Top events in 2006
The Nysgjerrigper project looks back on another exciting year of communicating science and research to primary school children. Here are some of the highlights from 2006.
- During February, a national network of teachers promoting the Nysgjerrigper Method came together to share experiences and views on how research methodology can be applied in primary school tuition. Throughout the year, they have lectured at schools, contributed on conferences and arranged teaching seminars.
- In March, teachers at preschool through high school level at the Scandinavian School in Brussels got an introduction to the Nysgjerrigper Method.
- In April, Nysgjerrigper participated at The Inventor's, Technology and Design Fair in Grue with a carpenter's workshop. Combining scientific research and practical skill, inventive pupils from Ulsmåg primary school in Bergen taught visitors at the fair how to whittle the best arrows for arrow bows.
- May and June is the time for our annual science contest, The Nysgjerrigper of the Year. This year more than a 1000 pupils participated in projects submitted to the science contest. The projects were evaluated by regional juries as well as a national jury. The winners received the Nysgjerrigper Prize 2006 at the international science communication conference CST 060606 in Tromsø for their research on flavour additives in candy. The Minister of Education and Research himself handed over the prize. In addition to the prize ceremony, an exhibition of selected drawings from the "Draw a Scientist" competition in 2005 was displayed in the city hall.
- In August, Nysgjerrigper, together with The National Science Center and Forskerfabrikken (The Scientist Factory), took part in the Children's Festival on Kalvøya, near Oslo. Young visitors were invited to perform scientific experiments, which were carried out with great enthusiasm.
- In September, The National Science Week in Norway was arranged. This nationwide event is held every year to make science and research available to the public. Since ethics were one of this years themes, Nysgjerrigper chose to focus on energy consumption, biotechnology and their ethical implications. The fall issue of the Nysgjerrigper Magazine, released during the Science Week, also presented biotechnology in a theme supplement. For Researchers' Night, Nysgjerrigper displayed the ?Draw a Scientist? exhibition in Brussels and invited participants to a beaver safari.
- In October, Nysgjerrigper and the Nysgjerrigper Method were presented to teachers at Norwegian primary schools abroad, attending a convention at the Scandinavian School of Brussels (SSB).
- In November, Nysgjerrigper and Forskerfabrikken (The Scientist Factory) invited visitors at The Astrofestival in Oslo to explore the question why water is so crucial for life. The answers to that question also explain why astrobiologists take an interest in a very particular molecule when looking for life on other planets. As souvenirs, small samples of the topical molecule were handed out at the stand.
- During the fall, the interactive web resource at nysgjerrigpermetoden.no has been visually and functionally upgraded. The website provides simple instructions in research methodology, including a tool for publishing and producing research reports of science projects.
- Through the year, there has been an increasing demand for the Nysgjerrigper magazine. Beside other material from the magazine, all articles are published on Nysgjerrigper?s web site. The number of articles cited in other media is growing as well, making the Nysgjerrigper project known to the general public. Also, the web site?s English section has been heavily expended and upgraded to meet a growing demand from international visitors.
Last modified: 24.01.2007