Citizen Science Bioblitzes are gatherings of citizen scientists—and great introductions to citizen science itself! Just bring your smartphone and powers of observation to help catalog the natural wonders of urban parks and open space. Spearheaded by our friends at Nerds for Nature, bioblitzes are gatherings of scientists, citizen scientists, land managers, and more, all working together to find and identify as many different species as possible—everything from an ant to a redwood tree! Bioblitzes not only help land managers build a species list and atlas for their park, they also highlight the incredible biodiversity in these urban oases. Participants use the iNaturalist app to document their plant and animal observations, and we end each bioblitz with a “wrap session” that allows the group to see what everyone found and help each other with identifications. Learn more about and register for upcoming bioblitzes by visiting www.nerdsfornature.org/bioblitz. See what was found at past bioblitzes:
BikeLouP's Game Strategy and Tactics - FoldIt Wiki - a Wikia Gaming wiki BikeLouP Thoughts on Strategies and Tactics for Foldit Edit Foldit is an addictive game that allows for many approaches that seem to converge on about the same solution--most of the time. Most foldit players that have been doing it for any length of time find different techniques that work for us. The initial puzzle and first moves. The mid-point game and rapid point runup. The eke and tweak game. The end game. I distinguish between strategy and tactics. The Inital Puzzle and First Moves Edit The very first decision you need to make as a foldit player is whether you are going to try and noodle your solution with great technical insight or just go for it. Given you are just going to start, the main question is do you try anything before you do a global Wiggle? Set the puzzle to stub view. Pull on one end to spread the puzzle. Global Shake Sidechains. Use Global Lock/Wiggle Strategy. Shake Sidechains. Global Wiggle. Try Alternative Methods. The Mid-Point Game and Rapid Runup Take a break.
40 Cool Science Experiments on the Web Perhaps you don't have enough class periods to do every science experiment you wish you could, or maybe your budget for beakers and baking soda is all tapped out. Maybe you just want to watch and see how it's done before you try to build a volcano with 24 fourth-graders. Whatever the reason, having students watch a science demonstration close up on the Web is the next best thing! Read on to discover 40 favorites for K-8 students chosen by the great people at the X-Ray Vision-aries blog. They may even inspire your students' next science fair projects! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. How to Choose a Science Fair Topic Help your students choose topics that will bring out their best work. An experiment can be as simple as "Why do I feel hotter when I wear the red side of my jersey instead of the white when I play soccer?"
World Water Monitoring Challenge : Test. Share. Protect. FoldIt Wiki 6 Essential Science Tools that Use Technology in the Classroom I am a Science teacher and a techie. With this admission comes the fact that I love to find novel ways to incorporate technology in the classroom into my lessons. My students have learned that whenever I find a new tool, I'll bring it in and together we'll brainstorm ways to use it to help us be more effective and engaged scientists. I know there is great variety in the resources available to Science teachers in school across the country. If you have a tight budget and need to outfit a Science classroom, here is what my students and I consider the six most important pieces of technology in the classroom for every Science teacher to use. Digital Projector (LCD or DLP) I wish we could take for granted that every Science teacher has one of these in her classroom, but I know that not every school can afford these $600+ devices. A few fun classroom activities using “The Magic Tree House” book series. A few tips on how to get a leg up from the competition, and get a teaching job... Probeware
MyHeartMap Challenge The Device That Saves Lives, But Can Be Hard to Find November 12, 2012 | By Ron Winslow If you needed an automated external defibrillator to help a victim of sudden cardiac arrest, chances are you would have trouble finding one, even if a device were located nearby. Contest aims to map Philadelphia's AEDS January 31, 2012 | Action News AEDs - or automated external defibrillators can save lives. Health: MyHeartMap Challenge Saves Lives With Cell Phones January 31, 2012 5:15 PM | By Stephanie Stahl There's a new challenge for people in Philadelphia. Global contest will lead to help during heart attacks January 31, 2012 3:01 AM | By Marie McCullough | Inquirer Staff Writer Around the world, the hunt is on for thousands of lifesaving portable medical devices that are hanging in public places - in Philadelphia. Man Who Suffered Near Fatal Heart Attack Reunited With His 'Angels' January 16, 2012 10:58 PM | By Walt Hunter Project seeks to publicize life-saving defibrillators September 12, 2011 | M.H.
