-scale research project and much much more!

Read it here: https://zc.vg/IOXrS?m=0

Association for Science EducationSTEM LearningRoyal Society of BiologyCLEAPSS

have used our resource. Check out in different types of plants & in particular those that have adapted to live in shade & those in sunlight🌚🌱🌞

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DnhPkC5Ri0

Royal Society of Biology Association for Science Education STEM Learning

📸Taken from the recording of Professor Brian Cox in conversation with Heather Bridge from the Skinners' School and examples of leaves used for the experiment from laurel, geranium and ivy plants.

Preproom.org, UNISON and Technical Champions in association with have launched a national survey of technicians working in UK secondary schools and FE colleges.

In order for them to continue to raise the profile of technicians and help them receive the recognition they deserve, it is important to better understand the challenges you (technicians) face in your roles, to identify areas in which you need better support and ultimately use that information to shape the assistance and resources they and their associates provide.

👩‍🔬🧑‍🔬👨‍🔬⚖️🧰🧬💊🧪🗝

If you are a technician in a UK school or FE college, your participation in this survey is very much appreciated. By taking the time to share your experiences, you will be helping them create a detailed snapshot of the technician landscape in 2024.

To participate, simply click on the survey link provided below:
https://forms.gle/DWX3eW9S2HjQT3d16

UK School and FE college Technician Survey 2024 This survey from preproom.org, UNISON and Technical Champions is to be completed by technicians working in UK schools and FE colleges only (not HE/university technicians) If you have any questions about this survey, please email [email protected] This survey closes on Sunday 25th February 2024.

UK Biology Students📢

Join the new to gain interview experience whilst
and having fun! Prizes to be won🥇

👀For more info: https://www.homerton.cam.ac.uk/cambridge-biology-challenge

Deadline for Round One: 26th January 2024

University of Cambridge Royal Society of Biology STEM Learning

Cambridge Biology Challenge Breadcrumb Home Cambridge Biology Challenge Cambridge Biology Challenge Calling all UK Biology Students! January 2024 sees the launch of the brand-new Cambridge Biology Challenge. Run by Homerton College, this new nationwide competition challenges students to think deeply about the sort of questions...