Pole of Cold article...

At the start of the year, I wrote some materials to go with the Pole of Cold expedition, which is now on its return journey from Siberia, and currently in Finland.

This is an interesting illustrated article about the journey.

I hope to write some further updates if time permits once the journey is over...

Here is the link to the RGS-IBG page.

Science for Society course

This course has been running each July for a few years now, and always offers a tremendous chance for teachers to visit a number of key places for Geographers: the Ordnance Survey HQ and the Met Office in Exeter.
There are 20 places available, and the course is FREE.

There's also a range of fieldwork excursions and lectures...

You have until the end of May to apply for this year's course.

Read the selection criteria carefully...

Goldsmith's Science for Society Course - July 2013

An amazing opportunity for teachers to update their professional knowledge, as well as experience some amazing places.

You will need to get yourself to Southampton University, but everything else is paid for....

The course runs in the last week of July, when a lot of colleagues may have a ligher timetable, or have activity days (or may even have finished for the summer)

The special 6 day course has been organised by the Ordnance Survey, along with the Goldsmith's company. It runs from the 21st to the 26th of July 2013

Science for Society Course: New Developments in Physical Geography 

This course is designed for mid-career specialist geography teachers in secondary schools who are teaching GCSE / A level students.  The emphasis is on physical geography, providing an intensive immersion in new technology for data collection, analysis and modelling.  The course includes an introduction to new equipment for field and laboratory, and explores recent developments in remote sensing and GIS technologies, and their application to teaching. 

Full day visits to both Met Office and Ordnance Survey are included.

The course is provided by the Geography Department of the University of Southampton and Ordnance Survey in association with The Goldsmiths’ Company, under their Science for Society initiative. 

There's also a Gala Dinner at Goldsmith’s Hall, London. 

Tuition, accommodation, food and travel during the course are all provided free of charge. Delegates must fund their own travel costs from home to Southampton University. There is a £50 deposit to pay, which is refunded at the end of the course.

For more details, see the Goldsmith's website, where you can download an application form.

This is certainly something which I would have applied for if I was still teaching

You must be a teacher employed at a secondary school in Great Britain teaching GCSE/A level standard qualifications in geography. 

Still chance to get on OS / University of Southampton Physical Geography Course...

An excellent way to round off the academic year would be to get a place on this course.
I have blogged about it previously.
There are just a few places left which, I understand, are being filled on a first-come first-served basis, and the deadline is about a month away. Time to negotiate your absence from school and the chance to take part in five days of rather splendid activities...
A visit to the Met Office, and a gala dinner are two of the highlights....
Runs from 15th - 20th of July.
Free !