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ASE 2025 Annual Conference
Attending this event?
The ASE is delighted to be hosting its Annual Conference, generously sponsored by AQA, at the University of Nottingham from 9th to 11th January 2025. International sessions are incorporated throughout the event for this year and we will have a great exhibition with lots of exclusive Conference offers. Post-16 focus-day and for those involved in leading and delivering professional development, the Teacher Developers’ Group programme is Thursday. Friday is the dedicated Technicians day and Early Career Teacher day. Sessions for both Primary and 11-19 are threaded throughout all 3 days with a focus on Research on Saturday.
Book your tickets now at https://ase2025AnnConf.eventbrite.co.uk - and remember, if you are an ASE member you will benefit from hugely discounted prices! Check out our membership here - it’s free for Early Career Teachers and only £25 for Technicians!
 

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Sustainability climate change & environmental issues clear filter
Thursday, January 9
 

08:45 GMT

Supporting Climate Education: A Multi-Disciplinary Perspective
Thursday January 9, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT
Pope A1
There is no question that a strong, evidence-informed and solutions-focused approach to teaching about climate change is vital to our young people. We have moved on from the "is it happening?" and "what causes it?" stages of our pedagogy, and are now developing and improving our understanding of the best ways to teach a range of diverse and complex impacts, and to explore and suggest solutions in a politicised, dynamic and complex world and education landscape. With many options and programmes available, how do you navigate the best resources for your teaching and your students?  

In this session, we'll explore the ways in which we can draw inspiration from a multi-disciplinary climate science, to improve our teaching of science. Presenting a range of tools, visualisations and simulations - including a short demonstration workshop - this session will inspire you to explore different sources and resources, and take away plenty of ideas and examples to include in training and teaching.
Speakers
ST

Simon Tresidder

Head of Science, Teach First
DP

David Preece

Head of Geography, Teach First
Thursday January 9, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT
Pope A1
  All

08:45 GMT

Our Place on Earth: Raising the voice and agency of young children
Thursday January 9, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT
Pope A17
Our Place on Earth is a Wonderseekers (the charity behind Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium) programme, with objectives to build partnerships to broaden our organisational expertise and credibility, expand and diversify our science engagement work to engage children with the natural sciences and local natural heritage, develop essential science enquiry skills and build awareness of local conservation.  These objectives will be achieved by developing engaging, inclusive learning experiences and resources, on-site and in communities, to create equitable opportunities for children, especially those from underserved communities. Further, the output of this programme is to facilitate children's voice and be a better learning organisation, by developing equitable co-working practices with children, scientists and other practitioners. This will allow us to deliver a relevant, relatable project and inform future developments and social change.

This session will discuss the findings from the development phase of the programme, highlighting the activities undertaken, the lessons learned from those sessions, including how we have worked with an artist and scientists in developing the activities for children. The findings from our study into the voices and concerns of children about the environment, will be shared with the audience, as well as an outline of how we have made the activities accessible to a diverse range of needs. The focus of this session will be on accessibility and how to provide opportunities to capture children’s voice and provide them with a sense of agency about the environment, tackling climate change and biodiversity loss. We feel that it is important to highlight to children that climate change is on their doorstep and is something they can tangibly get involved with - creating a network of opportunities within the local community (e.g. citizen science, experience days with researchers and in-house school trip activities). The programme also entails the design of an exhibition space that will function as an accessible learning space too.

Attendants of the sessions will be able to engage with some of the activities that were carried out during the development phase of the programme, including learning about soil, sound in nature, light pollution, sustainable farming and the conservation of endangered species. Following a short presentation and activity period, there will be time dedicated to Q&A to discuss matters such as SEND provision, what accessibility means to you and us, how strive to provide as equitable an experience as possible and what we are doing to open the floor to children’s voice.
Speakers
NM

Nikhil Mistry

Head of Curiosity, Winchester Science Centre by Wonderseekers
EH

Emiley Hinton

Project Officer (Our Place on Earth), Wonderseekers
Thursday January 9, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT
Pope A17
  Primary

11:15 GMT

Coding for climate action - empowering students to tackle environmental challenges through computer science
Thursday January 9, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT
Pope LT C17
Coding for Climate Action is an innovative cross-curricular program that empowers KS2 and KS3 students to explore climate change issues and design solutions using code and micro:bit inventions. Developed in partnership with Digitall, this comprehensive curriculum provides ready-to-use lesson plans, student journals, slide decks, and other resources to seamlessly integrate computer science into science and sustainability education.

