Climate Science Project

A three-year project that aims to engage Yr 9 students on the subject of Climate Science. The project will encourage students to become ambassadors on climate change in their schools and communities.

ATMOS magazine and exhibition

This year students from across the UK have been investigating climate change stories from their local area.

The result is a range of articles told in the students’ own words reflecting the issues that are relevant to them. You can see all of their stories in a special edition of ATMOS magazine. The magazine will be available to read this summer when the ATMOS exhibition tours some of the museums and science centres that are partners in our Climate Science Outreach Project.

The ATMOS magazine and exhibition can be seen in the following locations:

• National Railway Museum, York, 13-16 June
• At-Bristol, Bristol, 20-24 June
• Science Museum, London, 27-30 June
• Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester, 4-9 July

Background

In December 2010 the Science Museum opened a new gallery called atmosphere… exploring climate science. As part of the associated Climate Changing Programme, from 2010 – 2013 the Science Museum’s Outreach team will be working in partnership with other museums and science centres across the UK to deliver a series of exciting shows and workshops to Year 9 students. Over the three years, the team aims to reach over 5000 Year 9 students and their teachers.

Teachers’ Course

Every participating school will be invited to send two teachers to a one-day training course at the regional host museum or science centre. During the course teachers will find out more about the project and explore the subject of Climate Science in more detail. Teachers will be given practical skills on how to engage their students with contemporary science, as well as the chance to network with other teachers taking part in the project.

Museum/Science Centre Visits

During the autumn term, students will see a Punk Science show all about Climate Change at their host museum or science centre. The students will then take part in a workshop led by Science Museum staff which will give them the tools they need in order to complete the Climate Challenge. This visit will also include visits to relevant galleries that link to the topic of Climate Science.

Climate Challenge

Every year students will be set a new challenge that will explore fun and exciting ways that they can communicate a message about Climate Science. For example, in the first year of the project, students created pieces of ‘sci-art’ to communicate a specific message about climate change. The result was an exhibition called Climate Art – students make a world of difference that went on public display in the Science Museum and our partner museums and science centres.

Child holding Earth artwork

Celebration Day

At the end of each year, every participating group will be invited to a celebratory event at their host museum to showcase their work. This day will typically include refreshments and the chance to speak to museum professionals about their work.

Polar bear artwork

More information

If you are interested in finding out more about this project, or if your school would like to get involved in the academic year 2012-2013, please call us on 0207 942 4716 or email us. Please note this project is open to secondary schools in London, York, Manchester, Bristol and the North West of England only.

The Science Museum teamed up other museums and science centres to deliver this project:
• National Railway Museum
• Museum of Science and Industry
• At-Bristol
• Catalyst