RCE Europe: Regional Meeting 2020
RCE East Midlands is hosting this online event which will be taking place over the 24th and 25th of November. The theme for this conference is ‘Climate Emergency: Joined-Up Action’. Sessions on the 24th are open to everyone, and sessions on the 25th are open to current and prospective RCE members. Register the event, view the provisional programme, and ask any questions by visiting the online page.
Urban Science: Engaging Science, Creating Sustainable Cities
This teacher resource for student development consists of eleven learning modules, each of which is linked to the curriculum and explores topics such as climate change, systems thinking, and zero waste while providing opportunities for practical exploration and working scientifically. All the modules have been piloted in UK schools, and have been enhanced and improved in response to feedback.
Solar for Schools: Student App set to Deliver low Carbon Future
Solar for Schools App wins Innovate UK grant
Students calling for action against climate change will have access to an App that will help them in the fight to deliver a lower carbon future in the UK.
The App is being developed by Solar Options for Schools, which won funding this week (4 November 2020) from UK Innovate in the latest round of the £10 million Sustainable Innovation Fund. The fund is intended to help the UK rebuild after the effects of COVID-19.
The Solar for Schools App will deliver an innovative interactive App, which will enable secondary students to learn about energy, electricity, and climate. It will offer learning to all students, irrespective of their social-economic status, being accessible on both android and apple phones.
Its approach is to deliver education in a project-based way that encourages students to learn, act, share and explore subjects in a way that works for them. Using the geo-location technologies, The Solar for Schools App will give students personalised place-based opportunities to investigate their surroundings. It will incentivise them to learn more through practical tasks that could ultimately put solar panels on their school roofs.
Solar for Schools education lead and award-winning secondary science teacher Wendy Litherland at St Christopher’s High School, Accrington, said: “I have worked in education for sustainable development for over 10 years. This App is unique offering teachers an innovative teaching resource that delivers curriculum learning but in a project-based way.”
She added: “It could be used in the classroom but more importantly as students find themselves working at home during the current time, it can be used out-of-school by anyone with a mobile phone and that means students’ learning can continue to develop outside the classroom.”
Innovate UK Executive Chair Dr Ian Campbell said: “In these difficult times we have seen the best of British business innovation. The pandemic is not just a health emergency but one that impacts society and the economy.
“Solar for Schools, along with every initiative Innovate UK has supported through this fund, is an important step forward in driving sustainable economic development.”
The Solar for Schools App is currently under development and initial testing will be carried out with students in the early part of next year. A final version is expected to ready for release in June 2021.
For more information please contact:
Sarah Finder: Project Manager: sarah@solarforschools.co.uk 01284 530020
