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NSC Home Page > EUAS Contents > 19 Summary profiles of other organisations
Appendices
19 Summary profiles of other organisations
British Geological Survey (BGS)
www.bgs.ac.uk and www.mineralsuk.com
Director: David Falvey
Main education contact: David Bailey
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG; tel: 01159 363100; fax: 01159 363200.BGS is a constituent body of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and is the UKs statutory geological survey, employing c750 people, half of whom are scientists. It also has the UK's largest single concentration of G.I.S. expertise. Whereas NERC has a general remit which encompasses promoting the public understanding/awareness of the natural sciences, BGS's constitution is unclear on the matter of public or school/college educational matters.
Publications: in terms of popular materials, BGS produces various small booklets, guides to specific areas and maps of "classic" geological areas, as well as virtually national geological map coverage. It also publishes Earthwise (magazine) and various pamphlets, including some for schools and Earthnews Notes - themed leaflets on subjects such as sustainable minerals supply, waste management, flooding, site engineering.
More technical BGS publications of educational relevance include production, sales and other annual statistics, geological and applied geological maps (e.g. engineering, minerals resources, hydrogeology) and reports. Fact sheets on individual sectors of the minerals industry have recently been made available on www.mineralsuk.com. Two especially useful publications in 2004 are "The Economic Importance of Minerals in the UK" and "Britain Beneath our Feet" (the latter is in effect an atlas of specialist geological maps of Britain).
Business Dynamics (until March 2001: Understanding Industry)
www.businessdynamics.org.uk
Business Dynamics, Enterprise House, 59-65 Upper Ground, London, SE1 9PQ
Tel: 0207 6200735 Fax: 0207 928 0578Aim: to bring business alive to young people.
Volunteers from companies introduce 14-19 year olds to the opportunities and challenges of business, as well as improving key skills in preparation for the world of work. The organisation was founded in 1977 by Europe's leading venture capital company "3i" (Investors in Industry) as a business education and enterprise charity.
Programmes include taking students into companies (75,000 in 2003) and arranging for volunteers (8,000) from companies (1800) to visit schools and motivate students.
The scheme is backed by major enterprises and complements curriculum requirements. One of the main aims is to change positively, student perceptions of business. In addition, Business Dynamics organises major events and conferences.
Supporting the headquarters, the organisation has local co-ordinators.
Publications (downloadable): Newsletters, Survey reports, etc.
Business in the Community (BITC)
www.bitc.org.uk
BITC Head Office, 137 Shepherdess Walk, London, N1 7RQ
Tel: 0870 600 2482Aim: to inspire, challenge, engage and support business in continually improving its positive impact on society.
BITC was established over 20 years ago and claims to be the largest and longest-established organisation of its kind. It is an independent and business led charity and is worldwide in its operation. In the UK, it has 700 member companies plus 1600 other participating businesses.
BITC works through 48 offices in 10 UK regions/countries.
Publication and resources: see website.
Committee of Heads of University Geoscience Departments (CHUGD)
www.chugd.ac.uk
Dr J Andrews, Secretary CHUGD, School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Southampton Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, S014 3ZH (tel: 02380 592009)Aim: to promote standards in geoscience teaching and research in Universities.
Representative group of the c50 departments currently delivering Earth science courses in UK; including the former polytechnics, which at one stage represented about half the total number. University courses/departments are undergoing an almost continuous round of cuts e.g. Queens Belfast, Aberystwyth, Oxford Brookes, North London, Staffordshire, Hull have all closed/are closing in recent years. The main role of CHUGD apart from liaison on matters such as standards, policy vis a vis cuts/provision, etc., is concerned with data collection.
Earth Science Education Forum (England and Wales) (ESEF/EW)
www.esef.org.uk
Contact: Cally Oldershaw ESEF, c./o Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
1 Carlton House Terrace London SW1Y 5DB Tel: 0207 451 7357.ESEF (E/W) was established in 2002 to promote better teaching of Earth science and to improve liaison between the various bodies involved. Membership includes many nationally based Earth science organisations (currently c25) operating in England and Wales.