The program is built around an anchoring phenomenon - the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters worldwide. Students are challenged to create early warning systems and other digital solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Through this real-world, relevant context, they develop key computational thinking skills like coding, data analysis, and problem-solving, while also cultivating creativity and a solutions-oriented mindset.

Aligned to the national curriculum, the Coding for Climate Action materials include detailed lesson plans, student activity journals, exemplars, and comprehensive curriculum maps. Designed as a plug-and-play unit, the resources make it easy for teachers to swap these engaging climate-focused lessons into their existing schemes of work.
Whether you're looking to inject more climate education into your computing curriculum or bring computational skills into your science lessons, this session will equip you with the tools and strategies to empower your students as the next generation of climate leaders and digital innovators. Join us to explore how Coding for Climate Action can ignite students' passion for addressing environmental challenges through computer science.
Speakers
VT

Vojtech Tichavsky

Amazon Future Engineers
Sponsors
avatar for Amazon in the Community

Amazon in the Community

Amazon is here to make a difference in the world, in a way unique to Amazon. With a culture built around solving “impossible” problems, we take a different, more hands-on approach to what is traditionally known as corporate philanthropy. We know that money is important, but we... Read More →
Thursday January 9, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT
Pope LT C17
  All

13:15 GMT

Keynote: Schooling while home burns? The science teacher's role in educating for sustainability
Thursday January 9, 2025 13:15 - 14:05 GMT
Pope LT C15
The era of warning about impending ecological disasters has passed. These days we document them. Today’s thirteen-year-olds have already experienced the ten warmest years on record and each passing year will probably be hotter than the last. They are among a generation of young people living with the knowledge that this world, their home, is likely to become less habitable as they grow up. The implications of this for young people, for educators and for education itself are daunting. This is the backdrop to a seminar that will explore the question of how educators’ role(s) might adapt in response to this epoch that we have labelled the Anthropocene.

The seminar will draw on Paul’s research on student-led projects with schools across Europe and on educator competences as well as his role as a teacher educator and his recent work with the youth-led organisation Teach the Future. While making a case for the centrality of emotions in education (particularly in STEM subjects), Paul will consider some of the dangers and double binds inherent in educating about – and advocating for – sustainability in the current political climate. Although rooted in the policy context of England, his talk will highlight issues that are likely to arise in any democratic society with a publicly funded formal education system. If this all sounds rather ominous, rest assured, Paul is not a depressive type. He has always sought pragmatic ways of working with systemic or ‘wicked’ problems and recognises the human need for meaningful sources of hope.
Speakers
avatar for Paul Vare

Paul Vare

EdD Course Leader, School of Education and Science, University of Gloucestershire
Paul leads the Doctor of Education programme plus MA and BEd modules on learning and sustainability at the University of Gloucestershire. His research focuses on education for sustainable Development (ESD) and he was principle investigator of ‘A Rounder Sense of Purpose’, a six-year... Read More →
Thursday January 9, 2025 13:15 - 14:05 GMT
Pope LT C15
  All

14:15 GMT

Climate Literacy for everyone
Thursday January 9, 2025 14:15 - 15:05 GMT
Pope LT C17
Every student should leave school with the basic climate literacy that enables them to engage with the media, make informed decisions about their personal opportunities and responsibilities, act as local and global citizens and develop green careers. But what do we mean by climate literacy, and how do we cater for the different forms of climate literacy required by different school leavers?
Speakers
avatar for Professor Sylvia Knight

Professor Sylvia Knight

Head of Education, Royal Meteorological society
Sylvia Knight is Head of Education at the Royal Meteorological Society and a visiting Professor in the schools of Education and of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences at the University of Reading. With a background in climate science, her role involves supporting the... Read More →
Thursday January 9, 2025 14:15 - 15:05 GMT
Pope LT C17
  All

15:45 GMT

Introduction to Carbon Literacy for teachers
Thursday January 9, 2025 15:45 - 16:35 GMT
Pope A17
Drawing on the Carbon Literacy Project, come and learn what carbon literacy involves.  More importantly, you will leave with some ideas for how you can make a difference to our planet.
Speakers
avatar for Tanya White

Tanya White

Associate Headteacher, Transform Trust
Associate Headteacher: Science Lead for the Transform Trust (MAT with 21 primary schools in Nottingham and Derby)
Thursday January 9, 2025 15:45 - 16:35 GMT
Pope A17
  Primary
 
