Global Citizenship

December 14th, 2011

The Great Climate Change Debate - Join us on Glow

imenzies

Comments: 2 Comments » Tags: Tags: climate and energy, events, nature
 : Categories citizenship, renewables and climate change, sciences, social studies, sustainable development, technologies

A series of interactive and lively Glow meets

In November this year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change launched a report warning that climate change is likely to lead to more extreme weather. Within weeks of this launch, Scotland was battered by severe flooding and hurricane-force winds which brought much of the country to a standstill. Is our climate already changing? What will climate change mean for Scotland? How can we respond positively and adapt to the changes ahead?

We’re inviting your school to join the great climate change debate. We’ll be bringing together a panel of scientists and experts to answer questions, spark debate and discussion and help learners navigate their way through climate fact, fiction and controversy.

• Glow meet 1: Our changing weather and climate (23^rd Jan ’12)
• Glow meet 2: Climate science - evidence versus controversy (30^th Jan ’12)
• Glow meet 3: Adapting to climate change (6^th Feb ’12)

Each Glow meet will take place from 2pm to 3:00pm. These events will be targeted at learners in secondary schools and upper primary.

Please see links below for further details about each event:

GLOW MEET 1 Our changing weather and climate 23Jan12

GLOW MEET 2 Climate science evidence vs controversy 30Jan12

GLOW MEET 3 Adapting to climate change 6Feb12

Click here to view the recordings of these Glow meets >>

For resources and videos on climate change visit Weather and Climate Change, Exploring Climate Change and Climate Change on Glow.

December 9th, 2011

SEweb - Scotland’s Environment Website

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: climate and energy, community, events, nature, research, resources, water, waterways
 : Categories ICT, biodiversity, community, outdoor learning, sciences, scottish culture, social studies, sustainable development, technologies

For the first time, everything you want to know about Scotland’s environment will now be available at the touch of a button on a new website provided by Scotland’s key environment and health agencies.

Scotland’s Environment Web – named SEweb – aims to be the gateway to everything you want to know about Scotland’s environment. This three year project, supported by funding from the European Union, will put Scotland at the global forefront of sharing environmental information, prioritising problems and involving citizens in assessing and improving their own environment.

Features of SEweb will include:

Visit the website at: http://www.environment.scotland.gov.uk/default.aspx

December 9th, 2011

Last day at UN Climate Talks in Durban

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, climate and energy, poverty
 : Categories africa, citizenship, renewables and climate change, sciences, social studies, sustainable development, technologies

As major UN climate talks in Durban, South Africa reach their final day, the most likely outcome is a modest step towards a broader deal to cut greenhouse gas pollution to fight climate change.

Scottish climate campaigner, Lexi Barnett (Campaigns Officer with SCIAF), has been attending the talks with one of Latin America’s leading climate scientist. Check out her blog and the news from the last day.

December 8th, 2011

Climate Week 2012

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, climate and energy, events
 : Categories citizenship, renewables and climate change, sciences, social studies, sustainable development, technologies

Britain’s Biggest Climate Change Campaign - 12 to 18 March 2012 http://www.climateweek.com/

Climate Week is a supercharged national campaign to inspire a new wave of action on climate change. It culminates in thousands of events and activities, planned by organisations from every part of society. Showcasing real, practical ways to combat climate change, the campaign aims to renew our ambition to create a more sustainable, low-carbon future.

Climate Week is backed by every part of society - from Paul McCartney to the Met Office, the TUC to the CBI, Girlguiding UK to the National Association of Head Teachers. During the first Climate Week in 2011 over 3,000 events were attended by half a million people across the UK.

You can register your school with Climate Week 2012 here.

To find out more about getting involved in Climate Week go to www.climateweek.com, email [email protected] or telephone on 020 3397 2601.

November 18th, 2011

Crofting Connections

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: community, food, nature, news, research
 : Categories biodiversity, community, creativity, curriculum areas, expressive arts, health and wellbeing, homecoming, languages, mathematics, outdoor learning, primary schools, religious and moral education, renewables and climate change, sciences, scottish culture, secondary schools, sharing practice, social studies, sustainable development, technologies

Crofting Connections is a 3-year long educational project which started in August 2009. It aims to enable over 1,200 young people aged 5 to 16 living in remote rural communities throughout the Highlands & Islands to learn about crofting past, present and future.

It is funded by HLF, SNH, LEADER, HIE and the Craignish Trust.

Its key outcomes for young people are for an increased:

• desire to live and work in their crofting communities.
• ability to keep crofting alive in the 21st century for the benefit of rural communities and the environment.
• development of Curriculum for Excellence‟ four capacities – successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.
• understanding of the need for locally produced, environmentally-friendly and healthy food based on low carbon principles.

The lead partners in the project are Soil Association Scotland and the Scottish Crofting Federation. To read more about this exciting project an about the impact it has had on learning teaching then download the Interim Report (you will need a Glow password to access this link).

October 26th, 2011

World’s biggest tidal scheme gets go-ahead

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: climate and energy
 : Categories renewables and climate change, sciences, sustainable development, technologies

The Scottish Government has approved plans for ‘the world’s largest tidal scheme’, which could help to create new engineering jobs for Scotland.