ESEF (E/W) parallels SESEF set up earlier to carry out similar work in Scotland and succeeds a number of earlier initiatives over the last 20 years in England (Earth Science Forum, Joint Earth Science Education Committee and Earth Trust). ESEF (E/W) is currently establishing a business plan and priorities. It sees itself as a having a co-ordinating role, brokering partnerships etc, rather than initiating free standing developments in its own right. A major conference is planned on education and the extractive industries for October 2004.
Earth Science Education Unit (Keele University) ESEU
Contacts: Chris King, Director ESEU, Department of Education, Keele University, Keele, Staffs., ST5 5BG. Tel: 01782 584437. Email: c.j.h.king@educ.keele.ac.uk
Bernadette Callan, Secretary ESEU, (as above) Email: b.a.callan@keele.ac.ukKeele is one of two universities - (the other being Bath - lecturer John Fisher) offering Earth science specialist modules as part of science-based post graduate certificate of education (PGCE) courses.
Based on the results of a number of surveys by Chris King with others, UKOOA agreed to fund the formation and running of the ESEU to offer free in-service training to teachers (INSET) on Earth science aspects of NC Science at schools or sites chosen by participants, in England for a two year pilot. In 2002 this was extended for a further five years (and now Wales and shortly to Scotland).
Earth Science Teachers' Association (ESTA)
www.esta-uk.org
Contact: Susan Beale (Secretary)Aims: to promote the teaching of Earth science
Status: a professional subject teaching association constituted as an educational charity. Established initially as the Association of Teachers of Geology (ATG - formed 1967), it became ESTA in 1988, the change being intended to reflect the broadening of the subject base, to cover related environmental sciences and teaching to a wider age range.
ESTA's strategy established in 2000 was:
i) to progress by developing partnerships with others,
ii) to concentrate on the 8-10 million students studying Earth science as part of national curriculum, as well as the small numbers of students studying "geology" per se.
iii) to establish close working relationships with other science teaching organisations at secondary level and on England and Wales.
iv) in future phases, these initiatives should be extended to Scotland, primary teaching and to geography/other disciplines.This has now resulted in the establishment of the Earth Science Education Unit (ESEU) (at University of Keele)(q.v.) and the Joint Earth Science Education Initiative (JESEI) (q.v.). Liaison has now been established with the Geographical Association to develop a product similar to JESEI; ESEU/JESEI are now extending into Scotland, and the primary field is being explored.
Publications: Teaching Earth Science and Primary Earth Science Teaching (supplement)Education Business Partnerships (EBPs)
(National Education Business Partnership Network (NEBPN))
www.nebpn.orgNational EBP Network, 188 Main Street, New Greenham Park, Thatcham, Berks, RG19 6HW. Tel: 01635 279914 Fax: 1635 279919
Aim: to promote better awareness and understanding in schools and colleges of the world of work.
EBP's began to be developed about 20 years ago. The NEBPN formed in 1998, is an umberella organisation for 138 EBPs covering nine English regions, Northern Ireland and Wales (see NEBPN website for regional and local contacts).
In 2001, the government established 47 Learning and Skills Councils covering England, one of their roles being to promote school-industry initiatives. Individual EBPs are one of the main means of delivery for this service. EBPs vary in terms of priorities and policies. EBPs are funded by a combination of Government support (via LSCs), subscriptions, and other business sponsorship and contract fees.
EBPs are engaged in a large range of initiatives including work experience programmes (325,000 pre-16 placements p.a., 25,000 post-16 placements p.a.), Staff development for schools and businesses, advice on risk assessments, raising teacher awareness of industry, promotion of lifelong learning, supporting business to create a world class competitive workforce
English Nature/Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)
www.english-nature.org.uk
www.jncc.gov.uk
Contacts: General Enquiries: 01733 45510; Geology/Geomorphology: Natie Bennett 01733 455207 English Nature, Northminster House, Peterborough PE1 1UA 01733 455000
JNCC, Monkstone House, City Road, Peterborough, PE1 1YJ 01733 562626English Nature was formed in 1990 when the Scottish and Welsh responsibilities of the Nature Conservation Council (NCC) were devolved to Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) was created to facilitate exchange between the bodies in the three countries.
English Nature is the statutory, government funded organisation charged with conservation and protection of nature (biological, geological and geomorphological) in England. It has as a prime role the designation and supervision of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) based on the three aspects just noted, National Nature Reserves and other protected sites. Details of the areas involved and reasons for designation are available on www.magic.gov.uk.
