Issue 22


Welcome to the twenty-second issue of SIS

TV detectives often rely on genetic fingerprinting to track down criminals, but what is the science behind the technique?

News from the EIROs

Black holes, magnetism and cancer

Science in School is published by EIROforum, a collaboration between eight of Europe’s largest inter-governmental scientific research organisations. This article reviews some of the latest news from the EIROforum members (EIROs).

Cutting-edge science

Hydrogen: the green energy carrier of the future?

Hydrogen may be the fuel of the future, but how can we produce it sustainably? Karin Willquist explains.

Revealing the secrets of permafrost

Studying permafrost enables us to look not only into the past, but also into the future. Miguel Ángel de PabloMiguel RamosGonçalo Vieira and Antonio Molina explain.

Event reports

Diving into research at the EIROforum teacher school

Does school feel a long way from modern science? Sonia Furtado Neves explains how 30 teachers recently experienced the thrill of cutting-edge research.

Camp of brilliant brains

Petra Nieckchen from EFDA reports on the 23rd European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) in Helsinki, Finland.


Maggie Aderin-Pocock: a career in space

As a child, Maggie Aderin-Pocock dreamed of going into space. She hasn’t quite managed it yet, but she’s got pretty close, as she tells Eleanor Hayes.

Science education projects

Build your own microscope: following in Robert Hooke’s footsteps

Nektarios Tsagliotis explains how to build an effective microscope using simple materials – enabling your students to discover a hidden world, just as Robert Hooke did in 1665.

Sky-high science: building rockets at school

Ever wanted to launch a rocket? Jan-Erik RønningenFrida VestnesRohan Sheth and Maria Råken from the European Space Camp explain how.

Science topics

Harnessing the power of the Sun: fusion reactors


Genetic fingerprinting: a look inside

In popular TV detective series, genetic fingerprinting is commonly used to identify criminals. Sara Müller and Heike Göllner-Heibült take a look behind the scenes.

Teacher profiles

Designing a school: taking science out of the classroom

How can the architecture of a school influence its teaching? Allan Andersen, head teacher of Copenhagen’s Ørestad Gymnasium, tells Adam Gristwood and Eleanor Hayes.

Teaching activities

Bad science: how to learn from science in the media

When you read the newspaper, how do you know what to believe? Ed Walsh guides you and your students through the minefield of science in the media.