Starting this Friday, 25 January, there are still spaces to join videoconferences with Natural History Museum Scientists who are about to embark on fieldwork to Popocatepetl volcano in Mexico. This will be followed by a videoconference live from Mexico on Monday 4 February.

For more details, go to:

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/education/school-activities/videoconferences/index.html

 To book, email:

videoconferencing@nhm.ac.uk

 Popocatepetl is the 2nd highest volcano in North America and one of the most currently active in the world. It sits within a 1000km long zone of variable volcanic activity called the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt that extends from the Pacific coast to the Gulf of Mexico

This exciting project will undertake a detailed sampling of this constantly erupting volcano, collecting samples representative of its entire volcanic. Join us to discover how science works in such a high risk environment and the benefits this data brings to society.

As usual YHGfL can support any of it’s member school new to this technology email contact@yhgfl.net

MAY 11th 2012

Primary: 10.00-10.30

• To meet inspiring role models: scientist Adrian Lister and science communicator Natalie Mills
• To develop confidence communicating about science
• To learn about the role of collections in understanding of the natural world: example mammoth extinction

Secondary: 11.00-11.45

• To explore future implications of historical natural events
• To consider climate change from a different perspective

To take part Email videoconferencing@nhm.ac.uk with:

• Your school name
• pupils age
• class size (es)

You will also need to discuss these topics with your class, ready for some questions they will be asked on the day:-

Primary

• Which animals lived in the ice age?
• Why do you think they went extinct?

Secondary

• How was the environment different in the ice age to today?
• Which large animals lived in the ice age?
• Why do you think they went extinct? What evidence would you use to explain why?

Great sessions for National Science Week..

Follow Museum scientists as they travel to Costa Rica to research the natural world with Nature Live in the Field.

Your pupils take part in online events with scientists before they embark on fieldwork, communicate with them when they’re out there, and then hear about their results when they return.

The Nature Live team host the events and set your pupils challenges to compare their local habitat with the remote places that the scientists visit.

These bookable videoconferences and online forums are FREE and have curriculum links appropriate for Key Stage 2,3,4 and post-16.

click HERE to visit the NHM website and booking information.

If you have never been involved in a video conference session before you’ll be amazed at just how easy it can be! For further support and advice why not email us at YHGfL  contact(at)yhgfl.net

The National History Museum have just announced 21 session dates for Spring 2012 for key stages 2,3, 4 and post 16 pupils.

Their videoconference sessions allow your pupils to meet some of the 350 scientists working at the Museum and share the excitement of fieldwork and new discoveries. The sessions cover a range of topics and in Spring 2012 they will follow scientists travelling to remote areas in Costa Rica, the Bahamas and Vietnam. Great for topics on the rainforest, minibeasts, habitats and a range of other science and ecology based curriculum areas.

You can take part in online events with scientists before they embark on fieldwork, communicate with them when they’re out there and then hear about their results when they return. These sessions are always very popular so book early to ensure you avoid disappointment!

To find out more, visit

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/education/school-activities/videoconferences/index.html

Please contact videoconferencing(at)nhm.ac.uk if you have any questions.

If you have never been involved in a video conference session before you’ll be amazed at just how easy it can be! For further support and advice why not email us at YHGfL  contact(at)yhgfl.net

The Natural History Museum would like to offer an opportunity to A Level groups, to take part in a streamed ‘Meet the Scientist’ session on Monday 28th March 2011, 12-12.45 pm.

Eileen Harris, Curator of parasitic worms, Zoology Department.

Parasites form one of the most significant invertebrate groups on the planet. All life forms, ranging from insects to blue whales, have their own parasite fauna. Apart from causing human tropical diseases, such as schistosomiasis and onchocerciasis (river blindness), they can affect host-behaviour in many ways and, in the case of endangered species, sometimes threaten their very survival.

Eileen will talk about some of the work undertaken by the Parasitic Worms Group in the Museum. She’ll discuss tapeworms, flukes and parasitic nematodes, illustrating some of the practical aspects of taxonomy and how our knowledge of their life cycles can help solve many of the veterinary and commercial problems that we are asked to deal with.

Read more about Eileen’s area of work:

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/staff-directory/zoology/cv-5546.html

Pupils will be able to ask questions during the session by emailing in.

Please contact g.kimble(at)nhm.ac.uk for more information.

The Natural History Museum would like to invite you to take part in the Young Darwin Prize.

www.youngdarwinprize.co.uk

Make a 2 min news report about a conservation project you are already doing about the environment at school or in a community group.

For Key Stages 2 and 3 or equivalent, the prize is £500 to go on a school trip, as well as a VIP day at NHM.

Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or would like me to support you further in entering this competition.

Grace Kimble

g.kimble (at) nhm.ac.uk