Students from Robert Smyth School, Leicestershire have created species which may stalk the planet in 100 million years time, as part of the New Suburban Life Forms project to be presented at the British Science Festival on 10th September.
This unique project encourages students to absorb key facts about evolution. Students visited Twycross Zoo to learn about different animals and their environments and how they thrive and adapt. Using art materials the students fired their imagination and created their own animals, which feature in their Attenborough style film documentary.
Alice King, Head of Applied Science, Robert Smyth School, commented. “This project is a great way to engage young people with science and to learn about evolution and life forms. Science is all about creative exploration, and students who are given the time and freedom to explore the subject will have a deeper understanding and passion for the subject.”
This project is being presented at the British Science Festival on Thursday 10th September 2009, at the Farnham Maltings in Surrey as part of a hands-on workshop which features the students’ film. This workshop is one of many which aims to explore the latest developments in science, technology, and engineering under this year’s theme of creativity, innovation and evolution.
Sai Pathmanathan, Ignition* Project Director, commented “This is a fantastic opportunity to promote New Suburban Life Forms at one of Europe’s largest science festivals and we hope it will spark students’ interest in science.”
New Suburban Life Forms, part of Sci-Art Fusions, is funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) through its Science Technology Engineering and Maths programme and delivered by Ignite! in collaboration with The Mighty Creatives.
Andrew Morgan, Skills and Communities Director at emda said “It’s great that these students are benefiting from our £9m STEM investment and have the opportunity to present their work at the British Science Festival. Our STEM programme is about inspiring young people to see the potential of STEM subjects as part of a successful career, by generating excitement and curiosity from a young age. Through activities like this, we will ensure that the East Midlands can flourish through a highly-skilled future workforce”.
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For more information contact Jen Delaney on 01159847021 or e-mail Jennifer.delaney@themarketingdivision.co.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
About New Suburban Life Forms
New Suburban Life Forms aims to engage students in the subject of evolution (celebrating Darwin Year and supporting the 2009 theme of creativity, innovation and evolution)
New Suburban Life Forms is part of the Sci-Art Fusion project which aims to inspire and delight young people and wider audiences about the connections between arts, culture, STEM subjects and society
About British Science Festival
The British Science Festival is one of Europe's largest science festivals, taking place each September. The Festival is hosted at a different UK location each year http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/BritishScienceFestival/
This year the theme of the festival is creativity, innovation and evolution
The British Science Festival attracts 80,000 visitors each year
This year the festival is hosted by the University of Surrey from 5th - 10th September 2009
New Suburban Life Forms will be presented on Thursday 10th September at Farnham Maltings
About emda
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development.
Ten years on, independent evaluation shows emda has:
Had a significant impact on the region’s economy
Generated economic benefits that substantially outweigh the costs
Put back over £9 of economic output or (GVA) into the regional economy for every £1 it spends
Produced more than £1 billion in economic benefits each year
A wider impact on people, places and businesses in the East Midlands that cannot be captured by figures alone
emda is committed to supporting the region through the current economic downtown and has put in place a range of measures to provide real help during these challenging times.
Over the long term, emda’s aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) by working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations. The RES highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and sets out key priorities until 2010 to ensure the vision for a ‘flourishing region’ can be achieved.
For more information visit http://www.emda.org.uk/
About emda’s STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) Programme
Launched in early 2008, emda’s STEM programme marks a £9m investment over three years in a range of projects to support the development of STEM skills in the East Midlands and increase the level of STEM literacy in the population. These include:
The East Midlands STEM Partnership - http://www.emstempartnership.org.uk/
The National Space Academy - http://www.spacecentre.co.uk/
Lab in a Lorry - http://www.labinalorry.co.uk/
‘Ignition*’ - www.ignitefutures.org.uk/ignition
Nanowhat? Nanotechnology Roadshow - http://www.nanowhat.co.uk/
Engineering Development Trust (EDT) STEM Programme - http://www.etrust.org.uk/
East Midlands Science and Technology Awards
More recently, a further two projects have been incorporated under the STEM umbrella, taking the total emda investment up to £9m. These include:
Catapulting Kids Further - www.eastmidlandsnti.co.uk/CatapultingKidsFurther
Science in the Peak - http://www.scienceinthepeak.co.uk/
Further details about each scheme are available at http://www.emstempartnership.org.uk/ . Go to the ‘What is STEM?’ page and click on the ‘emda STEM Programme’ link.