Message in a bottle
10 Mar 2022

Message in a bottle

by | posted in: Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, STEM In Action | 0
Messenger RNA technology, so long in the wings, has leapt from understudy to main act. Its deceptively simple technology has potential well beyond our current COVID predicament. This topical article could be used with students in years 8 to 12 … Continued
The Story of Coronavirus
12 Sep 2021

The Story of Coronavirus

by | posted in: STEM In Action, Biological Sciences | 0
Making the coronavirus visible helps people see and understand how it spreads and how to protect themselves and others - both in the community and at home with a sick family member. This film describes one person's experience of coronavirus, … Continued
A viral hit? The sequence of coronavirus makes surprisingly lovely music
19 Mar 2021

A viral hit? The sequence of coronavirus makes surprisingly lovely music

by | posted in: Biological Sciences, STEM In Action | 0
This scientist combines a love of genetics and a love of music. This fascinating article allows students to see how the combination of music and science helped a molecular biologist turn the coronavirus genome into a song that can be … Continued
How does a virus stop?
27 Jan 2021

How does a virus stop?

by | posted in: Biological Sciences, STEM In Action | 0
How does a virus stop? — Angela Gaganis, Year 1. This article is written for Year 1 students however it provides a basic explanation of viruses that is well suited to all year groups that want to learn about COVID-19 … Continued
Do all animals socially isolate to avoid disease?
19 Aug 2020

Do all animals socially isolate to avoid disease?

by | posted in: Biological Sciences, STEM In Action | 0
Whether or not animals socially isolate depends on the circumstances and the cost-benefit analysis. This article is best suited to year 8-10 Biology students who are looking to apply their understanding of cells, body systems and genetics to a real-world … Continued
Why are viruses considered non-living?
14 Aug 2020

Why are viruses considered non-living?

by | posted in: Biological Sciences, STEM In Action | 0
Viruses lack many of the features that are the hallmarks of life. This explainer article is well suited to year 8, 9, and 10 Biology students who are learning about cells, viruses and living things. It is particularly appropriate for … Continued
Five ways to understand coronavirus graphs
15 Apr 2020

Five ways to understand coronavirus graphs

by | posted in: STEM In Action, Tools for Teachers | 0
[PLEASE NOTE: The information in this article may since have been updated or refined.] There are lots of numbers, but what are they saying? Science and maths are entangled when it comes to communicating scientific knowledge to society. Use this article … Continued
Where are we at with developing a vaccine for coronavirus?
14 Apr 2020

Where are we at with developing a vaccine for coronavirus?

by | posted in: Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, STEM In Action | 0
[PLEASE NOTE: The information in this article may since have been updated or refined.] The first stage may be to reduce the amount of virus generated during a typical infection. This article and diagrams will explain the vaccine development process being … Continued
Trekking alone across Antarctica taught me something about isolation
1 Apr 2020

Trekking alone across Antarctica taught me something about isolation

by | posted in: Tools for Teachers, STEM In Action | 0
One of the world’s greatest living explorers, Tim Jarvis, is used to pushing himself to the extreme. So he’s worth listening to when he talks about dealing with isolation. Following the advice from Tim Jarvis, try the attached student activity … Continued
How to survive isolation and keep everyone calm
27 Mar 2020

How to survive isolation and keep everyone calm

by | posted in: Tools for Teachers, STEM In Action | 0
Isolation sucks, but with some expert tips (and advice from astronauts) you can make it more bearable. We know that lots of people, children included, are experiencing intense feelings of stress and anxiety as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic … Continued