The School of Biomedical Sciences’
Science in Society Initiative
directed by Professor Valerie McKelvey-Martin
www.ulster.ac.uk/scienceinsociety/
Science in Society Initiative at Ulster was
designed to:
 promote discussion and understanding
of science and its relevance to society
and
 to help equip society to take an active
part in policy formation regarding the
application of science
Activities are designed for various groups:
General public and groupings within this, particularly:
Primary school children…p6&p7
Post primary pupils..11-14, 14-16, 16-18
year olds
Teachers of science
Science in Society began in 2005
Dedicated support from 5 Placement Students:
 Jane Gallagher 2005-06 - UU funded
 Keri Spence 2006-07- The Honourable the Irish Society Andrea
Porter 2007-08- The Honourable the Irish Society
 Samantha Russell 2007-08- Bank of Ireland
 Christine Green 2008-09- The Honourable the Irish Society
Part time support from 3 staff:
 Dr Declan McKenna 2005-2008
 David Hunter 2006-2008
 Lynda Dunlop 2008Guided by a working group
 staff from university and a few external members
Website
www.ulster.ac.uk/scienceinsociety/
 launched in March 2006.
 revamped in 2009 making it more accessible
and attractive for young people
 contains information on Science in Society
activities (past, current and future),
a self –updating ‘current -news -in -science’
page and
various resources for students, teachers and
others
Science in Society Web Resources include:
 Hot topic information on various topics:
…AIDS, Alzheimer’s Disease, Bioethics, Cancer,
Cloning, Diabetes, Forensic Science, Healthy Diet
and the Human Genome, Obesity, Cataracts,
Myopia, Sea Level Change, Role of Technology in
Sport, Drugs in Sport and Exercise and Health.
 Mole Day Planning pack for Chemistry Teachers
 Forward Thinking KS3 teaching resources for
Science Teachers
Science in Society advertises events, activities
in Science… across faculty and university ( if
requested)
2 criteria :
 Quality event/resource
 Acknowledge all appropriate funders
Activities have included:
 Science in Society Public, Christmas & ConnectED
lectures
 Maths week events (with Fac Computing an
Engineering and Waterford Institute of Technology
 Roadshows for schools (with Y touring Theatre
company) - Nobody Lives Forever and
-Every breath
 Inspiring Science initiative (p6 and p7) with Susan
McGrath
 National Science week events …Chemistry Alive!
(2010) 6th form chemistry students interested in
pharmacy
 Variety of competitions
Lecture Series
Lecture topics 2005-2009
• PSYCHOLOGY OF COSMETIC SURGERY & FACE TRANSPLANTATION
Dr. Nichola Rumsey
• FORENSIC DENTISTRY IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION Professor David
Whittaker
• MOBILE PHONES & HEALTH Professor Anthony T. Barker
• THE MAGIC OF LIGHT Dr. Paul Hagan
• PHYSICS & MUSIC Dr. Mark Lewney
• MUSIC, PLEASURE AND THE BRAIN Professor Harry Witchel
• SCIENCE & ALCOHOL: BINGE DRINKING & LIQUOR LICENSING Professor
Martin Plant
• UNNATURAL CHOICES AND UNNATURAL CHILDREN: DESIGNER
CHILDREN AND INTERFERING WITH NATURE Dr. Mark Sheehan Program on
Ethics and the New Biosciences Faculty of Philosophy and James Martin 21st
Century School Oxford University
• IS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH OVER-REGULATED? Professor Richard
Ashcroft Queen Mary, University of London, Barts and the London Medical School
Institute of Health Sciences Education
• PARENTAL DISAGREEMENT, BEST INTERESTS AND CHILDREN'S
VACCINATIONS Dr Angus Dawson Keele University, Centre for Professional
Ethics
• SCIENCE AND SOCIETY: WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY? Dr Bob Brecher
Centre for Applied Philosophy, Politics and Ethics, University of Brighton
•CHILDREN AS COMMODITIES? ‘REPO-TECH’ AND RISKS OF
COMMODIFICATION Dr Heather Widdows Centre for the Study of Global Ethics,
University of Birmingham
•EVOLUTION AND MORALITY Dr Neil Levy Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public
Ethics, University of Melbourne/ Program on Ethics and the New Biosciences, Faculty of
Philosophy, Oxford University
•FINDING THE INVISIBLE: ASTRONOMY AND BLACK HOLES Dr Paul Callanan
Physics Department, University College Cork
• TRACKING BIRDS: A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE Dr John O’Halloran Department of
Zoology, Ecology & Plant Science, University College Cork
• SUICIDE AND SUICIDE AWARENESS IN IRELAND Professor Patricia
