Plants Archives

Science communicator

7 July, 2023/0 Comments/in creative, curious, logical Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Science (Primary) Algebra, Animals Including Humans, Earth and Space, Electricity, Everyday Materials, Evolution and Inheritance, Forces, Forces and Magnets, Geometry, Light, Living Things and Their Habitats, Maths, Measurement, Number, Plants, Position and direction, Primary, Properties of shapes, Rocks, Science, Seasonal Changes, Sound, States of Matter, Statistics/by Melanie Horan

Science communicators communicate science to the general public. They need to make scientific research understandable to people who may not have a background or career in science. Science communicators can be a science journalists or work in a university press office promoting the scientific research carried out by academics. They may deliver science shows or organise events at science festivals, schools or science centres or design and make interactive exhibits for science centres.

Attributes: creative, curious, logical

Useful links:

The Primary Science Teaching Trust has a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Caroline Riggs and a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Ginny Smith who are both science communicators. They also have a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Dr Sarah Bearchell who is a children’s science writer and presenter and a downloadable slideshow about Margaret Donald who is an operations coordinator. It’s part of their resource A Scientist Just Like Me.

Polar scientist

7 July, 2023/0 Comments/in creative, open-minded, passionate Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Maths, Maths (Primary) Animals Including Humans, Earth and Space, Everyday Materials, Geography, Living Things and Their Habitats, Maths, Plants, Primary, Rocks, Science, Seasonal Changes, States of Matter/by Melanie Horan

Polar science helps to inform the sustainable use of resources and to protect the planet. It includes many different types of research in the polar regions. Glaciologists study the ice in the polar regions. Space physicists study how space interacts with the upper atmosphere using lasers. Atmospheric scientists look for pollution, ozone and other changes to the atmosphere. Marine or terrestrial biologists study life in the polar regions, while oceanographers study the seas and oceans. Geologists study the rocks and sediments in the polar regions to understand the climate in the past. Meteorologists study the links between the polar atmosphere and changes in global weather.

Attributes: passionate, creative and open-minded.

Useful links:

The Primary Science Teaching Trust has a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Prem Singh Gill who is a polar scientist. It’s part of their resource A Scientist Just Like Me.

Meta researcher

7 July, 2023/0 Comments/in curious, patient, resilient Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Computer Science, Maths (Primary), Science (Primary) Animals Including Humans, Earth and Space, Electricity, Everyday Materials, Evolution and Inheritance, Forces, Forces and Magnets, Light, Living Things and Their Habitats, Maths, Number, Plants, Rocks, Science, Seasonal Changes, Sound, States of Matter, Statistics/by Melanie Horan

Meta researchers study research itself. They study research methods, reporting, reproducibility, evaluation, and incentives. They ensure, promote, and defend robust science, free from biases. They ensure all results from scientific investigations are evidence based.

Attributes: curious, patient, resilient

Useful links:

The Primary Science Teaching Trust has a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Emma Wilson who is an a meta researcher. It’s part of their resource A Scientist Just Like Me.

Ecological entromologist

25 April, 2023/0 Comments/in curious, observant, resilient Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Biology, Science (Primary) Animals Including Humans, Living Things and Their Habitats, Plants, Primary, Science/by Melanie Horan

Entomology is the study of insects which are the most abundant group of animals in the world and live in almost every habitat. Entomology is crucial to our understanding of human disease, agriculture, evolution, ecology and biodiversity. An ecological entromologist studies how insects interact with their surroundings and ecosystems such as insects’ role in the food chain, in nutrient recycling, transmitting disease and in pollination and seed dispersal.

Attributes: curious, observant, resilient

Useful links:

The Primary Science Teaching Trust has a downloadable slideshow (PDF) about Dr Ben Woodcock who is an ecological entromologist. It’s part of their resource A Scientist Just Like Me.

Photochemist

21 February, 2023/0 Comments/in Communicator, curious, observant Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Science (Primary) Animals including humans, Earth and space, Electricity, Light, Plants Animals Including Humans, Earth and Space, Electricity, Light, Plants, Primary, Science/by Melanie Horan

A Photochemist investigates the chemical effects of light. Photochemistry is a chemical reaction caused by absorption of ultraviolet, visible light or infrared radiation or a reaction that produces light. Photochemists may be interested in spectroscopy- splitting up light into it’s different colours to find out about the properties of the object being studied. They may be interested in photosynthesis, the way a plant generates energy from light. They may also study animals who use bioluminescence to signal to other animals or to lure prey.