Scottish Power Renewables can now commence construction work on the £40 million project in the Sound of Islay. The scheme will have a ten-megawatt capacity – enough to power over 5,000 homes.

Scottish Power Renewables will also work closely with the Islay Energy Trust to provide social and economic benefits in the area, including using local marine contractors during installation and providing local jobs in construction during the onshore development phase.

To find out more read the article here.

Visit the STEM Central Renewables Area to investigate how you can use this context with your pupils.

These Glow Science Videos on Renewables may also help. (Glow login required)

October 3rd, 2011

Our Changing World - public lectures

mfarrell

Comments: none Tags:  : Categories CPD, biodiversity, citizenship, curriculum areas, health and wellbeing, renewables and climate change, sciences, secondary schools, social studies, sustainable development, technologies

Opportunity for senior pupils and staff…

Our Changing World is a series of public lectures at Edinburgh University examining the global challenges facing society, and the role of academia in meeting these challenges.

There is a growing recognition across the world of the urgency of tackling a range of difficult, complex and inter-related issues that impact human wellbeing. These issues include food, energy and water security, the spread of infectious diseases, developments in technology and medicine, and climate change.

The series, delivered by distinguished speakers, focuses on the contribution academia can make to understanding and addressing these global challenges. the lectures also form the basis of an exciting new interdisciplinary undergraduate course at Edinburgh University. More details here.

Click here for the full lecture series this autumn.

Senior school pupils, students and staff are all welcome to attend.

http://www.ed.ac.uk/about/video/lecture-series/changing-world/changing-world .

All lectures are free, but ticketed. Places are limited so booking is essential.

September 28th, 2011

Newly revised - Schools Global Footprint calculator

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, climate and energy, enterprise, learner voice, nature, resources, water
 : Categories ICT, mathematics, renewables and climate change, sciences, social studies, sustainable development, technologies

Education Scotland’s new-look Schools Global Footprint Calculator is now live and can be viewed at: http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/schoolsglobalfootprint

This key online resource has had a significant make-over and now features:

• a user-friendly interactive calculator
• streamlined navigation
• a comprehensive teacher handbook
• tutorial videos for practitioners
• inspiring examples of how schools have used the resource to reduce their footprint.

The school estate is responsible for an estimated 50% of greenhouse gas emissions from local authorities. The online calculator allows learners to measure the ecological footprint of their school in relation to six topic areas: food, water, energy, buildings, transport and waste. Learners are also encouraged to develop innovative approaches to reducing their impact on the environment and promoting sustainable lifestyles in the wider community – from tackling the school run to growing and eating their own produce to reduce food miles.

In addition to providing an exciting real life context for delivering the experiences and outcomes, the resource greatly supports Eco-Schools activities and provides learners with skills for learning, life and work as Scotland move towards a low-carbon future.

View the Schools Global Footprint resource or find out more about Education Scotland’s sustainable development education resources.

September 20th, 2011

Grants available for climate change projects

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, climate and energy, funding
 : Categories citizenship, renewables and climate change, sciences, social studies, sustainable development, technologies

Get started with your climate change campaigning!!

Have you been exploring climate change in your classroom and are ready to take action to raise awareness?

Climate Exchange are offering two types of grants to participating schools to support activities around climate change. Schools are eligible to win both grants.

Some ideas include:

• Running a poster campaign on climate change issues
• Creating improvised drama or art displays
• Producing videos and photos to visualize your activity
• Interviewing school decision-makers within local authorities

Project staff at Climate Exchange are able to support you with your application so if you need help developing your ideas please get in touch with them. They can also help to promote your activity in the media, the local community and to MPs / MEP’s.

For more information about how to apply visit:

http://www.mtl-cec.org/about/get-started-with-your-climate-change-campaigning.html

Find out too about the programme of Active Citizenship residential courses available. Transport costs will be provided. More info at: http://www.mtl-cec.org/about/active-citizenship-residential.html

September 20th, 2011

New Resource - Working in the energy sector

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: climate and energy
 : Categories mathematics, renewables and climate change, sciences, sustainable development, technologies

The energy sector is set to become a key driver in the Scottish economy, offering exciting job opportunities for people at every career stage.

It is estimated that between 52,000 to 95,000 energy-related jobs will be created in the coming decade as Scotland realises its ambitions to become a world leader in wind, wave and tidal renewable technologies. In total, the transformation to a low carbon economy could generate an estimated 130,000 jobs.

The oil and gas sector continues to grow too with companies in this industry looking to recruit 10,000 employees over the next 5 years.

Education Scotland has produced this guidance leaflet for teachers and those who advise on careers.

Download the leaflet below to learn more about:

• the job opportunities that exist and the skills that will be required to access careers in the energy sector
• online support and resources that are available to support learning and teaching
• places to visit including renewable energy demonstration projects
• what you can do to promote awareness and engagement in energy-related careers

Download the leaflet >> Working in the energy sector

To order more copies of this leaflet - email: [email protected] or ring Customer services 0141 282 5000