How science works

Science

Secondary

A look at research into helping asthma sufferers

A look into the research of biochemist Ceri Harrop, who specialises in respiratory medicine and developing new treatments for people with breathing difficulties. As part of her research at the University of Manchester, Ceri meets with athlete Wayne Ashall, a 400m runner and hopeful for the 2012 Olympics, despite having asthma. Wayne's personal best is only seconds off the world record, and he's hoping Ceri's work will help him perform even better. Ceri and Wayne carry out a spirometry test, a common test to diagnose lung conditions, and Ceri dissects a set of animal lungs to explain how they work and the effects asthma has on them. Medication plays a big part in enabling Wayne to compete, so Ceri takes Wayne through the different aspects of her research, which may lead to new treatments and possibly even a cure for asthma.

Asthma on the Run

A rocket scientist tours a South African telescope: KS3/4 science

A rocket scientist tours a huge telescope in South Africa, in this lesson starter on astronomy for Key Stage 3/4 science pupils. Dr Maggie Aderin explains how the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) works and meets the people who operate the mechanism, in this classroom resource for secondary students PSHE. She is the UK's only black female rocket scientist and she's in high demand for her inspiring science talks.

Astronomy: Inside a Telescope

Rocket scientist discusses her career for KS3/KS4 PSHE or science

A rocket scientist talks about why she finds her career so exciting, in this classroom resource designed for use in a Key Stage 3/4 PSHE or science class. Dr Maggie Aderin explains where her passion for space comes from and discusses the learning difficulties she's overcome to pursue a career in science. She is the UK's only black female rocket scientist and is in high demand for her inspiring science talks.

Careers: Rocket Scientist

Dr Maggie Aderin's wind pattern study to examine climate change

Dr Maggie Aderin leads a team launching an instrument into space to read wind patterns, in order to help assess the impact of climate change. She leads the project after working on a variety of other scientific ventures, including radar-based landmine detectors, airborne missile warning systems and building instruments for a powerful telescope. Measuring the Earth's wind patterns with this project will help to form a more complete picture about climate change, but Maggie is convinced that we all need to do our bit to reduce our impact on the planet.

Chasing the Wind

Professor Peter Styring designs some self-lubricating skis

Find out how Professor Peter Styring came up with a design for self-lubricating skis, and discover what stringent tests he performed before realizing the finished product. A chemical engineer, Styring has devoted much of his working life to designing systems whereby liquids flow continually. His first attempts at designing the self-lubricating ski were basic but they proved the idea was possible. In-depth lab work was required as nobody would invest in untested skis. Over 500 formulations were tried and tested the perfect lubricant was found. The professor is confident that the first skier to use his system in the Olympics will win gold!

Engineering Gold

Professor Trevor Cox's quest for the worst sound in the world

Acoustic engineer Professor Trevor Cox has developed a far-reaching internet experiment to discover the worst sound in the world. To make his experiment fair, he developed an easily accessible website and randomised the order in which the sounds were played to counteract "sound fatigue" - which makes the early noises sound worse than later ones. Trevor's experiment got him news headlines around the world, and also demonstrated a new way of conducting acoustic research over the internet. So what is the worst sound in the world? Watch the programme to find out!

How Science Works - Bad Vibes

Year 10 activities based around the How Science Works series

King Edward VII School in Sheffield try out some of the activities connected to the How Science Works programmes. Will Davey and Simon Cooke challenge their Year 10 students to discover the best lubricant for a ski, after watching Peter Styring design one in How Science Works: Engineering Gold. The key to this activity is to let the students think for themselves, developing their own ideas and coming up with their own questions and answers. Meanwhile, Mat Galvin leads his Year 10 pupils through an activity based on climate change, having shown them How Science Works: Chasing the Wind, in which Dr. Maggie Aderin builds an instrument to measure wind patterns from space. The students are assigned roles and have to present an argument for or against the idea that human activity is damaging the Earth's climate. Only after their presentations can they step out of role to discuss their personal views.

In The Classroom

Scientists show the latest techniques for monitoring volcanoes

Clive Oppenheimer, a volcanologist working on the latest techniques to monitor and predict volcanic eruptions, demonstrates his work at Mount Etna, an active volcano in Sicily. Volcanic eruptions pose a real threat to communities living nearby, and at their most violent they have wiped out whole cities. Clive is an expert in developing new techniques for monitoring volcanoes, and works with scientists around the world. It's a difficult job, because most of the activity happens deep below ground. Clive meets with his research students who monitor the volcanoes. To look at how the latest techniques are developing, he takes a trip up Etna to collect fresh lava samples, then heads to the Institute of Volcanology (INGV), about 20 km away, to analyse some of the new data.

Journey to Etna

Teachers demonstrate two science experiments in Antarctica

Discover out why the continent of Antarctica is so good for scientific research as we examine two experiments carried out by British school teachers on a recent expedition to the polar region. One experiment looks at the effects of cold on the human body, and how our bodies change and adapt to lowering temperatures. The other experiment follows the team of teachers as they aim to find the first lichens in the Ellsworth Mountain region of Antarctica. During the entire process, we gain an insight into how to conduct a proper, rigorous scientific experiment from start to finish. We see how important it is to record data accurately, and how difficult it can be to conduct proper science in a harsh environment such as Antarctica.

KS3 Antarctica - Science Teachers in the Freezer

Perry Pigger hosts an animated chat show about transplantation

This animated film tackles the complex subject of xenotransplantation using the format of a popular chat show hosted by a pig named Perry Pigger. Teaching a subject like xenotransplantation, can be testing, so using a cartoon character and a familiar, easy to understand format, helps make it fun. The film was developed and made by ten Year 9 girls from Manchester's Abraham Moss School, aided by a professional animator and a scientist. The girls were one of six groups of students who won the opportunity to turn their idea into reality when they won the north west round of First Light?s Big Screen Science competition. The resulting film proves just how successful the collaboration between science and filmmaking can be. The broadcast version of this programme is subtitled.

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