This Catalyst article looks at how our knowledge of the human genome has increased greatly during the last 10 years, and genome sequencing techniques have become much faster. On 26th June 2000 it was announced that scientists had completed a first draft of the human genome, the DNA instructions for making a human...

A Catalyst article exploring the testing of new medicines to see if they are safe for people to take. The effects on cells of a potential new drug are investigated using tissue cultures of human or animal cells. Some tissue cultures use fresh tissue samples, but most come from well-established laboratory cell...

The Bringing Cutting Edge Science to the Classroom programme evaluation was commissioned in Autumn 2015 to analyse the success of the Cutting Edge programme in delivering its stated aims, and to assess the impact of the programme on participants, their students and colleagues.

The evaluation sought to...

Published in June 2002, this article, by Shirley Simon, looks at applying Cognitive Acceleration through Science Education (CASE) theory to planning and teaching Thinking Science lessons for students with different needs.

Using Thinking Science with mixed-ability classes can be challenging...

This report, published in October 2012, documents the activities and conclusions of a research project undertaken by the 157 Group, supported by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, and in partnership with Association of Colleges (AoC). The 157 Group is a membership organisation that represents 27 large, regionally...

This Catalyst article looks at the noble gases (Group 0 or 8 in the periodic table) which are almost inert. This article shows how they were discovered through the use of fractional distillation and looks at their chemical and physical properties.

This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2011,...

This report, written for the Science Council and published in September 2011, explores the potential for an increase in registrations to the Chartered Scientist register (CSci) which recognises high levels of professionalism and competence in science. The aim is to expand registration to technician and intermediate...

This report was intended to provide a longer term perspective on changes taking place in students’ understanding over the compulsory school years. The topic of air was chosen on the basis both of its importance throughout school science and its accessibility to students...

Commissioned by the Wellcome Trust in association with the ASE this report discusses the effects of compulsory national testing in science on Year Six teachers and the teaching of science in England, as well as the impact of the abolition of statutory testing in science at Key Stage Two in 2004 on Year Six teachers...

A Catalyst article about deciding right from wrong in biology. Modern science raises many ethical questions. How these questions can be answered either ethically or by coming to a personal decision is discussed. How ethical frameworks can be used to address ethical questions is applied to the case of genetically...

The number of children aged seven and under who are excluded from primary schools is very small and comprises a tiny proportion of children of this age from a very small proportion of schools. Nevertheless, some children of this age group are receiving fixed-period exclusions, occasionally leading to permanent...

Published for the Institute of Physics, this report examines the contribution of physics to the Scottish economy between the years 2005 and 2010. Figures are given for the numbers of people employed in physics-based sectors of the economy, the contribution in financial terms, gross value added per worker and the...

As LSIS STEM Support draws to a close, the Learning Legacy document aims to share the approaches, consider the lessons learnt and signpost resources and the ongoing support infrastructure available to improve teaching and learning across STEM in the Further Education and Skills sector. The Final Impact Review shows...

In 2009 and 2010, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) monitored a sample of the new GCE AS and A level qualifications respectively offered by the three England-based unitary awarding organisations: AQA, Edexcel and OCR. The six subjects addressed were: English Literature and Geography...

In 2007 and 2008, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) monitored the new specifications in GCSE science and GCSE additional science offered by the three England-based unitary awarding bodies – the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), Edexcel, and Oxford, Cambridge and RSA...