Enthusiasm, relevance and creativity: could these teaching qualities stop us alienating pupils from science?

The poor attitude of pupils towards science continues to be a topic of concern within secondary schools. This article considers research and highlights what we can learn as teachers to persevere in tackling the problem. Alongside this review, a case study was undertaken with a sample of year 7 pupils (ages 11–12) in English schools who reported that they enjoy the practical element of science but can be distracted by the complicated facts and explanations. Pupils’ suggestions to improve their engagement in science lessons were to include more experiments as well as fun tasks and a variety of activities. We consider whether an approach including more of these factors in science delivery could reduce alienation of pupils from the science curriculum and hence attract more pupils to continue their education in science-related courses

The Effect of X-ray Energy Overlaps on the Microanalysis of Chevkinite (Ce, La, Ca, Th)4(Fe2+, Mg)2(Ti, Fe3+)3Si4O22 Using SEM EDS-WDS

A light REE (LREE)-bearing mineral called chevkinite (Ce, La, Ca, Th)4(Fe2+, Mg)2(Ti, Fe3+)3Si4O22, originating from a heavy metal placer deposit Aksu Diamas in Turkey, previously assessed for potential REE extraction as a by-product of magnetite production, was studied using scanning electron microscopy with energy and wavelength-dispersive spectrometers (SEM EDS-WDS). This mineral exhibits analytical challenges associated with severe X-ray energy overlaps between the REE, titanium, and barium. Here, we present an iterative process, showing that SEM EDS-WDS is a viable technique for obtaining good quality quantitative data. SEM EDS-WDS is an in situ, non-destructive, and relatively non-expensive technique, but operator’s experience is essential to obtain good quality data. In cases where the peak fitting remains challenging, in particular, and where the constituents have large differences in abundance, an assessment of the X-ray spectrum to qualitatively assign all peaks is essential prior to quantitative analysi

Grain size and organic carbon controls polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), mercury (Hg) and toxicity of surface sediments in the River Conwy Estuary, Wales, UK

The Conwy estuary was evaluated for sediment quality. Microtox bioassay revealed 38 of 39 sites were non-toxic. Hg ranged from 0.001 to 0.153 μg kg−1, mean 0.026 mg kg−1, Σ16 PAH from 18 to 1578 μg kg−1, mean 269 μg kg−1, Σ22 PAH, 18 to 1871 μg kg−1 mean to 312 μg kg−1, two sites had high perylene relative to ΣPAH. Σ22PAH correlated positively with TOC, clay and silt (R2 0.89, 0.92, 0.90) and negatively with sand. Multivariate statistics, delineated four spatial (site) and five variable (measurements) clusters. Spatial clustering relates to sediment grain size, in response to hydrodynamic processes in estuary; fine (clay to silt) sized sediments exhibit the highest Hg and PAH content, because these components partitioned into the fine fraction. Comparison to national and international environmental standards suggests Hg and PAH content of Conwy sediments are unlikely to harm ecology or transfer up into the human food chain

Sustainable Phosphorus Loadings from Effective and Cost-Effective Phosphorus Management Around the Baltic Sea

Nutrient over-enrichment of the Baltic Sea, accompanied by intensified algal blooms and decreasing water clarity, has aroused widespread concern in the surrounding countries during the last four decades. This work has used a well-tested dynamic mass-balance model to investigate which decrease in total phosphorus loading would be required to meet the environmental goal to restore the trophic state in the Baltic Sea to pre-1960s levels. Furthermore, the extent to which various abatement options may decrease the phosphorus loading in a cost-effective manner has been studied. Upgrading urban sewage treatment in the catchment could, alone or in combination with banning phosphates in detergents, be sufficient to meet the set environmental goal, at an estimated annual basin-wide cost of 0.21–0.43 billion euro. Such a plan would potentially decrease the total phosphorus loading to the Baltic Sea with 6,650–10,200 tonnes per year

Can a paleosol be used as a reference material for monitoring soil aggregate stability?

An important physical indicator of soil quality, which regulatory authorities may wish to monitor, is aggregate stability. In a recent study, Rawlins et al. (in press) presented a novel method for determining the stability of aggregates in water using a laser granulometer (LG). The LG is used to make two measurements of the continuous size distribution (<2000 μm) within a sample of aggregates. The first measurement is made on water stable aggregates after these have been added to circulating water (initial air-dried aggregate size range 1000 to 2000 μm). The second measurement is made on the disaggregated material after the circulating aggregates have been disrupted with ultrasound (sonication). The difference between the mean weight diameters of these two size distributions is referred to as the disaggregation reduction (DR; μm). Soils with more stable aggregates, which are resistant to both slaking and mechanical breakdown by the hydrodynamic forces during circulation, have larger values of DR. Rawlins et al showed that for two soil types, the DR values had coefficients of variation of 12.1 and 19% suggesting the DR value is reproducible based on the small mass of soil used. If such a test is to be applied for soil aggregate monitoring, it will be necessary to analyse a reference material (RM) with consistent disaggregation properties (DR value) to demonstrate that the procedure is consistent over the period of monitoring. To our knowledge no one has previously attempted to use or apply a RM for testing soil aggregate stability. We know of no commercially available anthropogenic material which has consistent disaggregation properties. Field soils, which are exposed to seasonal variations in organic matter content plus wetting and drying cycles, are unlikely to have sufficiently consistent disaggregation properties for use as an aggregate RM. Paleosols are likely to be less reposnosive to seasoanl cycles because they are often buried at depths (>1 m) beyond the most active hydrological and biogeochemical cycles, and so they are likely to disaggregate more consistently over time. They are also sufficiently abundant for bulk samples to be collected repeatedly.We present analyses of DR for a paleosol (brickearth) material collected from a site at Ospringe in Kent (sourthern England) at a depth of 1.6 m to determine whether it has properties that indicate its potential for use as a RM for monitoring soil aggregate stability based on the method presented by Rawlins et al.. We discuss the implications of our initial findings. Rawlins, B. G., Wragg, J. Lark, R. M. in press. Application of a novel method for soil aggregate stability measurement by laser granulometry with sonication. European Journal of Soil Science

Fifteen pupils' positive approach to primary school science: when does it decline?

The decline in secondary school pupils' attitudes towards science is well documented. However, recent research has shown that pupils' attitudes to science appear to become fixed during their primary school years. This study investigated end of Key Stage 1 (Yr 2 (ages six to seven years)) and end of Key Stage 2 (Yr 6 (ages 10-11 years)) pupils' attitudes to science, using Klopfer's themes (1971), through a paired activity and interview for Yr 2 pupils and a pre- and post-Test of Science-Related Attitudes questionnaire (adapted) for Yr 6 pupils. The questionnaire was analysed using the mean and chi square values and Cronbach's alpha was calculated to test reliability. The results revealed that while Yr 2 pupils exhibit a thirst for knowledge and enthusiasm for science, Yr 6 pupils' attitudes over the period of one academic year did not change: their attitude towards science was fixed. This insight raises some implications and responsibilities for primary school teachers