Tuesday, 6 October 2015

Ghana Science Book Tour

The Ghana Science Book Tour is a campaign to get science books to primary schools kids in Ghana.

I had most of my early years education in Ghana where I had to make do with a theoretical educational system. Having the opportunity to pursue secondary education and beyond here opened my eyes to the impact of practical education.

The only science books I ever read growing up were my text books. Now that I know better, I want to give the children in Ghana the opportunity I never had.

I want to inspire curiosity and stimulate their interest in how things work from an early stage through this Science Book Tour.

For this I need your help. I'm raising £2000 to get science books to as many primary schools as possible.

We will start off with a library of 200 books and 10 schools. Each school will be assigned 20 books per term after which the libraries will be circulated. This way we get to reach as many schools as possible giving the opportunity to as many pupils as possible.

Please visit the campaign page and support us in cash or kind by making a donation, help to spread the word or if you're looking to clear out your stash of science books for kids then I'll love to have them.

Sunday, 16 August 2015

Big Biology Day returns to Essex

After a successful launch of Big Biology Day Essex last year, the 2^nd Big Biology Day fair in Essex returned to the Sandford Mill museum in Chelmsford on 2^nd August 2015. The fair which was originally initiated by the East Anglia branch of the Royal Society of Biology as part of biology week celebrations in 2012 has since caused a ripple effect across various regions within the country.

Big Biology day is designed to engage the public with the life sciences by showcasing activities from various biology related sectors and this year’s fair in Essex set out to do just that. With representation from various sectors and organisations such as the Essex Wildlife Trust, British Naturalist Association, Science Grrl, the Cambridge Big Biology Day team, the Royal Society of Biology, Queen Mary University, University College London, Science:Gamed and Oxford University, attendees were occupied through the day with various educational hands on activities suited for all the family.

Some exhibitors all set up ready for the fair.

The lovely sunny day allowed for the beautiful landscape of the museum including the river running through the site, the mill pond, scrubland, woodland and habitat areas as well as the wide variety of plants and animals to be appreciated through outdoor activities such as ‘bugs hunt’, canoeing demo and a nature trail.

Sample outdoor activities

Indoor activities included, a computer science game based on medical diagnosis, Species identification, the future of personalised medicine based on cancer, the role of pH in relation to Alzheimer’s disease, and a board game and craft session based on skin anatomy. The museum was also opened for the day where ‘friends of the museum’ were available to give a tour of the Marconi displays.

Overall, the Big Biology Day fair was a success and we look forward to adapting the feedback received for an even more diverse and exciting fair next year.

This year’s Biology week will be taking place from 10^th October – 18^th October. Visit the Royal Society of Biology website for an event near you.

Special thanks to all our supporters, exhibitors and volunteers without whom the fair would not be the same.