A Catalyst article looking at how plants develop large surface areas both in the air (leaves) and in the soil (root hairs) to get all they need from the environment. The article explores the relationship between plants and soil and looks at new research on fungi in soil and their involvement with the mineral...

A Catalyst article about the use of remote telescopes and detecting cosmic rays. Giant telescopes that can be operated remotely are located in Hawaii and Australia and are known as the Faulkes telescopes.

These are available to students in the UK to do original research with, and enable the following...

A Catalyst article discussing how polymers affect every day of people’s lives. With diverse characteristics and applications their usefulness can only be limited by human imagination. Due to polymers’ widespread and varied use a responsible and systematic recycling programme is both economically and environmentally...

A Catalyst article about the problems of recycling plastics. The article looks at novel uses for products made from recycled plastics. It also looks at the make-up of polymers and the history of their manufacture. Finally, alternatives to plastics are examined.

This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science...

This report evaluates the Ponds for Life project undertaken by the wildlife charity Froglife from April 2008 to March 2010. The aim of the project was to promote Hampton Nature Reserve, a former brick pit and now a Site of Special Scientific Interest for great crested newts and bearded stonewort in over 300 ponds....

An article published in 2014 in the Journal of Research in Science Teaching describes the first-year results from a new curricular and professional development intervention. The project was created as a collaboration between a US university and a large urban school district to implement a new fifth grade (...

Published by LSIS, this report gives interim findings from a programme investigating the gap between the numbers of learners studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in schools at A Level, and those studying in Further Education (FE). This interim report provides insight into barriers to...

A report produced by the Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education (ACME), published in July 2010, discussing the proposals for 16-19 mathematics in anticipation of the review of qualifications scheduled for 2013 with resulting changes to be implemented from 2016.

The report proposes that:
• Three...

This Science Community Representing Education (SCORE) report examines the key findings of a review of practical work in primary, secondary and post-16 science education. The report focuses on: * What is meant by practical work in science? * What are the aims and purposes of practical work in science? * What is the...

A Catalyst article about experimenting with waterboatmen and observing how they catch their prey. The equipment required for the activity is described.

This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2006, Volume 16, Issue 4.

Catalyst ...

A Catalyst article about predators. The article explores some general principles about predator–prey relationships and looks in some detail at the adaptations shown by a predatory insect being used in the control of an insect pest.

This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2005, Volume 16, Issue 1...

In this unit of work students consider the implications of prenatal ultrasound in terms of the risks of screening and the certainty of results. It also asks them to consider the ethical and moral implications of the decisions that may arise due to the results of a prenatal ultrasound and...

In October 2007 the Department of Education and the Department for Employment and Learning launched the draft document Preparing for Success for consultation. The aim was to make policy proposals for the future development of Careers Education,Information,Advice and Guidance and to set out a strategy that...

Published in 2015, a working paper from the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia investigated the persistence of effects of early childhood interventions and asked whether these effects fade systematically. The study found that “by the end of kindergarten [Year 1] children who attended preschool...

This is a report on a pilot study by the Best Evidence Science Teaching (BEST) project based at the University of York, funded by the Salter's institute, to explore primary school teachers’ responses to a selection of BEST resources adapted from BEST age 11 to 14 resources and see how teachers used the resources in...