What is Science on Stage? Science on Stage is a European initiative designed to encourage teachers from across Europe to share best practice in science teaching. Originally begun as Physics on Stage in 2000, Science on Stage was broadened in 2003 to cover all sciences. The overall aims of Science on Stage are to: Provide a forum for teachers to exchange teaching ideas for the sciences Inspire and re-enthuse science teachers Provide teachers with access to quality science teaching resources and ideas Inform teachers about wider science research Raise the profile of science teaching with education ministers in the countries involved Ultimately, the aim of Science on Stage is to enable teachers to deliver science in a more creative and engaging way.

Science on Stage 2 Teaching Fair at the Europole Congress Centre in Grenoble.

The European Science on Stage Festival Copenhagen, 16-19 April 2011

The European Science on Stage Festival is hosted biennially in different countries and is the culmination of national events in the participating countries.
The 2011 festival will take place in Copenhagen where 350 science teachers from all over Europe will present their most innovative teaching ideas, workshops and performance.
Participants are chosen at competitive national events in the 27 member countries.

                          

**Irish participation INVITED**

Irish Science teachers are invited to submit their ideas for consideration for the Science on Stage festival by filling out the application form for teachers available here. The closing date for entries has been extended to 17^th September 2010* after which time the entrants will be evaluated and a Irish delegation team selected. For further details please contact the Irish Steering Committee (details available below)

Contributions are also invited for On-Stage Performances are also invited by filling out the proposal form available here. For further details please contact the Irish Steering Committee (details available below)

Ireland has sent a delegation of science teachers and educators to all previous SOS & POS conferences.  The international participation has been increasing at every festival and at SOS 2 some 500 delegates from 29 countries from all over Europe set up their national stands to display a diverse range of science experiments and demonstrations. For the SOS2, SOS1, POS3 and POS2 programmes, the Irish Delegation and the Irish National Steering Committee have produced booklets of the best demonstrations prepared and selected by the Irish Team and this booklet has been issued to all Science Teachers in Ireland. These entire booklets can be downloaded in pdf format from this website here.

History

The Science on Stage programme is an innovative, pan-European science education activity, aiming to foster a renewal of science teaching in Europe by encouraging the exchange of new concepts and best practices among teachers from all over the continent.  It evolved from the Physics on Stage programme, with the goal to strengthen the awareness and interest of young people in science and technology, a vital precondition for securing the long-term development of our society.

The previous festivals which have taken place include:

Organisers

Science on Stage Programme is by National Steering Committees but is ideally supported by the European Commission, through the 6th Framework Programme (ended in 2008) and the EIROforum to focus on and increase the resources to Science in School.

EIROforum  

The seven organisations (listed below) forming the consortium that organises Science on Stage have established a formal collaboration at the level of their Directors General in the EIROforum (European Intergovernmental Research Organisations' Forum). The EIROforum has set up a number of inter-organisational, topical working groups, including one on Outreach and Education. The individuals who are involved in the Science on Stage 2 project are all members of the EIROforum Working Group on Outreach and Education.

• European Organisation for Nuclear Research, CERN
• European Fusion Development Agreement, EFDA
• European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL
• European Space Agency, ESA
• European Southern Observatory, ESO
• European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, ESRF
• Institut Laue-Langevin, ILL

Contact details of Irish Steering Committee

Chair of Science on Stage in Ireland
Dr Eilish McLoughlin
CASTeL
School of Physical Sciences
Dublin City University
Glasnevin, Dublin 9

Email: irelandsos@gmail.com

Acknowledgement

The Irish participation for the Science on Stage Festival is made possible by the generous sponsorship of the Second Level Support Service and the Institute of Physics in Ireland. The Department of Education and Science kindly provided substitution through the Second Level Support Service for the teachers who attended the conferences.

 

Last updated: May 2010
© Science on Stage Ireland