ONE of the biggest events on the science calendar is to return to Liverpool.
Confirmation the city would welcome the Association for Science Education’s annual conference was last night hailed as further proof Liverpool was cementing a reputation as a hot-spot for the sciences.
The ASE conference, which shines a light on science in education, is to be held at the University of Liverpool from January 4-7.
It will see an estimated 2,000 teachers, laboratory technicians and school inspectors from the UK and as far afield as China attend.
The packed programme will feature workshops for teachers and scrutinise everything from using science teaching to inspire improvements throughout a school to University of Liverpool lecturers delivering talks on topical issues such as obesity and diabetes.
The conference was last hosted here during Capital of Culture in 2008.
And University of Liverpool’s vice-chancellor, Sir Howard Newby, said he was delighted the conference was back in Liverpool – at a time the city was continuing to invest in the sciences.
He said: “We are investing £600m in our teaching, research and residential estate which includes a £23m suite of centralised teaching laboratories. It is vital that we work together to raise the aspirations of the scientists of tomorrow and I am sure this conference will prove incredibly valuable for all those at the heart of science education.”
News the city will host the conference comes just weeks after the Daily Post revealed how Liverpool had been given the government green light to open a University Technical College in 2013 specialising in the bio-medical sciences, engineering and healthcare.
It will be led by sponsors the University of Liverpool, Everton-based North Liverpool Academy and the Royal Liverpool hospital.
And Damien Gent, head of science at North Liverpool Academy, said the conference “represents a real opportunity for the teachers in Liverpool to access the very latest frontier science, research and teaching practice for the delivery of high-quality science”.
Speakers at the conference will include five-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave, who will showcase The Wellcome Trust’s Olympics-inspired free experiment kits for schools.
Dr John Dickinson, a Liverpool John Moores University research fellow, who is leading a project to help city students learn more about the science behind the Olympics, said: “This is a fantastic coup for the city in highlighting the importance of science education”
ASE chief executive and former University of Liverpool graduate Annette Smith said: “Culturally, the city is a big draw for our delegates.”
Education Reporter Ben Turner says....
THE timing of the Association for Science Education’s return to Liverpool could not be better.
In October, the Government confirmed Liverpool is to be home to a University Technical College for 14 to 19-year-olds, specialising in the bio- medical sciences, engineering and healthcare.
It will work closely with a new Royal Liverpool Hospital and our universities, themselves excelling in this area – ranging from investing millions in laboratories to nurturing excitement amongst school pupils.
And the region’s life science sector generates millions for the local economy each year.
So it is no wonder a city that is gathering real momentum and establishing itself as a science centre of excellence is welcoming this latest glowing endorsement.
