Folded rocks on Syros, Greece
Photo © University of Bristol
Future plans
The next steps are to add talks for younger age groups (8 - 9 year olds) and/or a further 4 to six top earth sciences themes
We will also develop the website further, so that students can follow up topics they've heard about in the talks and find out more. Our intention is not to create yet another Earth sciences website, but to direct children and teachers to existing high-quality web-based materials such as those established by ESTA, GSL, ESEU and OPITO.
We also plan to develop a new project, and seek sponsors for a mass mailing of posters. These will illustrate exciting and interesting themes such as geological time, origin of life, dinosaurs, plate tectonics, how a volcano works, geology and landscape, climate change, geohazards, finding oil, finding diamonds. These all relate to key-stage specifications in Geography, Chemistry, and other science GCSE syllabuses. They will present factual information and, in the case of controversial topics, a balanced presentation of the evidence.
The posters will be designed to demand attention from teachers, with arresting digital artwork that tells the whole story, and with quiz questions and startling facts to attract children. The posters will contain a postcard-sized inset box with a memorable web-link and a different person’s career story (based on interesting people, under the age of 30, who have forged exciting careers in Earth sciences).
