Produced by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), these activities help students to practically investigate the process of evolution. Using the context of wheat, students are able to consider its evolution from wild grasses. This can be used to demonstrate the dramatic effect of both...

The aim of this investigation is to find the value of a number of resistors using a Wheatstone bridge.  Although this is an historical piece of equipment that has been superseded by modern methods it provides an excellent way to understand potential difference in circuits.

This Core Maths activity includes four problems that remind students of familiar probability theory concepts, enable discussion and highlight possible misconceptions.

Wheels of fortune: Teacher Guide
This teacher guidance introduces the task, details the materials required and...

This Catalyst article looks at agricultural plants, that are prone to many diseases, and scientists who develop new techniques to fight these diseases.

The video asks students to predict when a bungee jumper experiences maximum acceleration.  The answer is at the very bottom of the jump.  This is often counter-intuitive as the velocity at this point is almost zero. 

However, acceleration is the rate of change of velocity over time, a = ^Δv/_Δt...

This Catalyst article explains why there are many anti-bacterial drugs but few antivirals. There are millions of bacteria everywhere – on skin, in the gut, and on food. Bacteria have been troubling human beings for as long as they have been around, so a lot of effort has been directed into finding ways to fight...

Produced by the Royal Observatory Greenwich, this booklet guides students to use Einstein’s mass-energy equivalence equation to determine when the Sun will become a red giant. Included is an online video that discusses how we can determine how old the Sun is. Details on the relationship between mass and energy in...

This podcast from the Natural Environment Research Council's (NERC) Planet Earth Online collection looks at how scientists are using fish scales to figure out why the UK salmon population is falling; and how carbon dioxide emissions from power stations could be used to make household bricks.

Salmon numbers...

Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study tackles the theme of progression through STEM subjects. By Newham Adult Learning Service, it describes an action research project that aimed to capture progression and learner voice data from a sample of learners who had recently completed...

A Catalyst article looking at how living organisms can act as biological indicators of problems in the way the environment is managed. Skylarks and other birds are disappearing from farmland. The article looks at how the statistics have been obtained, how and why bird numbers have declined and what can be done to...

This Catalyst article introduces Tom Denbigh who describes how he has worked as a volunteer on scientific projects to gain experience before his degree course.

This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2011...

Produced by Rolls-Royce, this series of case studies illustrates the wide range of career opportunities that are opened up for students with skills in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. They can be used to give careers advice and guidance to students as well as to illustrate the curriculum principles...