Friday, January 10
 

08:45 GMT

CLEAPSS: Sustainability in science education
Friday January 10, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT
Physics B23
We pay lip-service to green chemistry in the UK by including just one of the 12 published reasons from the American Chemical Society, for adopting a green chemistry approach. There are at least 5 more that are applicable to school practical chemistry. In this talk for teachers, technicians, publishers, exam bodies and consultants, we will show, with live demonstrations and videos, some of the results of adopting “green” principles. The talk will also cover the latest developments in Hydrogen based fuels in schools.
Speakers
avatar for Matt Endean

Matt Endean

Deputy Director, CLEAPSS
BW

Bob Worley

CLEAPSS
Friday January 10, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT
Physics B23
  11-19

08:45 GMT

Why Geophysics matters
Friday January 10, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT
Chemistry LT X2 (with sink)
As we move further into the 21st century, numerically literate Earth scientist will be needed more than ever to help to tackle our planet and society’s most pressing challenges, including the energy transition towards a low-carbon future, ensuring global food and water security, and understanding and mitigate the impacts of natural hazards and climate change. Geophysics provides exactly the needed skill set and is shortlisted by the UK Government as a profession in high demand, yet hardly known amongst science teachers.

This session explains what geophysics is: the application of physics  to study planet Earth, addressing volcanism, earthquakes, resources, space weather, climate and environmental challenges; and why Geophysics matters for a sustainable future.
Speakers
avatar for Jurgen Neuberg

Jurgen Neuberg

Professor, Leeds University
Professor J Neuberg is the Leader of the Geophysics program at the University of Leeds. He is chairman of the IAVCEI/IASPEI joint commission on Volcano Seismology and an equivalent group of the European Seismological Commission. Since 1997 he has been involved in the monitoring efforts... Read More →
Friday January 10, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT
Chemistry LT X2 (with sink)
  Post-16

11:15 GMT

Grasping UNESCO Sustainability Competencies through Gaming
Friday January 10, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT
ESLC B01
Einstein once said that “without changing our pattern of thought, we will not be able to solve the problems we created with our current patterns of thought.” These words emphasise the role of climate education and educators in “equipping learners with the skills, attributes and competencies required to safeguard our [highly interconnected] social, environmental and economic wellbeing” as encapsulated in UNESCO’s definition of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

Understanding complex global issues requires a new ‘way of thinking’ that consider the many interactions that occur within and across ecological, social and economic systems. Furthermore, people who score higher on ‘systems thinking’ are consistently more likely to be better informed of value issues like climate change as personally important and so take more effective action.
Climate Fresk, is a highly engaging, gamified workshop, based in information taken from the latest IPCC Assessment Report3. This workshop is designed to facilitate conversations among participants and challenge their assumptions in relation to the mechanisms of climate change.

Having featured recently as a very popular article in ASE's own Primary Science journal and used extensively in teacher training, CPD courses and partnership schools at the University of Strathclyde, Scotland’s National ITE establishment, this workshop will be of intense interest to ASE members as it illustrates how to help children and teachers exercise their anticipatory and systems thinking competencies through use of a fun gaming platform as they gain an understanding of emergent earth system behaviour, involving feedback loops and climate tipping points, and the potential impacts of this behaviour on highly interconnected ecological, social and economic systems.
Speakers
RC

Rob Collins

University of Strathclyde
Friday January 10, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT
ESLC B01
  All

11:15 GMT

Board games and tipping Points: exploring climate change in the primary cla
Friday January 10, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT
ESLC B05
In this session, the NUSTEM group at Northumbria University will introduce two practical resources for teaching climate change to upper primary pupils. The first resource, "Climate Change: It's in Our Hands," is an engaging board game developed in collaboration with young people from local schools in the Northeast. This game facilitates group work, collaboration, and critical thinking as children explore the complexities of climate change and the practice strategies needed to limit potential temperature rises. In this session, you'll learn how to play the game and access the free download.

The second resource, "Tipping Points", focuses on climatic changes in the Antarctic's sea ice through two planned lessons and accompanying resources. These lessons provide a comprehensive exploration of the scientific and environmental impacts of these changes and the scientists working on them. During this session, you'll learn how to effectively use these resources in your classroom.