Scientists as scapegoats? | Griffin’s Gadgets Day one of the trial of several Italian seismologists facing manslaughter charges for allegedly failing to predict an earthquake that killed more than 300 people in L’Aquila in April 2009 kicked off today. Nature has been following the situation closely and this piece gives great background on the situation the scientists have found themselves in. This is the interesting bit – what can we expect the impact to be on science as the trial plays out? Scientists in New Zealand are naturally watching the case closely and no doubt, in some cases, reflecting on how scientific information on risk from natural hazards is disseminated and interpreted by the public here. Here’s the letter of support for the Italian seismologists many New Zealand scientists joined others around the world in signing. Here’s what Dr Mark Quigley of the University of Canterbury had to say about the trial: I couldn’t agree with him more.
We All Teach Reading and Writing Sponsored By If you teach algebra, you may not think of yourself as a reading teacher. But you do know that comprehension, fluency and good communication are key to success in math as well as other subject areas. And the writers of the Common Core agree—the new standards greatly emphasize reading and writing across the curriculum. Click below to explore ways we can all become better teachers of reading, writing and critical thinking. Writing Across the Content Areas Creative ways that every teacher can foster communication skills.Explore Now » Teaching Fact vs. Why Grammar Rules See why the humble comma is oh-so-important to getting your point across.View Now » How Audiobooks Can Help Explore how audiobooks can support readers and writers.Find Out » Reading in Photos Check out the great reading ideas we’ve shared on our Pinterest page. Go Now » Talking With Struggling Readers Dos and don'ts for supporting a student who's struggling with reading.Read More » Read More »
Press releases - Turing's Sunflowers Thursday 22 March 2012 Thousands of sunflowers will be planted in honour of the mathematician Alan Turing as part of a new research project led by MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester) and Manchester Science Festival, in association with The University of Manchester. A hundred years after Turing was born families, schools, community groups and businesses will be encouraged to plant over 3000 sunflowers to celebrate his work and help solve a mathematical riddle that he worked on before his death in 1954. Alan Turing is famous for his code-breaking skills which helped to crack the Enigma Code during the Second World War, and as a founder of computer science and artificial intelligence, but later he became fascinated with the mathematical patterns found in stems, leaves and seeds - a study known as phyllotaxis. Erinma Ochu, Project Manager of Turing’s Sunflowers said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the wonder of maths in nature. Notes to editors
Happy Birthday Otzi | Digging the Dirt Latest reconstruction of Otzi for the Otzi 20 exhibition 20 years ago today the mummified remains of a man, nicknamed Otzi, was discovered by hikers in the Italian Alps. This find has to be mentioned because it is simply fantastic and quite unique so far, and has led to many many archaeological scientists and preservation experts coming together to understand the life and culture of this one man, who lived 5,000 years ago. The days following Sept 19 1991 are also one of those periods in time that made an impact on me as a 17 year old New Zealander studying hard at Papatoetoe High School, thinking about the future, post school education… and an ancient human being discovered on the other side of the world, outside all parameters of time that the 6th form was studying that year. I wanted to be one of the people who finds out about that! The Synopsis The position Otzi was found, trapped in glacial ice 14 days after discovery the first archaeological survey was conducted at the find scene.
The Ultimate STEM Guide for Kids: 239 Cool Sites Panamath FTL neutrinos FTW! * Ahem * Well, not quite. (Note: FTL = Faster Than Light) The first image, taken in 2007, of a neutrino interaction. Not entirely, at least. Those of you watching the science news today may have noticed an awful lot of excited wittering about results being published today which suggest the neutrinos may have broken the speed of light. Please note the use of ‘may’ there. First, a brief note on neutrinos themselves. They’re similar to electrons, in fact, except for the intriguing characteristic of having no electrical charge. Oh, and also? Now, on to the Science of the Day. Nothing, at least according to one of Einstein’s equations (you know, the one beginning e=…), can travel faster than the speed of light in a vacuum (light travels slower in dense media***). And it’s got everyone extremely excited because, well, it could overturn causality – the idea that cause comes before effect. Amusingly, though, it does, finally, allow us the following joke (thanks @rmi!) ** Yes, I am paraphrasing :)