English Nature has developed a series of codes of conduct, and memoranda of understanding, e.g. re collecting geological specimens, aggregate working (with QPA).
Publications: JNCC publish Earth Heritage (a geological and landscape conservation magazine) twice yearly (free of charge) and a highly detailed series of 42 Geological Conservation Review reports reporting on a programme which started in 1977. The final reports are due to be published in 2004. Each covers a particular geological aspect (e.g. rocks of a particular geological period, fossil groups, etc).
Environment Council
www.the-environment-council.org.uk
212 High Holborn, London WC1V 7BF
Tel: 0207 836 2626The Environment Council is an independent charity which draws together business, ngos, government organisations and communities to develop long term solutions to environmental issues.
The Environment Council organises events, training, educational programmes relating to environmental matters, dispute resolution, conferences, and best practice.
ES2K
Key players/contacts: Founder and Editor Tony Bazley (BGS/Geol.Survey N.I.)
Website: www.ulstermuseum.org.uk/es2k
Similar to SESEF but covering Earth science education interests in N. Ireland.The Geological Society (Geol.Soc)
www.geolsoc.org.uk
Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BJ. Tel: 0207 4349944; Fax: 0207 4398975Aim: Society for professional geologists; learned society.
The oldest specialist national science institution in the UK, the World's oldest geological society (1807) and largest in Europe; incorporated by royal charter 1825. Membership c.9000 Worldwide, all professional or professionally qualified geologists with a heavy bias towards academia.
The Geological Society's role in non-university education has been chequered and largely delivered through the Joint Earth Science Education Committee (now disbanded).
From the late 1990s to 2003, for short periods, part-time education officers were appointed, but since then the Geol. Soc has had no staff dedicated to this task. The main focus is on academic and professional geologists. Services include CPD courses, seminars and conferences and publications.
Publications: most relevant to schools are a series of fact sheets/leaflets - "the Earth in our Hands" - public interest material (c.10) e.g. covering volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides and "Earth Science in Everyday Life" (for NC/GCSE/A/AS level teachers) e.g. on waste disposal, geo-hazards, use of minerals.
Geographical Association (GA)
www.geography.org.uk
Geographical Association, 160 Solly Street, Sheffield, S1 4BF. Tel: 0114 296 0088/fax: 0114 296 7176.The Geographical Association is a subject association to further the teaching of geography and to communicate the value of learning geography for all. With almost 10,000 members, including teachers, tutors and trainers at all levels and types of institutions, the Association (established in 1893) is a "specialist community of practice". The GA is engaged in a wide range of projects and partnerships, hosts an annual conference at Easter and has a regional network and system of branches.
A key area of interest is in Education for Sustainable Development. Consideration is also being given to a "geography counterpart" to the JESEI project (qv).
Publications: Primary Geographer, Teaching Geography, Geography and a range of books and other publications.
Geologists' Association (GA)
(see also Geographical Association - also known as the 'GA')
Contact: Dr Susan Brown, (President), Geologists' Association, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W11 9AG; tel: 0207 4349298; fax: 0207 2870280; email suatga@aol.com.A charitable body formed in 1858; promotes interest in geology, particularly to non-professionals. Has a very large membership of amateur geologists. It also acts as an umbrella organisation to c50 affiliated local geological societies across Britain. (The geographical coverage and size of societies very variable, e.g. North Staffs. Geol. Society, Black Country Geol. Society, East Midlands Geol. Society).
GA now solely runs Rockwatch (g.v.) and is the prime mover behind the Earth Alert events - large geo-extravaganzas held biennially (Brighton 2000; Scarborough 2002 - Hanson, Tarmac and Foster Yeoman and many of the other geological organisations were involved), very well supported by the public; held over a bank holiday.
Publications - Journal and newsletters, large number (c40) of regional/local guides - from the Canary Is, Isle of Skye to Peak District, etc. Pamphlets and fieldwork practice/codes.
Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3)
www.iom3.org
Contact: Peter Davies, Education and Regional Support Manager, Institute of Materials, Minerals and Metals, Danum House, South Parade, Doncaster, DN1 2DY. Tel: 0103 320486 Fax: 01302 380900.
