With thanks to our research partners Dr Andrew Lee and Dr Paolo Actis at the @UniversityLeeds, and Clare Turnbull and Alison Rouncefield-Swales for their work on the article. Thanks also go to the @RoyceInstitute and the @BraggRoyceLeeds for funding and support.
Dr Neil Garrido, one of our Regional School Engagement Leads has had an article published in the Journal of Chemistry Education! ๐๐
It explores how providing authentic research opportunities can have a positive impact on students, focusing on one of our projects: DNA Origami.
๐ From the abstract: โ...authentic research experiences can foster greater personal autonomy, sustain engagement, and be used to improve the perception of subjects such as materials science.โ
Read the full article by following the link on our website: https://t.co/1G3r7mYdXo
๐ฌ Behind the scenes
Weโve been doing lots of filming in May โ checking in with schools, preparing for a new project and working on our Getting Started with Research videos!
#ResearchInSchools#STEMEducation#IRISProjects
Every young person deserves opportunities like this.
Read our skills blog to explore what students can gain through experiencing real research: https://t.co/MsYDC9xG5c
#ResearchinSchools#STEM#BuildingSkills
โIt didn't just teach me about science; it also taught me about teamwork and how to pose and create my own research questions.โ
Student-led research projects don't just deliver and consolidate knowledge. They also build skills in ways that the current curriculum alone cannot.
IRIS projects are cross-curricular, spanning subjects from geography to computer science. ๐๐ป
Many schools use #IRISProjects to enrich studentโs learning by taking part in authentic research.
Explore our projects:
https://t.co/dBbZEeHq3k
Designed with the Royal Society of Chemistry and Queenโs University Belfast, our #GreenerFragrances project introduces students to the use of chemistry in improving industrial practices. It plays an important role in sustainability and helps reduce the impact on the environment.
Last year, Dover Grammar School for Girls produced a range of esters, using alternatives to traditional catalysts. Normally sweet-smelling, these are produced when alcohol reacts with carboxylic acid. This year theyโre looking into this further to make them even more sustainable.
Weโre busy preparing for conference season!
Last year, nearly 700 students attended conferences in Exeter, Manchester and London, sharing 243 research posters.
๐ก 94% students felt inspired about STEM careers
๐ซถ 100% teachers rated conferences as good/very good
From classroom learning to real-world impact ๐
Y8 @KingsAcademyESF students took part in our Wild Things project, looking at whether bug hotels could increase biodiversity at their school. Students doing IRIS projects donโt just learn about science, they become researchers.
A big thank you to @UKRI_News , @urencoglobal and JW Foundation for making this possible. For more information around eligibility, take a look at the BSA website: https://t.co/2F0Vnuudh1
We've linked up with the British Science Association so that eligible schools can submit IRIS projects for a free CREST Award!
More information on CREST Awards: https://t.co/pmpO9Cmojz
Teachers can send us a message for info on how to submit an IRIS student research project.
๐ฌ Definition: Science Identity
Science identity is how someone connects with science & its community. Engaging in real research at school helps students see themselves as scientists.
Take a look at our glossary to explore more definitions of key terms:
https://t.co/j2k4Lqu3jU
We asked students and teachers about the impact of our Research and Innovation Framework pilot:
๐งฌ "Anyone can do science and be a scientist" โฌ7.1%
๐จโ๐ฌ "People like me work in STEM" โฌ13.9%
๐ "I know more about the different routes into a STEM career" โฌ23.2%
Young people can use real satellite data to track environmental change ๐
Previous students on the Earth Observation project looked at how pollution affected toxic algae growth. Explore satellite science in your school: https://t.co/RjQzSXtnIt
#EarthDay#IRISProjects#Education
We asked students who had finished a research project about their journey.
โญ๏ธ 87% said research can be hard work but is rewarding
๐งฉ 78% reported stronger problem-solving skills
โ๏ธ 81.6% rated their planning skills as good/very good
Read our skills blog:
https://t.co/MsYDC9xG5c