Attendees will have the opportunity to practice using these resources, engage in discussions about implementation strategies, and leave with practical tools to enrich their teaching. This session aims to provide teachers with the skills and materials they to enhance their approach to climate change education.
Speakers
avatar for Joe Shimwell

Joe Shimwell

Outreach Specialist, NUSTEM
Friday January 10, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT
ESLC B05
  Primary

11:15 GMT

Technicians: Sensational Seaweed
Friday January 10, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT
Chemistry LT X2 (with sink)
Seaweed is known in Scotland as a super food but it has many other uses. In this session we will be using seaweed to demonstrate different photosynthesis rates, and show how you can achieve quantitative results to show the function of photosynthesis. Seaweed also has an important role in fighting climate change with its ability to help reduce animal produced methane. We will also demonstrate how to produce an Egeria Tower. A
n extremely visual representation of photosynthesis at work. Arguably the most important biological process known to man.
Speakers
ML

Margaret Louis

Senior Technician, SSERC
AP

Alan Purves

Education Officer: Technicians, SSERC
Friday January 10, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT
Chemistry LT X2 (with sink)
  Technicians

12:15 GMT

CLEAPSS: The rise of microscale chemistry
Friday January 10, 2025 12:15 - 13:05 GMT
ESLC C01
A look at the latest developments in the rising area of chemistry education; Microscale chemistry
Speakers
avatar for Magda Polec

Magda Polec

Chemistry Advisor, CLEAPSS
BW

Bob Worley

CLEAPSS
Friday January 10, 2025 12:15 - 13:05 GMT
ESLC C01
  11-19

12:15 GMT

Making Climate Action Plans impactful
Friday January 10, 2025 12:15 - 13:05 GMT
Pope LT C15
We all need Climate Action Plans and Sustainability Leads but how do we make them impactful to deliver the scale of change needed at the pace that's needed? This presentation will describe the journey we are undertaking at Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge. A summary of our thinking behind the journey can be read in an article entitled 'The role of the education sector in shaping a sustainable future' in the Journal of Biological Education here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00219266.2024.2288418.

This presentation will cover:
•Developing a culture for sustainability in an organisation
•How to reduce your institution's carbon footprint
•Ways to incorporate sustainability into the curriculum
•Enhancing careers education
•Developing a voice to push for change.

Whether you are in initial teacher education, an early career teacher, an experienced teacher, someone with management responsibilities or in an organisation supporting the education sector you can be part of driving this agenda forward. There are a vast number of organisations supporting the education sector to move forward with sustainability and this can be daunting at times. This talk aims to give you concrete ideas for taking back to your organisation to help drive the change needed at the pace that's needed.
Speakers
avatar for Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Sustainability Lead and Teacher of Biology, Hills Road Sixth Form College / SAPS
I am the Sustainability Lead and a Biology teacher at Hills Road Sixth Form College as well as the visiting teacher at Science and Plants for Schools (SAPS).I have 20 years experience in education and have been leading biology departments for most of that time although I recently... Read More →
Friday January 10, 2025 12:15 - 13:05 GMT
Pope LT C15
  11-19

12:15 GMT

Coding for climate action - empowering students to tackle environmental challenges through computer science
Friday January 10, 2025 12:15 - 13:05 GMT
ESLC B04
Coding for Climate Action is an innovative cross-curricular program that empowers KS2 and KS3 students to explore climate change issues and design solutions using code and micro:bit inventions. Developed in partnership with Digitall, this comprehensive curriculum provides ready-to-use lesson plans, student journals, slide decks, and other resources to seamlessly integrate computer science into science and sustainability education.

The program is built around an anchoring phenomenon - the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters worldwide. Students are challenged to create early warning systems and other digital solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Through this real-world, relevant context, they develop key computational thinking skills like coding, data analysis, and problem-solving, while also cultivating creativity and a solutions-oriented mindset.

Aligned to the national curriculum, the Coding for Climate Action materials include detailed lesson plans, student activity journals, exemplars, and comprehensive curriculum maps. Designed as a plug-and-play unit, the resources make it easy for teachers to swap these engaging climate-focused lessons into their existing schemes of work.

Whether you're looking to inject more climate education into your computing curriculum or bring computational skills into your science lessons, this session will equip you with the tools and strategies to empower your students as the next generation of climate leaders and digital innovators. Join us to explore how Coding for Climate Action can ignite students' passion for addressing environmental challenges through computer science.
Speakers
VT

Vojtech Tichavsky

Amazon Future Engineers
Sponsors
avatar for Amazon in the Community

Amazon in the Community

Amazon is here to make a difference in the world, in a way unique to Amazon. With a culture built around solving “impossible” problems, we take a different, more hands-on approach to what is traditionally known as corporate philanthropy. We know that money is important, but we... Read More →
Friday January 10, 2025 12:15 - 13:05 GMT
ESLC B04
  All