HQ: 1 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5DB. Tel: 0207 451 7300 Fax: 0207 8391702.Aim: The Institute intends to develop into a leading international professional body for the advancement of materials, minerals and mining, to governments, industry, academia, the public and professions.
Formed from a series of mergers (culminating in 2002) of learned and professional bodies covering the fields of materials, metallurgy, Earth Science, mining, etc. The Institute operates through a series of specialist divisions and local branches. A number of educational initiatives are now in hand.
Publications: Materials World; in addition to IOM3 produces jointly a large number of technical journals and books.
Joint Earth Science Education Initiative (JESEI)
www.jesei.org or www.chemsoc.org/networks/learnet/jesei
Contact - via dialogue box on website or JESEI chair Ian Thomas (at NSC - q.v.)
Chris King/Bernadette Callan (at ESEU-q.v.)JESEI is a consortium comprising ESTA, Royal Society of Chemistry, Institute of Biology, Institute of Physics, Royal Society, NSC, and the Geological Society. JESEI was established as a result of initiatives by ESTA (q.v.) to improve standards of teaching in Earth science aspects of NC Science, (particularly by science teachers without an Earth science background) and initially at KS3-4. The materials available on the website (plus limited availability on CD) have been initiated by Earth science teachers, largely prepared by chemistry, physics and biology teachers and vetted for integrity again by Earth Science specialists.
The project has been fortunate in securing the particular financial contribution from UKOOA together with contributions from the Royal Society of Chemistry and Institute of Physics and technical/content support for all the partners. A full list of modules is given in Appendix 13 and some of the units generated are reproduced in Appendix 12. Much of the work was based on earlier projects by ESTA, on INSET courses by ESEU and in one case ASE.
Consideration now (2004) being given to extending the coverage to earlier Key Stages and to the Earth Science elements of Geography.
Learning and Teaching Support Network: Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (LTSN: GEES)
LTSN: GEES contact details:
Brian Chalkley, Director/Helen King, Manager, University of Plymouth, Room 509, The Moneycentre, Drake Circle, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA; tel: 01752 233530; Fax: 01752 233534; web site: www.gees.ac.ukThis is one of the 24 subject specialist centres (LTSNs) set up in 2000 by the Higher Education Funding Council. The aim is to promote and disseminate good practice in discipline-based learning and teaching in UK higher education.
National Stone Centre (NSC)
www.nationalstonecentre.org.uk
Contact: Ian Thomas, Director, National Stone Centre, Porter Lane, Wirksworth, Derbyshire, DE6 4LS - Tel/Fax: 01629 824833.
Aim: to tell all aspects of the Story of Stone in the UK.The NSC was established in 1983:its Discovery Centre and trails over a dramatic and geologically unique site centre on the edge of the Peak National Park,opened in 1990. It also conducts a significant range of commissioned educational work and site interpretation for government, industry and educational bodies - including preparation of this report (see further details in Appendix 3B).
Rockwatch
Based at Burlington House (in Geologists' Association offices (q.v.)).Membership organisation established in 1992 for young Earth science enthusiasts. Formed largely at the instigation of English Nature as a joint body run originally via 'Watch', (the Royal Society for Nature Conservation's (RSNC q.v.), a national environmental club for young people), and the Geologists' Association (q.v.). Now run solely by the GA. Rockwatch was heavily supported by BG Exploration and Production (BG is no longer a sponsor); now has support from Anglo American and a number of oil companies.
Publication: Rockwatch magazineRoyal Geographical Society (RGS) (with Institution of British Geographers/BG)
www.rgs.org
Contact: Lorraine Craig, Head of Research and Education
1 Kensington Grove, London, SW7 2AR Tel: 0207 591 3020One of two national bodies promoting geography (see also Geographical Association).
Professional body and learned society with 14000 members (academic, educational, professional and popular memberships).
In addition to a wide range of traditional activities, RGS has an important educational role, supporting teachers and schools with materials, INSET days, working with TTA, QCA, DfES etc, holding events, development of web-based material.
Publications: three journals, academic book series, popular magazine.
