Media Release

iPad screenshots from the first issue of e-Science Magazine. Full Image (243.67K)

Wednesday, 2 May 2012

The University of Adelaide has launched a free magazine for iPad and the Internet that aims to raise the public's interest in science and provide science teachers with additional resources for the classroom.

The first issue of e-Science Magazine is now available on the iTunes App Store or from the University's Faculty of Sciences website.

The free, interactive magazine has been designed primarily with science teachers in mind, but it can be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in science, including students, their families and the wider public.

Professor Bob Hill, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, says e-Science was created thanks to feedback from secondary school teachers.

"Last year we introduced a number of significant changes to our first-year Science program, which included basing our curriculum on 10 Big Questions that relate to science. One of the aims of this program was to demonstrate to our students the relevance of science in the world," Professor Hill says.

"We were delighted to learn that several South Australian schools had picked up on our 10 Big Questions - teachers were using them to make their science teaching more relevant and engaging for students.

"As a result of feedback from teachers about how we could further support their valuable work, we have created e-Science as a free quarterly science magazine.

"We believe e-Science is unique not only nationally but internationally, and we encourage anyone with an interest in science to take a look at the first issue."

e-Science Magazine contains:

• feature articles written by University of Adelaide researchers linked to the Faculty of Science's 10 Big Questions;
  
• interactive elements in each article that bring the science to life;
  
• resources available "at your finger tips", ready for use in the classroom;
  
• interactive links to other useful science resources and information;
  
• availability on multiple platforms, including iPad and web-based versions.

To view the first issue of e-Science, go to the iTunes App Store and search for "e-Science Magazine" or visit: www.sciences.adelaide.edu.au/e-science/