COP26 Project Science
We are excited to be celebrating COP26 with a climate change-themed science investigation project for 30 schools from across the Edinburgh City Region.
To celebrate the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) taking place in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November 2021, we have invited schools from the Edinburgh City Region (Edinburgh, Lothians, Borders and Fife) to take part in COP26 Project Science.
This project is for Second Level pupils and their teachers, and is based around the Big Balloon Blow Up, one of our Project Science investigations. The project aims to increase pupil and teacher confidence in using the scientific method, increase understanding of the scientific method and how it is used by local scientists, improve data handling skills, and increase awareness of contemporary research and its links to combatting climate change.
The Big Balloon Blow-Up is linked to the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence Second Level Es&Os for Science, Literacy and Numeracy. You can find more details, along with the learning aims and objectives of the investigation, by clicking here.
What's included?
| The Big Balloon Blow-Up digital resources |
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| Experimental materials | Each school taking part will receive a COP26-themed Big Balloon Blow Up reusable toolkit which has a value of £100, free of charge, which includes everything required for all of your Second Level pupils to carry out the practical investigation. The kits will remain with the school as a resource that we hope will support your hands-on science activity in future years. We suggest that World Environment Day (5 June) would be a useful focus for repeat activity in future years. |
| Teacher CLPL Event | On Thursday 28 October 2021 3:30pm - 5pm we will host an online teacher CLPL event for all Second Level teachers taking part in the project. |
| Project Celebration Event | On Wednesday 1 December 2021 11am - 11:45am we will host an online celebration event for all pupils and teachers taking part in the project. |
Since we expect a high number of applications, schools that have all of their P5 - P7 classes taking part will be prioritised, as will schools located in areas of rural isolation or socio-economic deprivation.
We expect that schools selected for the project will participate fully in all activities, including attending the CLPL session and celebration event, completing evaluation forms and submitting photos for the celebration video (see below for more information on photo use and safeguarding).
What are the important dates for my diary?
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Teacher CLPL Event |
Thursday 28 October 2021 3:30pm - 5pm: Online teacher CLPL event for all Second Level teachers taking part in the project. |
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Pupil Investigations |
Friday 29 October – Friday 24 November: Classes carry out investigations, teachers take photos and submit them for the celebration video to be shown at the Celebration Event |
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Celebration Event |
Wednesday 1 December 2021 11am - 11:45am: Online celebration event for all pupils and teachers taking part in the project. The celebration video will be shown at this event and posted on social media via @EBSOClab and @roslininstitute |
Schools will be informed of the results of their application by Friday 1 October 2021. If successful you will receive your COP26 Project Science toolkit between 11 and 22 October 2021.
How do I apply?
Applications are now closed.
How we use your information when applying for COP26 Project Science.
Applications
We will use your personal data to allow us to process your application and we will use the contact details you provide to communicate with you about the project, so that we can fulfil our contract as the project provider. We will also use your contact details to ask you for feedback about the project because it is in our legitimate interest to measure satisfaction as part of our commitment to continuous improvement.
Communication
We may also use your information to contact you at later date with other similar opportunities that we feel you will have a legitimate interest in hearing about. To do so we will keep the information you provide when applying limited to name, email address and school. At each coorespondance we will give the opportunity to remove your details from our contact list, you may opt out of this at any time.
Photography
To create a celebration video that will be shown at the Celebration Event (1 December 2021), posted on our social media account @EBSOClab, @roslininstitute and our website, we ask that participating schools submit photos of their pupils in action, carrying out and sharing their investigations.
We will send a photo permission form to all participating schools, which must be signed and sent back to us if you submit photographs with identifiable pupils.
We will invite all participating schools to join us online via Microsoft Teams for our celebration event on 1 December 2021. Please read our safeguarding policy and ensure that it is in line with your own school's regulations.
You can download a copy of our safeguarding policy here.
We expect that the schools that are selected for the project will participate fully in all activities, including attending the CLPL session and celebration event, completing evaluation forms and submitting photos for the celebration video
All information submitted is protected under GDPR and will not be shared with anyone outside of our project team or used for any other purpose than for this project.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this investigation, the University of Edinburgh is not liable for the actions or activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. The University of Edinburgh assumes no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. These activities are designed to be carried out by children (8 to 14 years old) under the supervision of a teacher or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely by the children.
All our Project Science investigations have been fully risk assessed by the University of Edinburgh. If you wish to have a copy of our risk assessment please email ebsoc@ed.ac.uk and list the name of the investigation.