Casey Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin
• THE SMOKING BAN – A SUCCESS STORY Professor Luke Clancy Professor of
Respiratory Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin
•MOLECULAR GASTRONOMY: THE SCIENCE OF COOKERY Professor Peter
Barham, Bristol University
•NEUROSCIENCE & BRAINWASHING Dr Kathleen Taylor, Oxford University
•SLEEP, BODY CLOCKS AND SOCIETY Professor Russell Foster, Oxford
University
•DON’T PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD Dr Paul Hagan , School of Biomedical Sciences,
University of Ulster, Coleraine
•CARDIAC RISK IN THE YOUNG Mr Cathal Breen, School of Health Sciences,
University of Ulster, Jordanstown
•OF MICROBES AND MEN: A STORY OF HEALTH, WEALTH AND ARTIFICIAL
LIFE. Professor Geoff McMullan, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of
Ulster, Coleraine
• DARWIN AND IRELAND
Dr Miguel DeArce, Department of Genetics Trinity College Dublin
• MOLECULES AND MURDER
Professor John Nicholson, University of Greenwich
• EARTHQUAKES: REDUCING LOSS OF LIFE IN THE ABSENCE OF
PREDICTION
Professor Sandy Steacy, School of Environmental Sciences, University of
Ulster
• ROBOTS WITH BIOLOGICAL BRAINS AND HUMANS WITH PART
MACHINE BRAINS Professor Kevin Warwick from the University of
Reading
Christmas
Lectures for schools
Christmas Lectures
• INFLAME YOUR BRAIN Professor Sean Callanan of University College
Dublin (2008)
• ENHANCING SPORTING PERFORMANCE : LEGAL & ILLEGAL
METHODS Dr Gareth Davison, Sport and Exercise Sciences Research
Institute, University of Ulster (2007)
• SILENT WITNESS: THE ROLE OF THE PATHOLOGIST IN THE
INVESTIGATION OF MURDER Dr. Jack Craine (2005)
Road Shows
Road shows
•
Science in Society collaborated with Y-touring Theatre
company, London in 2007 and again in 2009 to bring
Science Roadshows to post primary schools throughout
Northern Ireland
1. 2007..Every Breath with facilitated discussion on using
animals for medical research.
2. 2009.. Nobody Lives Forever with facilitated discussion
on the ethics of Stem Cell Research
•
Approximately 3,000 pupils across NI attended each
roadshow
Roadshows..
 Debate the social, moral, and scientific issues
surrounding the issue
 Drama sketch followed by a live discussion and debate
involving audience participation and interaction
 Students are encouraged to explore what they think and
feel about the issues posed by the drama
Every Breath
Road Show 2007 : Drama
Thought-provoking family drama involving four
main characters:
 Sonny: the son; a vegetarian animal
rights activist
 Anita: the daughter; a carnivorous
scientist
 Lina: the mother; can see both sides of the argument
 Raz: the mother’s boyfriend; has recently
discovered Buddhism
Every Breath Road Show :
The Y-Touring
Theatre
Company in
discussion and
debate with the
pupils
Every Breath Road Show
Promoting the
launch of our range
of school’s
competitions for
2007
Every Breath
Road Show : Conclusion

Road show proved to be a tremendous
success and very popular with school pupils,
teachers, head teachers, university staff and
students and also members of the general
public

Received extremely positive
feedback from both the teachers
involved and also the pupils who
took part

Valuable networks and communications Were opened up with schools which
will contribute to the further future success
of Science in Society
Nobody Lives Forever-2009
Thought-provoking family drama involving four
main characters:
 River (Riv): the son; Kind, hardworking, lovely young man.
Overdeveloped sense of duty, due to being brought up by
not always reliable mother.
 Tracey: the mother; Ageing raver and ‘free spirit’. Has lots
of energy and love of life but not great on practicalities.
 Phoenix (Phee): the daughter; Gifted pre-teen. Very clever
in every way, but socially? Not great.
 Cassie: River’s wife; A nurse. Warm hearted, with an
earthy sense of humour
Wide Coverage and very positive feedback
Inspiring SciencePrimary School
Initiative
Inspiring Science
• In 2008, Science in Society hosted 15 "inspiring science" shows at
the Magee, Jordanstown and Coleraine campuses for primary
school children, aged 9-11 in Northern Ireland.
• 4848 pupils from 106 schools attended the events.
• The aim of the inspiring science initiative was to promote science to
P6 and P7 primary school children in a fun and interesting way and to
run a “inspiring science” young scientist of the year 2008
competition.
