It’s STEM Day! Celebrating the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths, this day aims to inspire people to get excited about (and maybe even join) STEM fields. We have a range of curriculum-based workshops that encourage your students to get excited about all things STEM. Here are some of our favourites…
Biomimetics
Animals have adapted in some really interesting ways to survive and thrive in their habitats. From Batesian mimicry (where harmless species imitate more dangerous ones as a form of camouflage) to parthenogenesis (in which an animal reproduces asexually), nature provides a stream of interesting solutions to science and engineering problems.
That’s where biomimetics comes in! This workshop discusses the concept of biomimicry, in which those working in STEM use the ingenuity of nature to solve human issues and inspire discovery.
Evolution
In 1835, Charles Darwin travelled to the Galapagos Islands to study the variety of animals that lived there. His discoveries formed the basis for his theory of evolution, challenging the religious views of the time. He found that the animals on different islands had evolved characteristics which made them better at surviving in their environment.
Our evolution workshop follows Darwin on his journey, accompanied by our ZooLab animal team. We examine animals up close and discuss scientific concepts like adaptations', 'mutations', 'natural selection', and 'inheritance' and discuss how fossils can help us understand the evolutionary journey.
ZET: ZooLab Environmental Time Machine
Get ready to travel through time in ZET: ZooLab Environmental Time Machine, as we look at climate data throughout time. From fossil fuels and sea ice to rainforest and distinction levels, this workshop encourages students to form a direct comparison between human behaviour and climate change.
Climate change has never been a more important and pressing issue in our society. Significant and long-term changes in environmental factors and weather conditions differentiate climate change from other weather phenomena. By looking at the long-term effects of humanity on the environment, we can begin to develop new and innovative ways to slow (or possibly even reverse) the effects of climate change.
Rainforest Unwrapped
This workshop takes you on an exciting journey through Earth’s oldest ecosystem: the rainforest. Through hands-on animal encounters, children learn about the different products we get from the rainforest, its impact on the surrounding environment, and what can be done to reverse the damage already done.
Rainforests once covered around 14% of the Earth’s surface, but this has plummeted to only around 6% now. Teaching the next generation about the importance of this ecosystem is vital for its survival. This workshop asks whether we can reverse the depletion of this important habitat and whether sustainability and recycling is the answer.
Build A Dinosaur
A great workshop for any budding engineers in your setting! Combining scientific work and imagination, we uncover the big ideas of science and stimulate keen interest in young minds. Using the characteristics of pre-existing animals, we create our own, brand-new dinosaurs!
Animals have evolved over millions of years to have characteristics that increase their chance of individual survival as well as the survival of their species. Some species have even survived from the time of the dinosaurs to today with little change! Researching these animal species and their dino descendants gives scientists a better picture of the timeline of our planet and the creatures that inhabit it.
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