Chris Jordan: Polluting Plastics from PopTech on Vimeo.
A very moving account of the issue of marine plastics by the photographer Chris Jordan. If you haven’t seen his work, take a look at the Running the Numbers series, a emotive take on our attitude to ‘stuff’.
Hurray for the government: a new week, a new idea about education. Computing, ICT, digital literacy, call it what you will, is the flavour of the week and Michael Gove is due to make a speech on the subject on Wednesday. I am guessing that the three main themes of this will be that: one there needs to be more rigour in the teaching of computer skills; two that this is vital for the UK’s future economic competitiveness; and three that all schools should teach this irrespective of how ‘free’ from Local Authority control they are.
It’s not that I am necessarily against the teaching of computing in schools. Running an organisation called Digital Explorer, it would be pretty contrary if I were. However, statements such as Ed Vaizey’s comment that knowing how a computer works should be “on a par with a knowledge of the arts and humanities” don’t really help. (more…)
Very happy to announce the arrival of lots of pretty (and pretty useful) resources to bring the oceans to life in your classroom! They are available for free online on Digital Explorer’s Ocean channel. The Frozen Oceans resources include booklets with structured lesson plans, activity and experiment sheets, an interactive Media Player with videos and images, along with posters and other related resources- all based on ‘real’ science – the Catlin Arctic Survey expeditions 2009-11. The Ambassador scheme will also without a doubt inspire and educate your pupils – there is nothing better than an Arctic scientist kitted up with full polar gear in a classroom, explaining what its like to live at -40C!
Also have a look at resources on English, Citizenship and RE on the newly launched Culture channel! Here you can watch film episodes from last year’s Journey to Pakistan youth expedition, or book a student Ambassador from the trip to visit your school. All of these resources are designed to increase your pupil’s understanding of other cultures and perspectives through interactive peer-to-peer education.
Happy exploring!
BBC’s series Frozen Planet investigates another natural wonder of the Earth as they film scientists researching the effects of the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, on the atmosphere.
The brilliant light show that occurs every winter in the Arctic is created when the magnetic pull of the North Pole lures in electrically intense particles evaporating from the sun. As the solar wind particles collide with those of the polar region they create an aurora that acts as a reminder of the sun’s presence during the dark days of Arctic winters.
While Aurora Borealis captures our attention as an amazing natural phenomenon, scientists recognize that the lights possess the potential to have a negative impact on the whole Northern Hemisphere. The geometric storm can affect satellites, power grids, navigation and communication systems as well as deteriorate oil pipelines.
A main way scientists research the relationship between the atmosphere and space environment is through launching smoke rockets into the air at bases such as the Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska. They are able to track the way the chemical trails released by the rockets are affected by the winds created from Aurora Borealis and then use their measurements to predict future space weather. Professor Dirk Lummerzheim, aurora expect from the Poker Flat Range stated that “If we can predict space weather, we can prepare for it and mitigate the dangers.”
Read more about the wonders of the Northern Lights on BBC Nature and on Frozen Plant!
Just coming down from a vintage year at the annual expedition planning conference that is Explore at the Royal Geographical Society. Lots of great expeditions, speakers and two standing ovations in the main lecture theatre. Fantastic.
Here are some personal highlights in no particular order (I missed lots, I know, so please feel free to add comments on what I should have seen, who I should have spoke to, etc.)
1. Janapar film screening
Much praise to Tom Allen for having the courage to put his emotions and journey on the big screen for all to see. Delighted that this private screening was a part of Explore. Do sign up to hear more about the next part of this adventure – bringing the film to festivals and the public.
2. Atlantic Rising
A wonderful, humorous and thought-provoking talk from the Atlantic Rising crew, recipients of the Land Rover Go Beyond Bursary. Great that they had the platform they deserve and fantastic to see a continuing educational legacy on their new website.
3. foldedsheet
It’s simple, elegant and packs a huge communications punch. I hope you had the chance to meet Luce and see the examples of her work. Here’s an example of Al Humphreys’ latest book using foldedsheet…
4. Pangaea Expedition
I was sorry to miss Emily’s talk but managed to catch up afterwards to hear more about this fantastic oceans expedition project. They are looking at oceans plastic at the moment and hope to be able to work with them in the future.
5. The fact that this happens at all
Massive thanks to Shane, Amy and all the team at Geography Outdoors at the RGS. It’s an annual highlight, meeting with old friends, making new ones and finding out that exploration in the UK and beyond is in rude health. A huge achievement!!
