This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Science 'Oscars' for schools and businesses
07/03/2003
Today's science school students will become
tomorrow's inventors and will help to guarantee Scotland's
scientific and innovative reputation and future, the
Executive's Science Education 2020 Conference 'A Vision for
the Future' was told today
Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Iain Gray was speaking
at a conference awards dinner in Edinburgh.
The awards recognised winners in three categories
- schools science and enterprise challenge
- contribution of Scottish businesses in school
science
- contribution in science in the community
Mr Gray said:
"We are determined to extend Scotland's scientific base
through an investment in our schools and universities as
well as providing a raft of support to innovative
businesses.
"Tonight's awards demonstrate not only the quality of
Scotland's young people, science community and businesses,
but also the importance of science to our future economic
prospects and quality of life.
"At the conference yesterday, Deputy Minister for
Education, Nicol Stephens, announced a further investment
of £10 million over three years to implement a range of
measures as part of our commitment to school science within
"
A Science Strategy for Scotland"."
The award winners include:
Science Enterprise Challenge Award:
- A group of eight pupils from Harris Academy in
Dundee battled 13 other schools to receive the award
for designing and marketing a product with a science
and technological theme.
- The teams were asked to develop a business plan and
presentation to judges for a working model of a game
for young children that would get them interested in
the world of science. Harris Academy came up with the
idea of "Alien Antics", a board game that takes young
children on a journey through the solar system by
answering different questions about science.
Michael Barker of the winning team said:
"We are really happy, but surprised to win the Science
and Enterprise Challenge as the quality of all the team's
ideas was really good. Winning was down to all of us
working together as a team and today has encouraged us to
learn more about science and enterprise in the future."
Royal Society of Edinburgh's Science in the
Community Award:
- Natural Environmental Science Education and
Scottish Earth Science Education Forum jointly won the
award for their outstanding achievement in the
communication of science to the public over the past
year. NESciE and SESEF received a shared prize of
£10,000 and a trophy for their workshops and science
festivals involving a 'Design a Dinosaur on Tour' and
the provision of training and support for science
teachers, particularly in remote areas.
Doug Paton, from NESciE, said:
"Winning this award recognises that the partnership
between NESciE and SESEF comes from a real shared agenda to
help communities engage with science in their local
environment and together bring a better understanding of
Earth Science to those parts of Scotland other
organisations can't reach."
Jon Turner, University of Edinburgh and SESEF
"We will use the award to leave a double legacy: a
greater understanding of science by children, communities
and teachers; and shared models for how informal science
education and CPD for teachers can be provided to remote
communities.
- The Glasgow Science Centre also received a trophy
and £5000 grant as runner-up for taking science
education out to communities normally excluded from
such activities.
Glasgow Science Centre's Community Liaison Manager,
Patricia Docherty said:
"Glasgow Science Centre has striven since opening to
ensure that our facilities can be accessed by everyone and
we have specifically targeted marginalised groups as we
recognise that there are many barriers for them to overcome
to use our facilities. GSC will use the prize money to pay
for the transport costs of community groups to come to GSC
and discover the delights of science in the world around
them."
- The Scottish Executive has sponsored the RSE award,
providing the £15,000 worth of grants.
Career Scotland's Business of the Year
Award:
- BP Grangemouth, from Falkirk, has been recognised
for their high quality support for the learning and
teaching of science since 1968. The company has run the
BP Science Engineering and Technology Week, which
involves Grangemouth High School and 31 primary schools
from the Falkirk Council.
Neil Weir, of BP Grangemouth, said:
"BP Grangemouth has a long-standing, serious commitment
to Education partnership with a particular desire to help
promote the study of the sciences in schools. To have our
efforts recognised by winning this most prestigious award
is extremely pleasing and encouraging."
Career Scotland's Business Award for
Innovation:
- Nobel Enterprises, from Stevenston in Ayrshire,
received the award for its innovative approach to
supporting science education. The company's 'Molecules
in Action' project, which involves two employees and
Glencairn Primary School pupils, focuses on practical
science, science related drama and communications
technology.
Paul Clarke, of Nobel Enterprises, said:
"It was a great surprise to find that Nobel Enterprises
had won the Careers Scotland Business Award for Innovation,
but a privilege for our enthusiastic team to be recognised
for the educational link we have established within the
local community."
Speaking at the awards dinner, Royal Society of
Edinburgh President Lord Sutherland said it was fitting
that we should recognize the hard work and enthusiasm,
which went into providing science education to the public
and to schools.
"Top quality nominations have been received for The
Royal Society of Edinburgh Science in the Community Award.
The entries reflect the great commitment made by those
involved in the public understanding of science in Scotland
today."
Also speaking at the dinner, Careers Scotland Director
Christina Allon said the awards highlighted some of
Scotland's businesses who were demonstrating quality
support for science education.
"The winners tonight are great examples of commitment
and enthusiasm in business and education working
together."