Science Learning Centres
www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk
Centres are currently under development (see below); contact via the website.Aim: to support science teaching in schools by transforming the culture and expectation of professional development amongst science educators.
A national centre is to be established at York in 2005 funded by the Wellcome Trust; nine centres for each of the English regions (with funding from DfES) will be operational in October 2004.
One of the main tasks will be to provide CPD for all those involved in teaching science in schools. An initial 28 courses will be offered; this will include knowledge and understanding Earth Science.
Scottish Earth Science Education Forum (SESEF)
Contact: Hamish Ross, Development Officer, SESEF, Charteris Land, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AQ; tel: 0131 6516410 / fax: 0131 6516409; email: hamish.ross@education.ed.ac.uk; web site: www.socttishgeology.com/SESEF/Chair: Colin Graham, Dept. of Geology & Geography, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JW tel: 0131 6504849
President: Aubrey ManningThe aim of the SESEF is to promote all aspects of Earth science education in Scotland. SESEF has been very actively encouraged by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Scottish Executive. SESEF is closely involved in the organisation, with QPA member companies in the annual September Scottish Geology Festival.
UK Earth Science Courseware Consortium (UKESCC)
Contact: Mr Don M McKenzie, Centre of Interactive Assessment Development (CAID), University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB tel: 01332 591710; email: d.m.mackenzie@derby.ac.ukThe consortium (started in 1992) has developed a series of interactive software packages to deliver or support practical elements of Earth science teaching and fieldwork in higher education. Key players are the Universities of Derby, Liverpool, Manchester, and the Open University. Elements available for example, aim to integrate field and laboratory work and ensure that students are fully aware of health and safety before entering the field.
UKRIGS/RIGS Groups
(UKRIGS = UK Association of RIGS Groups; also known as UK RIGS Geoconservation Association, RIGS = Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites)
Contact:Cynthia Burek (Chair until September 2004)
Main contact point via the National Stone Centre, Porter Lane, Wirksworth, Derbyshire DE4 4LS; tel/fax: 01629 824833; www.ukrigs.org.uk.UKRIGS is an association of c50 RIGS groups - geoconservation bodies typically covering a county, part-county or sub-region (in England, usually the post 1974 counties - e.g. Warwickshire, Scarborough and Rydedale (i.e. N.E. parts of Yorkshire), plus 4 in Wales and 2 in Scotland. (N. Ireland not yet covered).
The name 'regional' is therefore now unfortunate, as almost all sites concerned are intended to be of county level, or more often of even more local significance and bear no relationship to statutory regions (particularly as the latter are now becoming more widely apparent).
Each RIGS group usually comprises representatives of local interested academics, museums, geological societies, the Open University Geological Society, local Wildlife Trust, strategic planning/mineral authorities and other local bodies as appropriate. Individual RIGS groups can gain financial support for projects from English Nature and other grant making bodies, notably the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Aggregates Levy Sustainability Funds (ALSFs).
UKRIGS published a highly detailed large loose-leaf folder on all matters relating to practical geological site conservation including contact lists, etc. This is also available on the UKRIGS web site www.ukrigs.org.uk.
UKRIGS has agreed memoranda of understanding with English Nature, BGS and Hanson and has close working relationship with ESTA, the Geologists' Association and the NSC. UKRIGS is developing with BGS, a national database system for RIGS.
RIGS were an outcome of the 'Earth Science Conservation in Gt. Britain Strategy' (1990, produced NCC (see English Nature) resulting in the establishment of an informal network of independent RIGS groups (hence the less than total coverage). The aim is to promote geological conservation and the identification of suitable local sites (other than the statutory sites, i.e. NNRs, SSSIs) for education, research and enjoyment.
UKRIGS has a parallel role in geodiversity to that of the much older RSNC in biodiversity and the RIGS groups are gradually echoing the role of the County Wildlife Trusts. Indeed, some RIGS groups, especially in the West Midlands/South West, have adopted the name "Geology Trusts", reflecting a wider brief than specific concern with RIGS, and are moving towards the wildlife trust organisational model (visit www.worc.ac.uk/eht/geology%20trusts.). RIGS groups are in themselves effectively local Earth science networks and provide a useful entrée to the geological community in a given area e.g. as sources of advice, partners for projects and events.