December 2017 Newsletter: New resource update
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ASE Annual Conference We'll be at the ASE Annual Conference from 4th- 6th January which this year takes place in Liverpool. We will have a stand in the main exhibition area and will also be running our 'Biology Practicals That Work' drop-in sessions where you can try your hand at some of our most popular practicals. If you’re attending the conference please come to the stand or the drop-in, we’d love to meet you. We will have some resources to explore and will be popping the giant cells in pieces of red pepper (see our new osmosis resource below). In addition the first 40 people to the drop-in each day will get a free SAPS potometer kit.We’re looking forward to meeting you, why not tweet us at @SAPS_News or post on our Facebook page to let us know that you’re coming?
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New post-16 set practical resource – Osmosis in Bell Pepper
We have a new resource for you: a new version of the classic osmosis practical in which students measure weight change of tissues but using pieces of bell pepper (Capsicum annum) instead of potato. If you take a look inside a bell pepper you can see what appear to be giant cells and investigation revealed that they are exactly that. By thinking about the pressure inside these cells, the resource encourages students to think about turgor pressure and why osmosis is such an important process for plants.
We will be demonstrating this resource at the ASE Annual Conference but if you’re not attending or simply can’t wait until then then it's available on our website. Remember to take a look at those giant cells next time you slice open a pepper!
Osmosis in red pepper resource
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RSB teacher of the year - Deadline Friday 22nd December 2017
There is still time to nominate yourself or a colleague for the Royal Society of Biology’s School Biology Teacher of the Year Award. This award celebrates teachers of 11 to 18 year olds who demonstrate outstanding and inspirational teaching of biology and are working to enthuse their colleagues and others beyond their own institution.
For an application form visit the RSB Website
Be sure to mention any SAPS resources that have been used!
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STEM Learning Ultimate STEM Challenge – Deadline Friday 12th January 2018
STEM Learning, The Science Museum and BP have partnered to support the Ultimate STEM Challenge which asks groups of students aged 11-14 to submit a solution to one of three challenges on the theme of My Sustainable Future. The challenges are designed to build confidence and teamwork skills and help inspire students to consider STEM careers.
Winners receive an Ultimate STEM experience day, £500 to spend on science equipment or field trips and Science Museum goody bags.
More information here.
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News story – Flowers produce ‘blue halo’ effect which attracts pollinators
Tiny ridges on the petals of many flowers create a light-scattering effect that produces a blue tinged ring around the centre of the flower. Making colour in this way is useful as blue is difficult for plants to make chemically. Bees can learn to use the rings as a guide for where they will find a tasty nectar reward and therefore visit to pollinate the flower. The team who made the discovery, led by Beverley Glover, Director of Cambridge University Botanic Garden, found that the ridges themselves are disordered as opposed to ordered and suggest that this trait has evolved many times in different groups of plants.
You can read more on The Guardian website here
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The region at the base of the petals of this Urisinia speciosa flower appears blue at certain angles due to an optical effect. Photograph: Edwige Moyroud/AP
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