A Catalyst article describing how new materials can be designed by studying natural materials and how they work. In particular the development of Velcro, military fabric, swimwear and waterproofing is looked at. These products were developed by scientific study of natural products such as plant burrs, pinecones,...

This Catalyst article investigates biomimetics and discovers how scientists are finding ways of copying ideas from nature to improve products. The article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2015, Volume 26, Issue...

This activity from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is a quick, engaging introduction to a lesson looking at the properties of modern materials. It encourages students to think about how technology is changing our society.

A Catalyst article looking at the use of plant cells to generate electricity via photosynthesis. This branch of science is called biophotovoltaics. The Sun is the ultimate source of energy for almost all life on Earth and harnessing this energy is one of the great scientific and technological challenges....

From the National Non-Food Crops Centre, this factsheet illustrates the benefits of using bioplastics, their production, properties and uses. The attraction of bioplastics is they deliver environmental benefits even when they aren’t biodegradable. Durables like polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE)...

From the National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC), these two podcasts explore a range of applications and issues in the biorenewables sector. They are primarily aimed at a commercial audience but may be of use to teachers who want to gain a better understanding of plant-derived materials or, when used in part, as...

Biotech, published by the Association for Science Education, was a set of teaching and learning activities devised by a team of advisers and teachers from three local authorities in the days of the ...

This poster illustrates how biotechnology is used to develop new medicines, grow new tissues and organs, and genetic testing.

This resource, from the Association for Science Education (ASE), provides two stimulating activities for students to explore protein electrophoresis: proteins in seeds and proteins in fish.

Proteins in seeds: A multicultural context - are there different proteins in different seeds such as lentils in dahl...

A cluster of practical activities for students to explore biotechnology involving viability of yeast, fruit juice production, milk products, fungal inhibition and microbial growth curves.

Those two simple, inexpensive, practical activities, from the Association for Science Education (ASE) explore cultivating glowing bacteria and the phenomenon of one species turning a bright purple.

The glow is caused by luminous bacteria commonly found on rotting seafood. Ghostly glowing fish like this...

This resource, from the Association for Science Education (ASE), contains a number of recipes for making fermented soft drinks and some suggestions about how students could explore the science involved in making them.

The predecessors of modern carbonated drinks were often made at home or on a small scale....

This activity comes as a presentation, aimed at using an engaging material to probe the children's thinking, reasoning and scientific talk skills. Asking questions such as: ‘What is it?’, and ‘Why does it look this way?’ It provides an opportunity to get the children thinking and talking ‘science', by applying...