Attributes: observant, curious, communicator

Useful links:

The Primary Science Teaching Trust has a video of James Mortimer, a photochemist in his place of work talking about what he does.
It’s part of their resource A Scientist Just Like Me.

Soil Scientist

13 January, 2018/0 Comments/in hard-working, observant, patient Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Science (Primary) Plants Plants, Primary, Science/by Jonathan

A soil scientist studies the upper few meters of the Earth’s crust in terms of its physical and chemical properties, distribution, genesis and morphology, and biological components. Soil scientists work in both the office and field. They analyse and determine the characteristics of different types of soils. Soil types are complex and the geographical areas a soil scientist may survey are varied. They use aerial photos and satellite images to research the areas and use computer and geographic information systems to analyse the geomorphology, topography, vegetation and climate to discover the patterns left on the landscape. Soil scientists often work in areas such as wetlands, conservation, crop consultant, farming or hydrology.

Attributes: hard-working, observant, patient

Plant Geneticist

13 January, 2018/0 Comments/in curious, observant, self-motivated Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Maths (Primary), Science (Primary) Maths - Algebra, Plants Algebra, Maths, Plants, Primary, Science/by Jonathan

Plant geneticists conduct research to improve existing plants and crops, as well as create new varieties of plants and crops. They improve characteristics of plants and crops, such as appearance, nutritional value, size, drought resistance and increased levels of disease tolerance. This is vital to the agricultural industry in order for market requirements and consumer demands to be met and to increase and maintain yields in important crops. The work of a plant geneticist includes crossing plants to produce new breeding material for field and glasshouse trials and analysing and scientifically assessing plant breeding in laboratory and field trials.

Attributes: curious, observant, self-motivated

Irrigation Engineer

13 January, 2018/0 Comments/in collaborative, resilient, self-motivated Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 DT, Geography, Maths (Primary), Science (Primary) DT, Geography, Maths - Geometry - Properties of Shapes, Plants DT, Geography, Geometry, Maths, Plants, Primary, Properties of shapes, Science/by Jonathan

Irrigation is the process of transporting water safely from one location to another, usually for agricultural purposes. An irrigation engineer designs irrigation systems and oversees their construction or implementation. They construct irrigation systems such as dams, canals, and ditches, according to type of soil, climatic characteristics, water supply and return flow. If a system fails to work, or if performance is sluggish, the irrigation engineer will diagnose and fix the system. An irrigation engineer also conducts research on problems of soil drainage and conservation, applying knowledge of civil engineering.

Attributes: resilient, self-motivated, collaborative

Environmental Scientist

13 January, 2018/0 Comments/in committed, creative, passionate Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Geography, Science (Primary) Geography, Plants Geography, Plants, Primary, Science/by Jonathan

Environmental scientists study the effects of human activities on the environment by conducting tests and analysing data in order to prevent and solve environmental problems. Environmental scientists gather samples and observational data in the field and conduct tests in the lab. They analyse, soil or air samples to find the type, concentration and source of the pollution caused by industry or agriculture. The environmental scientist will then identify if that contaminant source has the potential to affect or harm individuals and communities. They then identify ways to manage, minimise or eliminate any negative impacts of the pollution.

Attributes: passionate, creative, committed

Environmental Engineer

13 January, 2018/0 Comments/in open-minded, organised, resilient Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6 Geography, Science (Primary) Geography, Plants Geography, Plants, Primary, Science/by Jonathan

An environmental engineer is someone who uses the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. They use their scientific knowledge to design systems that control pollution and protect public health. Environmental engineers evaluate the significance an environmental hazard and advise on treating and containing it. They design municipal water supply and industrial wastewater treatment systems and research the environmental impact of proposed construction projects. Some environmental engineers study ways to minimise the effects of acid rain, global warming, automobile emissions, and ozone depletion.

Attributes: open-minded, organised, resilient

Science communicator

Polar scientist

Meta researcher

Ecological entromologist

Photochemist

Soil Scientist

Plant Geneticist

Irrigation Engineer

Environmental Scientist

Environmental Engineer

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