Sixth-formers learn how to unlock a future in particle physics
World leading particle physicists from RAL & The University of Oxford show passionate sixth formers the ropes at leading research lab.
Women scientists encourage girls to shine bright in science lessons
In our webinar celebrating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, female scientists shared valuable advice for girls interested in science careers.
Why we should all love apprenticeships
Jo Foster, director of IRIS, talks about why the apprenticeship should be seen as an equally strong pathway to a STEM career as the academic degree.
Shattering perceptions of chemistry
Northern Ireland students are attending their first research event at Queen’s University Belfast to kick-start their research investigating specialist chemicals to create greener fragrances.
Give students the tools to achieve
What can the education sector can do to break down the barriers and challenge damaging misconceptions to prevent young people from learning science? IRIS director Jo Foster has a few ideas.
IRIS Awards 2022
IRIS hosted its first awards ceremony, celebrating the talented and hard-working students and teachers who innovate in the classroom every day in their national programme.
IRIS student wins Young Scientist 2022
Connie, a 14-year-old student from Liverpool, is today celebrating her win of Big Bang’s Young Scientist of the Year 2022 award in recognition of her work analysing how some birds can fly and others cannot.
Young researchers share their findings at IRIS Student Conferences 2022
Young people from secondary schools and colleges across the UK will be travelling to venues in Bradford, Edinburgh and London to showcase their scientific research.
Widening STEM access is necessary and far from impossible
Controversial comments from the social mobility tsar aside, STEM has a diversity problem and there’s plenty we can do about it.
I am not ‘totally fine’ that only 16% of girls study Physics
IRIS director responds to UK Social Mobility Commissioner’s claim that girls do not choose physics A-level because they dislike “hard maths”.
The National Research and Innovation Accelerator – our plan to open up science for young people
Embedding a culture of research and innovation in schools is key to securing the UK’s leadership in STEM. This is our plan to help schools to get there.
Apprenticeship reform starts with the school calendar
If the UK is to realise the true potential of STEM apprenticeship, reform is needed. Jo Foster argues that companies must kickstart change by aligning the apprenticeship cycle with the school calendar.
For young people to ‘get’ STEM, they must see the real-world applications
To get more students studying #STEM, we need to engage them and demonstrate the real-world applications of science, argues Sean O’Sullivan from biotechnology company Illumina.
It’s all materials (science) – Students showcase their DNA designs to leading scientists at the University of Leeds
Teens are given a chance to share their research with their peers and leading materials scientists.
Apprenticeships are key to unlocking our science superpower
Schools must value and recommend apprenticeships if we are ever to become a ‘science superpower’, writes Jo Foster
Northern Ireland students work with leading scientists on salty research
Teens from Northern Ireland are working with leading scientists from Queens University Belfast to explore the liquid heralded as the UK innovation most likely to shape the 21st century.
BBC Look North investigates students’ research skills at St John Fisher
BBC Look North reporters visited St John Fisher in Dewsbury to learn more about students’ latest research endeavour DNA Origami.
Girls in STEM: A cause for celebration, not complacency
GCSE and A level results give grounds to rejoice about girls’ success in STEM subjects, but there is a long way to go before gender imbalance in the sciences is undone, writes Jo Foster.
Stuff clay, let’s play with DNA
These UK secondary students could quite possibly be the youngest people to construct artificial structures using DNA. They’ve been part of a pilot project investigating the emerging field of science – DNA nanotechnology.
What’s under their scopes?
Secondary students from around the country have been taking a closer look at their research subjects using an instrument more commonly found in leading universities, research organisations and high-tech companies than schools.
If the UK wants to be a science super power, research must be at the heart of science education
Jo Foster explains why student-led research should be at the heart of secondary education if the UK wants to realise its ambitions of becoming a science super power.
UK students decode parasite genome to help prevent childhood infection
Students have been helping scientists from the Sanger Institute annotate the genome of the human whipworm, Trichuris trichiura. Their efforts could support the development of a vaccine to prevent a neglected tropical disease linked to malnutrition and cognitive developmental problems in children.
IRIS CPD course to empower teachers with skills to embed student-led research in their schools
IRIS announces a Continuing Professional Development course for teachers wanting to embed authentic research opportunities across their school curriculum.
Location:
The Science Musuem
London
Document title
Lorem ipsom delore
The IRIS Virtual Conference: Secondary students illustrate resilience during a tough school year
We list the top research projects presented by secondary students at the IRIS Virtual Conference 2020-21.
Could research reignite teachers’ passion for science?
Dr Elizabeth Rushton, lecturer at King’s College London, talked to 50 teachers who said IRIS projects have helped them reconnect with scientific inquiry, develop new subject knowledge and connect and collaborate with scientists.
The Institute for Research in Schools announces launch of national STEM framework
IRIS will launch the national STEM Research and Innovation in Schools Framework in November 2021 with partner organisations. It will bring together best practice from the education, research and charity communities to enable school leaders to develop an effective whole school strategy to support STEM within their school.
Where are tomorrow’s scientists? Teachers can still ignite passions to ‘turn on’ the next generation of researchers
Jackie Flaherty Director of STEM at Chipping Campden School explains why meaningful investigative work is imperative to educate future scientists and how IRIS projects can help overwelmed teachers ignite passions and ‘turn on’ the next generation of researchers.
Scottish high school students inspire discovery of new penguin colony in Antarctica
The British Antarctic Survey acknowledged Scottish high school students for their encouragement which led to a discovery of a new colony of emperor penguins. The study, as part of , reveals that there are nearly 20% more emperor penguin colonies an Antarctica than previously thought.
Teens’ education is at stake – why it’s as critical as ever to get students involved in real research
Evidence now suggests that the attainment gap between disadvantaged students and their peers is likely to have widened due to the inequalities of provision and access to education during the pandemic. Student-led research either in school or home could enhance students understanding of STEM subjects during this critical time in education.