14:15 GMT

AQA: Teaching Climate Change and Sustainability in GCSE science
Friday January 10, 2025 14:15 - 15:05 GMT
ESLC B07
In this session we will dive into the AQA science specifications and their newly published resource to discuss how current specifications can support students learning on sustainability and the environment. What more could be done to enhance these important topics across the sciences by adopting a more integrated approach?
Speakers
avatar for Natalie Vlachakis

Natalie Vlachakis

Science Curriculum Manager, AQA
Natalie joined AQA in 2021 as a Curriculum Support Manager in Science. She has a BSc and PhD in biochemistry, and a PGCE in secondary science. Before joining AQA, Natalie was Head of Biology at an Oxfordshire school teaching mostly A-level Biology. Her current role involves talking... Read More →
Sponsors
avatar for AQA

AQA

Since 1903, we’ve been rewarding achievement by designing and delivering fair and inclusive assessment. We do this because we believe that quality assessment is an essential ingredient for a good education. We’re the most chosen exam board in England and we set and mark the papers... Read More →
Friday January 10, 2025 14:15 - 15:05 GMT
ESLC B07
  11-19

14:15 GMT

Nature-based enrichment of the secondary curriculum: A biology and physics focus
Friday January 10, 2025 14:15 - 15:05 GMT
Chemistry lab B5
School grounds will almost all have a variety of habitats and microclimates – even if just unkempt vegetation, a tree or two, asphalt and all-weather sports “grass”. These can be the starting point for helping students to discover how our urban spaces can be developed to influence resilience climate change, even if first learning is to suggest what not to do! For the future, school grounds will play a very significant role in schools’ Climate Action Plans.
The Coop Manchester Academy, 11-16, has been a pilot school for the National Education Nature Park (NENP). This session will look at the progress made with the steps that they have taken with their outside space and the impact that this is having within the formal curriculum across the sciences for instance in fieldwork, and in a multitude of ways outside it. Richard (STEM lead and Science Technician) and Aimee (physics and science teacher) will have very practical advice about what the simplest steps can be to “greening” your grounds, the connections that offer support and developing change in your school.

School grounds are a haven for STEM in action – from engineering to ecology. Melissa will discuss how observations in hot weather can inspire learning in sometimes dull-to-teach areas of physics, bringing Science Capital to lessons, showing the difference that planning and planting for nature and climate can make. Infra-red images, and also low-cost infra-red thermometers, will show how the thermal picture of your school can be revealed – even though much of this can be found from simple experience on a hot day. This will link with teaching about e.g. latent heat – making very important biology connections with transpiration, specific heat capacity and materials, the e/m spectrum and the greenhouse effect. Resources for lessons on the NENP website will be referenced.

Delegate outcomes:
Awareness of
•how your school grounds, whatever their current state, can be a resource for learning
•links with specific parts of GCSE (and KS3) sciences
•material available on NENP website for connecting with 11-16 teaching in the sciences
•using infra-red thermometers and images – enlivening thermal physics and adding cross curricular dimensions
•steps to improve your school grounds for nature
•careers relevance in fields such as construction, landscape architecture, civil engineering, materials and urban design, as well as routes via ecology
•potential enhanced engagement of students in STEM climate relevant action and connections
Speakers
avatar for Melissa Lord

Melissa Lord

Independent consultant (previously physics teacher and HoScience), Ogden Trust
After a career in physics teaching, I work on a consultancy basis for the Ogden Trust "making physics matter" - as Regional Rep in the NW, and also occasionally with the PTI supporting physics and science teachers. Physics is about the joy of understanding the universe at all of its... Read More →
AH

Aimee Hopper

Physics and Science teacher, Turton High School
RS

Richard Simpson

STEM Lead and Science Technician, Coop Academy Manchester
Friday January 10, 2025 14:15 - 15:05 GMT
Chemistry lab B5
  11-19

14:15 GMT

Is there time and space for climate change in the curriculum?
Friday January 10, 2025 14:15 - 15:05 GMT
Physics C30
This workshop will share the outcomes from two research projects investigating climate change education across the sector.

The first research project includes 14 case studies to find out how school leaders are tackling the Department for Education’s Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy in primary and secondary schools, colleges and at Multi-Academy Trust and local authority level.

The aims of research project two were: to explore teacher confidence in teaching aspects of climate change; and to gain an understanding of primary teachers ’needs to support effective climate change teaching and learning in different curriculum subjects.

Findings from both research projects will be summarised and themes drawn out. There will be an opportunity for participants to discuss and reflect on project outcomes and take away potential ideas to develop in their own schools and settings, as well as professional development providers.

