This Mathematics Matters case study, produced by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, looks at how industry relies on cutting-edge mathematics to develop better quality communications. The amount of information we can transmit though the air is limited by the laws of physics, but the mathematics of...

This resource is part of a collection of Nuffield Maths resources exploring Algebra. The demand is roughly equivalent to that in GCE A level.

This resource gives students the opportunity to practice in using logarithmic graphs to check that a power law is a good model for data and find the associated...

A Catalyst article looking at what matter is made of. Snooker balls, plum puddings and solar systems have all featured in descriptive models of atoms. The article explores how people’s ideas about atomic structure have changed over the years by using specific examples of scientific study.

This article is...

This e-book gives an introduction to programming in the BASIC language for middle to high school students. It can be used as: *a nine or 18 week-long introduction to programming *a brief introduction to programming concepts *an introduction to data structures for non-programmers * a brief programming project for...

Two worksheet based activities that can be used to identify the impacts of technology upon people to sustain their communities in the future. The first activity considers the social impact upon sustainability with key questions to research and the second task is an analysis activity looking at cultural, economic,...

This resource consists of a series of suggested activities and dozens of topic starters for aspects of Computer Science and ICT relating to the Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural aspects of the subject. With questions as diverse as Do computers have intelligence? Do animals have souls? If computers are...

Stuart is a software engineer with IBM, he discusses his role in this video. The role involves writing code to test new software developing new software. An avid sport fan, having grown up in the north east, he enjoyed studying maths, physics and IT at school and continued to university to pursue software...

A Catalyst article about the organisms which live in soil. Many, such as worms and mycorrhizal fungi, are vital for keeping soil healthy and productive. An adventurous biologist could once bank on finding new species by simply travelling to some part of the world little known to science. Darwin’s famous voyage...

Produced by Solar Spark, this is a simple practical activity that can be used to show how a solar photovoltaic cell works. During a 45-60 minute session, students make solar cells out of cheap and readily accessible materials. The mechanism behind the solar cell is similar to that used in a dye-sensitised solar...

This Catalyst article investigates the development of better, more energy-efficient solar cells. Every minute enough sunlight strikes the Earth to power our civilisation for a year, yet less than 1% of global energy generation is provided by solar energy. Solar cells convert sunshine directly to electricity, but to...

Produced by Solar Spark, this activity looks at the relationship between light and absorption in solar cells. Using a photovoltaic cell and different colour acetate sheets, it demonstrates the ability of solar cells to absorb at different wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum and shows how the more it can...

Solar Detectives, from the Centre for Science Education, is a set of teaching materials which offer a cross-curricular approach to learning about engineering. Students build and modify a model solar car and research the science and mathematics underlying the use of...

Reliance on unsafe drinking water is a significant problem in many areas of the world. This Catalyst article looks at the method of solar disinfection to provide safe drinking water.

UVA from the sun causes a breakdown in cellular functions, and combined with the increased temperature of the water from a...