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11th March 2005 Issue: 18

Get ready to go barmy for biology, crazy for chemistry and potty for physics because today is the start of National Science Week 2005! Here’s what’s coming up in this Hay-Wire Science Week Special:

  • THE BUZZ – Science books that would make your bookshelf smile!
  • UP FOR GRABS – Take a page out of our book and enter the competition...
  • PLANET PICKS – What has Planet Science got in store for you during Science Week?
1. THE BUZZ – Science news straight to your inbox...

I’m sure your teacher has told you not to judge a book by its cover, and this is exactly what the judges for the Aventis Prizes for Science Books can’t do. Each year the judges read lots of children’s science books and decide on a list (called a long-list) to be entered for the prize.

The books in the 2005 long-list for the JUNIOR AVENTIS PRIZE are as follows:

  • Kingfisher Knowledge: Endangered Earth – by David Burnie (Kingfisher)
  • Mysteries and Marvels of Science – by Philip Clarke, Laura Howell & Sarah Khan (Usborne)
  • Kingfisher Young Knowledge: Solar System – by Mike Goldsmith (Kingfisher)
  • Curie and the Science of Radioactivity – by Ian Graham & David Antram (Salariya)
  • Leap Through Time: Earthquake – by Nicholas Harris (Orpheus)
  • Bodyscope: The Story of Life – by Patricia McNair (Kingfisher)
  • Bodyscope: Movers and Shakers – by Patricia McNair (Kingfisher)
  • Seaside Scientist – by Mick Manning & Brita Granstrom (Franklin Watts)
  • Night Sky Atlas – by Robin Scagell (Dorling Kindersley)
  • Kingfisher Knowledge: Animal Giants – by Barbara Taylor (Kingfisher)
  • E Explore Earth – by Matt Turner (Dorling Kindersley)
  • Kingfisher Knowledge: Microscopic Life – by Richard Walker (Kingfisher)
  • What Makes Me, Me? – by Robert Winston (Dorling Kindersley)

Now that the long-list has been drawn up, the judges decide on a short-list. Then from that short-list they will announce the winning book. It won’t be an easy decision to make, because there are some real ‘page-turners’ in the list above!

The prizes will be announced on 12th May so watch this space for news of the winning book...

What’s that? Hold on one moment, we’re going to have to interrupt the newsletter to bring you a BUMPER SCIENCE BOOK COMPETITION ALERT!
2. UP FOR GRABS – You’ve GOT to be in it to win it...

What better way to put a bit of science in your life, during Science Week, than to enter a competition to win these amazing books? Thanks to the amazing generosity of Aventis and the Royal Society we’re giving away 5 sets of the long-list of books.

That’s 5 SETS of 13 BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!

This is the best competition we’ve ever featured in Hay-Wire so get ready for news of how to enter...

Being as it’s such a fabulous prize, we’re asking you to do a little bit of work to enter the competition. We want to know, in 100 words or less, WHERE your FAVOURITE PLACE to read is and WHY?

Send your entry to: Hay-Wire.Clubhouse@nesta.org with ‘I’M A BOOKWORM’ as the subject, and don’t forget to include your name and address. The winners will be announced in April.
3. PLANET PICKS – News from the world of Planet Science...

With a whole week of science fun laid out in front of you, the only place to start your quest is the Planet Science website. “But where do I begin?” I hear you cry! Well, fear not for Wired-Up has handpicked the cream of the website crop to get you in the science mood.

Have you paid our ‘Wired’ section a visit recently? Wired is Planet Science’s very own games cupboard full of interactive games, quizzes and science facts. You can take a peek at it here: http://www.planet-science.com/wired/index.html. Find out if you’ve got what it takes to win the World Cup in the football game – ‘Up for the Cup Challenge’, or if swimming is more your thing then play ‘Swim for it’. The aim of the game is to guide your swimmer around various pools, learning about the science of swimming and water as you go. It’s the only way to make a splash without getting your hair wet!

There’s even more interactive stuff in the section called ‘Out There’: http://www.planet-science.com/outthere/start.html. It’s full to the brim with science delights that include science activities, experiments and online adventures. Wired-Up’s favourites include Planet Goth (white faces and black nail varnish please!), Undercover Science and a very ‘cold’ feature where you find out what really gets up your nose by making a snotty girl sneeze!

Of course, Science Week wouldn’t be complete without making a real mess in your kitchen by cooking up some fantastic experiments so visit Ready Steady Science (also in Out There) where you’ll find bubbles without troubles, cocoa craters and a soap-propelled boat.

Just remember, whatever you want to do during Science Week on the home planet then you’re sure to find it on the planet we call science!
INFORMATION OVERLOAD

That’s all for this issue. Have fun during Science Week and don’t forget to check your inboxes on Friday 18th March for your lemon juice experiment results!

We still have some Frisbees left for the new members! Just send your details to: Hay-Wire.Clubhouse@nesta.org with ‘FREE FRISBEE’ as the subject.

Bye for now!