•The "Young Scientist" competition involved children carrying out a
piece of hypothesis driven research (of their own choice) and reporting
on it.
“The 'Magical Science & Engineering Show' is not a show for the
timid as it involves erupting volcanoes, vats of giant bubbles,
buckets of oozy slime, magical colour changes and disappearing
acts, but most of all lots of whizz bang explosions!!
Sue McGrath - a scientist turned magician-of-sorts - delivers a
wacky, energetic and dramatic performance which not only
delivers real experiential learning opportunities based on the
world around us, but also touches on the serious message of the
repercussions of human activity on the global environment.
The show aims to stimulate curiosity and imagination within your pupils
so they ultimately leave the show wanting to embark on their
own science journey of discovery!”
Electricity, Gravity, Energy and Forces, Molecules, Reactions, Compounds, Acids/Alkali, Friction, Sound, Recycling
Detailed Map
.attended
Photographs
Photographs
Student Evaluations
“It was very
important to
learn… I loved
it!!!”
“It was absolutely
“100%”
amazing”
Thank you for the fun
stuff we learnt about
science, it was SO
COOL!!
“It was the best
science show
EVER!”
“It was the
best show
I’ve ever
seen”
5*
“Thank – you
very much…
after I watched
the show I now
know science
isn’t boring”
“It was
amazing… I
now want to
be a scientist
when I’m
older”
“I thought it was
Brilliant,
Excellent, very,
very Good “
“It was
fantastic and I
learned a lot of
things.”
“I would
love to see
it again”
“It was weird
wacky and
wonderful”
“It was very good
and I hope you
can inspire more
schools and it
couldn’t have
been any better…
Thank you!”
Teacher Evaluations
Thank you!
A great show!!
Great use of
every day items
found easily for
us to use at
school & home
Fabulous
Well timed
Safety conscious
All schools had at least 1
participant. You can see
the students’ really
enjoyed themselves
Excellent idea for
a show – Sue
kept the kids
spell-bound &
interested
Thank you
Scientist Sue
was brilliant a great rapport
with pupils –
Super
V. enjoyable
Excellent delivery:
Kept children's
attention
Super fun for
Kids
Thank you
We loved the
show…
Thank you
Excellent!
Fun filled Science!!
The scientific
concepts content
chosen were an
excellent choice
The children
realised that
science is
both exciting
& interesting
I feel that the benefit
of the show was that
children became
enthused by science
and this was certainly
achieved!
Well done
Competitions
Debating Matters: Northern Ireland
2007 and 2008
Press Release
“It is so important that young people are inspired and
challenged to rigorously interrogate the concepts and
issues that underpin the policies that govern our
society. This competition provides the opportunity, for
17 and 18 year olds in Northern Ireland, to do
precisely this, ……..”
Science in Society.
Debating Matters: Northern Ireland
 Debating competition was hosted by Science in Society in
collaboration with the Institute of Ideas, London in 2008 and 2009.
 It was aimed at sixth form students aged 17-18 years
 Innovative and engaging approach to debating topical issues
 Open to schools with or without debating experience and focuses
on substance of the debate over style
 Schools across Northern Ireland took part in the competition at
the University of Ulster's Coleraine and Jordanstown campuses.
 Information on topics covered and other useful website links are
available at http://www.debatingmatters.com/.
“This competition is unique
as it is much more substance
over style, other
competition’s are more
rhetoric and focused on
delivery, this is focused on
research and knowledge of
topic and issues. Pupils
derive more out of it as they
learn more on topic and not
just how they sound.”
Chris Leathley, RBAI teacher.
Photos and Quotes
“These students restore my faith in young
people’s participation and interest in current
affairs. Despite reports of apathy among
young people in the UK, in relation to
matters of politics and modern affairs, this
was not evident in any of the debates which
we participated in. These young people are
the leaders of tomorrow”
Judge: Cathy
rmley-Heenan
University of Ulster
Photos and Quotes
 “Surprised and
encouraged by the quality
of the debate. Fantastic
learning opportunity and I
hope the competition can
grow and expand in the
Ireland context”
Colette Thompson
St. Malachy’s College;
Dept. English
Debating Matters: Northern Ireland
• Covered a wide geographical spread across Northern Ireland,
with 12 schools taking part in the competition each year.
• Pupils debated a wide range of topics after researching them
extensively, eg presumed consent for organ donation,
performance enhancing drugs, cloning etc.
