This article argues that the role of practical work in science is overemphasised and misunderstood. Science is distinguished by the fact that it is a set of ideas about the material world and not by empirical enquiry. The latter is only one of six styles of reasoning that have been used to develop scientific ideas. The lack of clarity around the…

Nowadays, in the United Kingdom, citizens take for granted clean water pumped directly into their homes, but it was not always the case, and is still not so in many countries. Could people clean water themselves if they had to and what could they then use it for? Would it actually be "clean enough" to drink? The author presents children…

Primary science has been a major success story over the past 20 years in the UK. Children like science, and teachers, who may not have thought of themselves as "science-trained", have taken to the subject with gusto. Part of this enthusiasm is because of the practical nature of the subject. Science in UK schools makes good use of…

Following the publication of the higher education white paper increasing entry tariff and widening participation have become even more important issues for universities. This report examines the relationship between entry tariff and undergraduate achievement in Biosciences at the University of Exeter. We show that, whilst there is a significant…

This paper presents an investigation of how experience-led content in an engineering degree can be strengthened by creating opportunities for engineering students to benefit from the knowledge, skills and resources of students with current professional experience. Students who study civil engineering part-time at Coventry University (while also…

Why do people so often view science and art as polar opposites? Is it a view that is relatively new, or has it always been the case? Why is it a good idea to combine the two subjects and teach them in cross-curricular ways and what impact does it have on the learning of primary-aged children? These were some of the questions posted by science and…

Sense About Science is a UK-based charitable trust that equips people to make sense of science and of evidence on issues that matter to society. It was set up in 2003 in response to newspaper front pages being full of headlines about mobile phones "frying your brain", genetically modified "Frankenstein foods", the MMR vaccine,…

A new module for Level 1 students called "Science Investigations" provides an introduction to practical work, in an on-line environment. Most of the activities in the module require observational or experimental work done at home, with only the field work being "virtual". The aim is to encourage practical and group work in an…

This paper describes the design and evaluation of an undergraduate final year science communication module for the Science Faculty at the University of East Anglia. The module focuses specifically on science communication and aims to bring an understanding of how science is disseminated to the public. Students on the module are made aware of the…

In recent years, the numbers of girls in secondary and tertiary education studying Physics have declined. This research sought to investigate Years 10 and 11 female students' views about Physics and their physics teachers and was conducted in an all-girls independent school. While the findings show that in general these students do not relate well…

QCA specified that science should include "How Science Works" at Key Stage 4 (age 14-16) from 2006. Since then, different "versions" have been specified for inclusion from primary through to A-Level (Orrow-Whiting et al, 2007). HSW seems to act as an umbrella term for part of the curriculum that "focuses on the evidence to…

Investigates different perceptions of resource provision, management, and use to support investigative and other practical science. Findings indicate that overall schools are building up an increasingly broad resource base, reflecting the range of content required in the National Curriculum. Findings also indicate inadequate quantities of basic…

This article aims to encourage the development of safe, valuable and scientifically sound field investigations, and offers suggestions or guidelines for your people participating in environmental work on expeditions to areas in the northern United Kingdom. (Author/MDH)

Discusses a teaching method using investigational skills for Nuffield A-level Physics including assessment technique, change of the assessment criteria, advice for choosing the topic, and future development. (YP)