Delegates will have:
•a greater understanding of how education settings are tackling the Department for Education’s Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy.
•insights into teachers ’confidence and understanding in teaching aspects of climate change and highlight issues of climate anxiety if any.
•considered the challenges of and explored some practical solutions to teaching climate change and sustainability (with a focus on primary subject leaders).
Speakers
avatar for Lee Jowett CSciTeach

Lee Jowett CSciTeach

Climate Change and Sustainability Fellow, Sheffield Hallam University Research and Knowledge Exchange Centre
avatar for Joelle Halliday

Joelle Halliday

Senior Research Fellow, Sheffield Hallam University
Joelle designs, leads, and researches teacher professional development activity. She is Co-Director of the Wipro STEM Teacher Fellow and Teacher Mentor Programmes. The programmes aim to increase young people's enjoyment, attainment, and progression in the STEM subjects by supporting... Read More →
Friday January 10, 2025 14:15 - 15:05 GMT
Physics C30
  All

15:45 GMT

Evidence-based climate change teaching materials
Friday January 10, 2025 15:45 - 16:35 GMT
ESLC B05
The session aims to support secondary school science teachers in the delivery of climate change education through evidence-based teaching materials. The climate change teaching materials were developed through a rigorous and robust scientific process based on the latest climate change evidence.

Every day, a vast quantity of research on climate change is produced. However, the majority of this research is directed primarily towards academic and scientific audiences, leaving a gap in its accessibility to the general public and, crucially, teachers. The specialised focus of current approaches means that the dissemination of climate change research, especially within the social sciences, is as rapid as needed; however, it does not succeed in enabling wider communities to gain an understanding, thus negatively impacting climate action.

Compounding the problem, there exists misinformation or ‘fake evidence’ about climate change that further prevents public understanding. The vast body of rigorous climate change research, combined with its complexity, means that this globally significant topic can be challenging to understand and decipher for those outside the scientific community.

It is imperative that all teachers are informed and kept up to date with the latest verified evidence on climate change to ensure that future generations are equipped with accurate knowledge and are empowered to act. To assist secondary school science teachers in teaching climate change, a set of evidence-based materials was created, incorporating the most recent evidence on climate change.
Speakers
IB

Indira Banner

Lecturer in science education, Leeds University
SM

Syafiq Mat Noor

Lecturer in Climate Change Education, University of Leeds
Friday January 10, 2025 15:45 - 16:35 GMT
ESLC B05
  11-19

15:45 GMT

Effective approaches to climate education within the classroom and beyond
Friday January 10, 2025 15:45 - 16:35 GMT
Physics C30
Effective science education needs to reach beyond the classroom – climate and ecological education is vital knowledge that is essential in the real world and can unite entire school communities. Current approaches to climate education fall short of equipping our pupils with the skills they need for their futures, leaving them helpless and hopeless in the face of the climate crisis.

In this interactive session, SOS-UK and Teach the Teacher young people will share solutions to this issue, explore intergenerational approaches, curriculum tracked changes, and ideas into how we facilitate two-way learning between students and teachers, school staff, and even how that knowledge is shared with families back at home too. Breaking climate education out of its silo empowers our young people to make real change, while feeling supported by the educators around them.
Speakers
AP

Amy Padfield

Senior Project Manager - Education, Students Organising for Sustainability UK
Friday January 10, 2025 15:45 - 16:35 GMT
Physics C30
  All
 
Saturday, January 11
 

08:45 GMT

Alternative Visions of the Future - A research based approach to CCE
Saturday January 11, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT
Coates C27
A cross curricular approach to teaching Year 8 students about Climate Change was developed based on the the model for a Meaningful Climate Change Education (Greer and Glackin, 2021). A number of different subjects including STEM, Humanities, Languages and Art taught students about issues relating to climate change and sustainability over a 3 week period.

The teaching sequence for each subject was developed through the lens of 'Alternative Visions of the Future', a core quality of a meaningful climate education. Students were asked to develop their own alternative vision of the future, explore it from multiple perspectives and present this at a research poster conference at the end of a 4 week period. The interdisciplinary nature of the project meant teachers, as well as students, were required to consider the central question from multiple perspectives and provided an important opportunity for teacher CPD.
Speakers
CT

Catherine Tytherleigh

Geography Teacher, Sir William Perkins' School
HN

Huwaidha Nasser

Biology Teacher, Sir William Perkins' School
Saturday January 11, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT
Coates C27
  11-19

08:45 GMT

Moss Safari Live: Focus on Change and Adapt
Saturday January 11, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT
Pope LT C15
Come on microscopic adventure through a microscope and learn how moss offers solutions to climate change, rotifers deal with microplastics, and how tardigrades have become urbanised.

