February 2004 | Creative Science Teaching Lab
and follow-up Review Lab
This Lab was the second of our Creative Science Teaching Labs and consolidated the work of the pilot Lab in 2003
The first Creative Science Teaching Lab in 2003 was very warmly welcomed and received much encouraging feedback. It was becoming clear that this unique Lab programme was helping make the difference so much needed in contemporary science education.
Participants in this second Lab included teachers from nursery, primary and secondary schools, from special and mainstream education. The specialists were hand-picked by PAL for their enthusiasm, their creativity, outstanding talent and their “generosity in sharing and receiving”. There were four creative arts practitioners: a musician and composer; a film and video director and producer; a poet; and a choreographer dancer and aerial artist. There were also three practicing scientists: a chemist and oceanographer; a plant biotechnologist; and a chemical physicist specialising in laser chemistry. All but one of these specialists had experience in providing educational support to the public and/or schools. Here is what one teacher said about the specialists’ centrality:
“The specialists were necessary to the Lab experience, they brought another dimension to what we, the teachers, set out to achieve. They encouraged thinking, helped to develop ideas and goaded us into action. Taking a risk was not as scary with a scientist by your side. The specialists actually enhanced every aspect of the Lab, from the illuminating discussions over dinner to the sharing of what teaching and learning is really all about. They also offered very tangible practical support, skills, knowledge and understanding and were prepared to ‘get stuck in’. After the Lab we were able to build a network of expertise to draw upon, a network where we enthused and motivated each other to continue to push the boundaries in the educational experiences we offered to our children and young people. It worked because with their help we knew we couldn’t fail…”
Lab co-directors
Viv Harris (1953 - 2004)
Steve Mesure
Lab Evaluator
Dame Tamsyn Imison
Lab participants
Jennie Brettell - teacher
Geraldine Brill - teacher
Louise Camrass - storyboard artist and filmmaker
Janet Chapman - teacher
Helen Clare - creative Science Co-ordinator, Creative Partnerships and poet
Karen Clark - teacher
Sally Clarkson - teacher
Kay Coverdale – teacher
Peter Gilpin - Lab chef
Christine Hathway - Lab co-ordinator
Susan Hendry - teacher
Karen Hurst - teacher
Jane Magill - Director, Robert Clark Centre for Technological Education, University of Glasgow
Ray Mathias - Head of Science Communication & Education Department, John Innes Centre
Robyn Simpson – aerialist, choreographer and arts educationalist
Eugene Skeef - musician
Diane Speck - teacher
John Stewart - teacher
Christine Torr - teacher
Tim Wallach - teacher
Visitors
Dr Eric Albone - Director, Clifton Scientific Trust
Emma Alston - Creative Partnerships
Eric Bolton CBE
Caroline Coates - Development Director, Helen Storey Foundation
Claire Cumberlidge - Director, General Public Agency
Dick Downing - Principal Research Officer, National Foundation for Education Research
Jane Fearnley – teacher, participant CST 1 Lab
Rachel Fell - research assistant, Newham Sixth Form College
Alison Hall - Learning and Research Consultant, SAPERE
Rodney Harris – sculptor, participant CST 1 Lab
Martin Hollins, Principal Officer for Science, QCA
Rebecca Jacobs – Creative Partnerships
Anne Jasman – Policy Advisor, General Teaching Council
Asha Jhall – Administrator, Creative Partnerships
Patricia Lankester – Director, Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Mike Liebling – Chair, Campaign for Learning
John Maclachlan – Professor of Medical Education, Peninsula Medical School
Katherine Matheison – Programme Manager, Learning, NESTA
Catherine Staniforth – teacher/artist, SW Newham EAZ-A+ Project
Richard Millwood – reader, Ultralab
Stuart Nolan – NESTA Fellow
Terry O’Dea – Science consultant, LB Bexley Education, School Support Services
Erinma Ochu – science communicator, Creative Partnerships
Maria Pack – Assistant Education Manager, Education Department, Royal Society of Chemistry
Ginny Page – Education Manager, The Royal Society
Tony Sherborne – The Centre for Science Education
Javier Stanziola – Research Manager, Policy and Research Team, NESTA
Helen Storey - Helen Storey Foundation
Becky Swain – Learning Manager, Creative Partnerships
David Taborn – NESTA Fellow
Paula Wallace – Science Events Officer, National Science Week
Ed Wright – teacher, participant CST 1 Lab
Funded by
NESTA
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Creative Partnerships