Oh and I’ll never think about hippos in the same way…
Scientists believe to have explained the mystery behind the formation of the extraordinary Gamburtsev mountain range which is part of the Antarctic Landmass. The Gumburtsev range looks very similar to the Alps is 800km long – and is hidden under 4,000m of ice. Models show an unbelievable insight into geologic history and were ‘uncovered’ using aircraft radar, listening to seismic waves, conducting gravity and magnetic surveys, through the cooperation of seven nations.
In order to fully understand how such a remarkable process can occur it is necessary to understand both tectonic and climate processes; the key processes to recognise are rifting and uplift.
Researchers hope that they can drill out the oldest ancient ice sample to date, possibly over 1 million years old- a tough challenge as water has frozen in layers over the base of the ice sheet disrupting the ancient ice.
Fly through the Gumburtsevs with the BBC here!
Yesterday the BBC reported that the actual number of discharge pipes in England and Wales is about 31,000 rather than the previously thought 22,000. This is because other categories of pipes exist, such as pumping stations, which were not taken into account before now.
This information came from the Marine Conservation Society who is working towards improving the management and mapping of the overflow pipes. While the MCS does believe that these pipes are necessary, they also see the need to ensure that they are only used in emergency situations and for more water companies to invest in the sewer network.
According to the Environment Agency £8bn has already been devoted towards bettering the sewage system and 98% of bathing waters in England and Wales now meet the safety regulations. Yet with this being said there is still apparently much more work to be done. Some outlets still release more than the allowed sewage per year and one was even reported to have released sewage for 1,000 hours in 2010 during the bathing season. This release of sewage into the waters where kids and families swim leads to more issues such as stomach aches and ear infections.
The Environment Agency helped acquire £4bn more for improvements to continue until 2015.
Congratulations to Sarah Outen for reaching Tokyo and completing the first leg of her journey of London2London!
Since leaving Tower Bridge 7.5 months ago Sarah has peddled and paddled 18,700km across the world and has overcome all the obstacles placed in front of her. She heads for home from Gulliver in Spring 2012 when she will do it all again.
To see more of her inspirational journey visit her blog. Also check out her resource page full of activity sheets and and lesson plans produced by Sarah and Digital Explorer!
Amelia Hempleman-Adams, daughter of explorer David Hempleman-Adams, is currently training to be the youngest person to ski to the South Pole at the age of only 16. A big part of this training consists of getting acclimated to the extreme weather she will experience on her journey. To do this she is spending time in a supermarket freezer at a temperature of -27 degrees Celsius, yet the temperatures at the pole can reach as low as -60 degrees.
While Amelia is toughing it out in the freezer she still realizes the reality that it is no match for the actual weather she will experience on her expedition. She even states herself, “you can’t prepare yourself enough for those temperatures and that wind”.
This type of training should sound familiar to those teachers who took part in our training weekends!
Check out the BBC coverage of Amelia here!
As large and prominent as the Muslim world is, significant Islamic events can sometimes be overlooked by some Westerners. Fortunately, without having to look too hard, anyone can find news on what’s current in Islam. Lane Turner’s recent collection of photographs on this year’s Hajj and Eid-al-Adha events depicts Muslims from around the world observing and honouring one of the most important times in the Muslim lunar calendar.
Every year millions of Muslims make the Hajj, or pilgrimage, to Makkah in Saudi Arabia. This November was no different, with hours of praying and walking around the Kaaba of the Grand Mosque followed by other rituals, like Jamarat and the Eid-Al-Adha feast. Living in places as varied as Thailand, Palestine, Indonesia, Yemen, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines, Russia, Bangladesh, Romania, Iraq, Libya, China, India, Nigeria, Kashmir, Iran and Afghanistan, both men and women came together to prepare for and celebrate Eid-al-Adha during October and November.
Starting on the 26th of January 2012, the “Haj: Journey to the Heart of Islam” exhibit will be open to the public at the British Museum. According to Roger Harrison’s article, it will run until the 15th of April and will explore the Hajj in both historical and modern times. The exhibit consists of three main parts that help to give visitors an in depth understanding of Hajj and Islam.
One section focuses on the journey to Makkah from various directions: Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. It covers many of the struggles pilgrims faced on their way to Makkah in the past and people that were essential to getting large groups of pilgrims to their destination, like Harun Rashid and Thomas Cook. The second section looks at Hajj in modern times, addressing all of the rituals a pilgrim goes through and covering the effort it takes to manage millions of Muslims arriving at Makkah annually. The final section concentrates on Makkah itself and why it is so significant to Islam. It depicts Makkah in the past and present through artefacts, a film on the rituals involved with the Hajj and the works of artists.
Hopefully all the attention on Hajj will inspire people to look at the significance of Islam in our world and foster cultural understanding.
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