Moss Safari is an increasingly popular activity and having featured in the BBC Live Lesson in 2024 more primary and secondary school teachers are doing Moss Safari’s as part of their curriculum or extra-curricular activities.
Get ready for your Science Week in March 2025 or primary to secondary transition activities by attending this live Moss Safari session with a focus on ‘Change and Adapt’ the British Science Association’s focus for British Science Week.

Andy (Dr Moss) will take you on a live Moss Safari and tell you the stories of how three of the Big Five have changed and adapted over geological time and are adapting (or not) to urbanisation, climate change and environmental pollution.

Delegates will enjoy a fascinating adventure exploring a sample of moss for the Big Five microscopic organisms, learn novel practical approaches to microscopy, and curriculum linked subject knowledge.

Delegates be given access to a free online resource suitable for Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3 or Key Stage 4.
This event will be in collaboration with Vitta Education who provide the microscope and the Edulab Moss Safari kit.
Speakers
avatar for Andy Chandler-Grevatt

Andy Chandler-Grevatt

Senior Lecturer in Science Education, University of Brighton
Past ASE 11-19 Chair (2021-2022) and current Chair of Surrey and Sussex Region Curriculum Editor for Oxford University Press Smart Activate Senior Lecturer in Science Education, University of Brighton (ITE tutor) CSciTeach Talk to me about: assessment without testing, teacher... Read More →
avatar for Wendy Ford

Wendy Ford

VITTA Group Brand Manager, VITTA Education
As Brand Manager for the VITTA Group, Wendy is closely involved with the group's dynamic portfolio, which is dedicated to empowering science educators, bringing science to life, and consequently, providing support for the scientists of tomorrow.As an established marketeer, Wendy's... Read More →
Saturday January 11, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT
Pope LT C15
  All

11:15 GMT

Keynote: Climate change and health
Saturday January 11, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT
Pope LT C17
As a paediatrician I am very focussed on the importance of improving the wellbeing of children and their families. This is key to developing a resilient community and giving children the skills they will need to adapt to climate change.
We need to bring education and health care together to meet this challenge.

Approximately 5% of the UK carbon footprint is produced by the NHS, 5% of journeys are related to the NHS and 5% of the UK workforce is within the NHS. My talk will be joining the dots between health and education and how we all need to work together to create a positive vision of a healthy low carbon future.
Speakers
DH

Dr Helena Clements

Consultant Paediatrician and Officer for Climate Change, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Helena Clements has been a Consultant Paediatrician at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (SFH) for over 20 years. Her main area of interest has been complex disability and palliative care.Helena’s other passion is Climate Action. She has had the support of the Trust... Read More →
Saturday January 11, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT
Pope LT C17
  11-19

11:15 GMT

Replacing Plastics An investigation into the suitability of natural polymer
Saturday January 11, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT
ESLC B05
The “replacing plastics” project is a creative, interdisciplinary application of both chemistry and physics to a real-world problem. The project is executed by students: they create natural polymer substances that resemble plastic, and then test the suitability of their product as an alternative for plastic in everyday life by analysing a range of physical material properties. In doing so, the students explicitly address the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 12: responsible consumption and production. Aside from building their skills, the applied nature of this hands-on project instils a sense of urgency and purpose for their academic studies and creates a vision of how science matters in their future lives.

In this session, we will examine both the simple method to create our own biopolymer from milk and vinegar and the selection of material tests that the students used to compare the biopolymer with the plastic alternative. This experimental process presents itself as a core workflow around which open-ended investigations and problem solving can be scaffolded, stimulate creative and critical thinking. Additional extension questions and variations that allows this project to be adapted for KS1 towards A Level will be discussed. This project was presented as a workshop at the Science on Stage International Festival in Turku, Finland.
Speakers
CR

Colleen Reesink-Wells

STEM Director, Roedean School
Saturday January 11, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT
ESLC B05
  All

12:15 GMT

Coding for Climate Action - empowering students to tackle environmental challenges through computer science
Saturday January 11, 2025 12:15 - 13:05 GMT
Pope LT C15
Coding for Climate Action is an innovative cross-curricular program that empowers KS2 and KS3 students to explore climate change issues and design solutions using code and micro:bit inventions. Developed in partnership with Digitall, this comprehensive curriculum provides ready-to-use lesson plans, student journals, slide decks, and other resources to seamlessly integrate computer science into science and sustainability education.

