Bee creative in science

Abstract

Schools tend to think of science as a recipe with questions to which you already know the answers. In my experience, science is more fun when you have to work out the questions and answers,’ says Dr Beau Lotto, reader in neuroscience at University College, London. It is an argument that he has proved valid, even with children as young as eight-years-old. In a unique collaboration between himself and Blackawton Primary School, Devon, a group of eightto-10-year-olds carried out a scientific investigation and wrote it up, then had it published in a specialist magazine called Biology Letters. This was a world first for scientific publishing. The project came about by accident. Beau Lotto’s children attend Blackawton Primary School, where headteacher Dave Strudwick was showing parents around the school. Dave says: ‘I asked about parents’ jobs and Beau explained what he did. Then in National Science Week, we had parents coming into assemblies to talk about their jobs. One of those parents was Beau. He said he really loved his job because it gave him the chance of playing games all day. ‘We were interested in developing education/science links and his work with the bees made me think there was an opportunity to do something with the kids. We were interested in developing the idea of science as a game. We applied for funding to get the project supported financially, but the grant awarders thought it was too risky and that it would not work. Beau said: “Let’s just go for it!” and agreed to provide the level of support required.’