Coverage
Other Competitions:







Science Poem Competition
Best Science Image Competition
Science Newspaper Article Competition
Science on line Race Quiz Competition
ConnectED Thinking Competition & Dragon’s Den
Mole Day Competition(2009)
Jocelyn Bell Burnell: Full Spectrum
Competition(2009)
(with Armagh Planetarium(AP) to celebrate
contribution of Jocelyn Bell Burnell to
astronomy)..look out for winning mural at AP..
coming soon
Science Around Us:
Poems and Images
 219 poems and images
published
 from 13 different
secondary schools across
Northern Ireland
Inspiring Science Young
Scientist Competition
•Each team consisted of 4-6 pupils
•They identified a scientific question
•They created 12 Power Point slides explaining how the
experiment would be carried out.
•They wrote up 4 A4 pages giving more detail of
experiment
Competition
Disappointing uptake…only 3
schools submitted entries
 Each team consisted of 4-6 pupils
 Identify a scientific question
 12 Power Point slides explaining experiment
carried out.
 4 A4 pages giving more detail of experiment
Research Projects
to inform activities
Survey of Attitudes of Primary School (P6
and P7) teachers towards teaching science
Aims:
 Investigate how confident and equipped P6 and P7
teachers in Northern Ireland are with teaching
science to primary school children.
 To determine any intervention that would be
appropriate to better equip P6 and P7 teachers for
science teaching in the classroom.
 The questionnaire was circulated to all primary schools in
Northern Ireland (887)
 p6 and p7 teachers took part
261 questionnaires were returned: 29.4 response rate
How confident do you feel with your own science
knowledge?
 69% of teachers feel
confident or very
confident with their own
science knowledge and
Confident
Slightly
31% of teachers felt
Unconfident
less than confident.
Very Confident
Very Unconfident
How confident do you feel teaching science theory?
Confident
Slightly
Unconfident
V Confident
Very Unconfident
 74% of teachers feel
confident or very
confident teaching
science theory and
26% feel less than
confident.
How confident do you feel teaching science practical?
Confident
Slightly
Unconfident
V Confident
V Unconfident
 60% of teachers are
confident or very
confident teaching
science practical but
 40% feel less than
confident.
Which aspect of the KS2 programme of study do you need
support with or ideas for teaching?
Teachers would most
80
like support with
70
Using IT in science
60
50
(70%)
% 40
Investigational Skills
30
20
(66%).
10
0
Other suggestions
included technology,
and how science fits
into “World Around
Us”.
What would you feel would better equip you to teach
science topics?
Teachers feel that to
better equip them to
80
70
teach science topics
60
they need
50
resources for
40
practical work (75%)
30
training on infusing
20
science with other
10
subjects (59%)
0
 Other suggestions
Training in Resources for Lectures on Workbooks
Infusing
Other
Practical work practical work
topics
Science with
other subjects
included videos/DVDs,
& schemes of work
for topics.
How interested would you be in attending training if it
was offered by the University of Ulster at Coleraine?
Interested
Slightly
Uninterested
V Interested
27% were very
interested, 31% of
teachers were
interested in
attending training,
26% were slightly
interested (total
84%) and 16%
were uninterested.
What factors would hinder you from attending training
courses?
-Cost of cover would
80
hinder 72% of teachers,
70
-travel would hinder
60
53%,
50
-heavy workload would
40
hinder 66%.
- Other factors include
30
family commitments,
20
time, & teachers feeling
10
they don’t require training
0
Cost of cover
Travel
Heavy workload
Other
Additional comments from teachers
 There is less science being taught now that the curriculum is “World Around
Us” and less practical work is being done.
Feels science has been dropped.
Theres a real need to take science from previous 11+ mode to a revised
curriculum standpoint
There is a danger science will be lost in the revised curriculum as teachers
don’t know what place science holds in the new curriculum.
Would like to see science being a core area of learning again as it feels like
teachers are now less confident about teaching it.
This training would be very useful
Any help would be appreciated
P5 teachers should be offered the training too.
Training would be useful to help implement the revised curriculum.
Would like training at summer school.
Outcome:
 research paper written and submitted for
publication and
 funding is being sought to provide cpd
training support for p6 and p7 teachers with
science…tailored to the needs of teachers.
Major Science in Society Research Project:
Forward Thinking NI
(V J. McKelvey-Martin (PI), L.Clarke, G. Humes & Lynda Dunlop)
 3 year project
 Wellcome
Trust funded
research
project
 11-14 year
olds
Acknowledgement-funding sources







The Bank of Ireland
The Honourable the Irish Society
The Wellcome Trust
The University of Ulster
The Biochemical Society
The Royal Society
The Royal Society of Chemistry
Thank you for your attention
Questions?