The program is built around an anchoring phenomenon - the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters worldwide. Students are challenged to create early warning systems and other digital solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Through this real-world, relevant context, they develop key computational thinking skills like coding, data analysis, and problem-solving, while also cultivating creativity and a solutions-oriented mindset.

Aligned to the national curriculum, the Coding for Climate Action materials include detailed lesson plans, student activity journals, exemplars, and comprehensive curriculum maps. Designed as a plug-and-play unit, the resources make it easy for teachers to swap these engaging climate-focused lessons into their existing schemes of work.

Whether you're looking to inject more climate education into your computing curriculum or bring computational skills into your science lessons, this session will equip you with the tools and strategies to empower your students as the next generation of climate leaders and digital innovators. Join us to explore how Coding for Climate Action can ignite students' passion for addressing environmental challenges through computer science.
Speakers
VT

Vojtech Tichavsky

Amazon Future Engineers
Sponsors
avatar for Amazon in the Community

Amazon in the Community

Amazon is here to make a difference in the world, in a way unique to Amazon. With a culture built around solving “impossible” problems, we take a different, more hands-on approach to what is traditionally known as corporate philanthropy. We know that money is important, but we... Read More →
Saturday January 11, 2025 12:15 - 13:05 GMT
Pope LT C15
  All

13:15 GMT

Keynote: Can Geology save the world?
Saturday January 11, 2025 13:15 - 14:05 GMT
Pope LT C15
Geologists just look at rocks, right? In this talk, I’ll invite you to reimagine the almost unimaginable ways in which geology shapes our lives, livelihoods, and Labour's red wall. I’ll show how many of the great social, environmental and economic challenges of the 21st Century require the work of Geoscientists…
Speakers
CA

Christopher Aiden-Lee Jackson

Professor of Basin Analysis, Imperial College London (Dept of Earth Science & Engineering)
Chris Jackson is Technical Director at the engineering consultancy WSP and Visiting Professor of Basin Analysis at Imperial College London. Chris works in the general area of sedimentary basin analysis. When not studying the subsurface of the Earth, Chris gives geoscience lectures... Read More →
Saturday January 11, 2025 13:15 - 14:05 GMT
Pope LT C15
  All

15:30 GMT

Passionate about Plants
Saturday January 11, 2025 15:30 - 16:20 GMT
Pope LT C15
Why are plants vital to us ? They can provide solutions to some of the problems associated with today’s world,  for example in addressing  climate change and improving wellbeing . This session will raise awareness for teachers and pupils , share resources about the issues and the importance of plants.

Using the different types of enquiry we will look at using plants and their friends ,both inside and outside the classroom , to make children more aware of the issues and how plants might help to solve them . There will also be practical tips as to how to grow  and look after plants and to create a wildlife garden at school .
Speakers
avatar for Susie Burr

Susie Burr

PSQM Hub Leader, Independent Consultant
I was a Biology and general science teacher but now work mainly with Primary Schools. I am passionate about plants and encouraging children of all ages  to enjoy the outdoors. I run a Primary Science Quality Mark hub In Scotland and have had amazing schools achieving all levels from... Read More →
Saturday January 11, 2025 15:30 - 16:20 GMT
Pope LT C15
  Primary

15:30 GMT

Sustainable Stories and Solutions for our Planet
Saturday January 11, 2025 15:30 - 16:20 GMT
ESLC B07
CIEC’s ever-growing collection of classroom investigations Sustainable Stories and Solutions for our Planet highlights the issues and impacts of sustainability for upper key stage two (9-11 year-olds) children. It contains practical and discussion activities to develop children’s awareness and understanding of sustainability.

The resource includes case studies from companies with a strong reputation in sustainability which provide real life contexts for children to develop the substantive and disciplinary knowledge of the primary national curriculum.
New for 2025, the pack has a brand-new set of activities to introduce children to the topic of sustainable fuel. Come along and try out a range of the exciting activities this pack has to offer.
Speakers
avatar for Joy Parvin

Joy Parvin

Director, CIEC, University of York
Specialise in primary science and associated STEM/career/industry resources, CPD, industry visits and associated programmes (eg Children Challenging Industry).
avatar for Mackayla Millar

Mackayla Millar

Advisory Teacher, CIEC
Saturday January 11, 2025 15:30 - 16:20 GMT
ESLC B07
  Primary
 
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