Science and Plants for Schools (SAPS)
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Science and Plants for Schools (SAPS)
@saps-news.bsky.social
210 followers 82 following 69 posts
🧑‍🏫Supporting Teachers
🔬Equipping Technicians
🚸Inspiring Students

SAPS creates opportunities for teachers, technicians and students to find out more about plants and to become more interested in plant science. 🌱

🌐www.saps.org.uk
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saps-news.bsky.social
🚨Newsletter🚨

In this edition of the #newsletter we bring you:
🌱A resource on variation in plants
🧑‍🔬News of a new CPD course with @stemlearning.bsky.social
🔬SAPS at @associationscied.bsky.social AC'26
📚Plant science news stories

👀Read here: zc.vg/toqrI?m=0
#plantsci @cleapss.bsky.social @rsb.org.uk
Ravenala agathea seeds found in the seed bank. Credit: Tony Jolliffe/BBC News. A leaf with the sun shining on it.
November 12, 2025 at 1:20 PM
saps-news.bsky.social
Our #ecology online resources allow for the development of key skills. Students can explore:

📐measuring abundance
🪻random sampling
🏞️distribution of species

Perfect for #BiologyWeek #nature #climate
Search 'ecology' at www.saps.org.uk

@royalsocbio.bsky.social @stemlearning.bsky.social
October 9, 2025 at 9:17 AM
saps-news.bsky.social
Why not kickstart @royalsocbio.bsky.social #BiologyWeek next week by gathering your students & coming up with a plan for a #ScienceClub? 👩‍🎓🧑‍🎓🍏🍎👨‍🌾👩‍🌾

Engage them with #Nature & #Climate. 🍃🌍

We have suggestions for activities:
www.saps.org.uk/resource-col...

#STEM #plantsci @stemlearning.bsky.social
A screenshot of Science Club activities offered by SAPS.
October 8, 2025 at 8:44 AM
saps-news.bsky.social
If you haven't already, decorate your lab for #BiologyWeek Each poster contains resources linked to areas of #plantsci. Topics include:

🧫plant disease
💼careers
💚real-life contexts
🎉the wonder of plants

View & download for free: www.saps.org.uk/resource-col...

@royalsocbio.bsky.social
A screenshot featuring the range of SAPS posters.
October 7, 2025 at 9:22 AM
saps-news.bsky.social
@royalsocbio.bsky.social #BiologyWeek is fast approaching (11-19/10). This year the theme is #Nature & #Climate

Over the next few days keep an eye out on here for resources & ideas to use in your lab. 🍃🌎

For resources featured by the RSB including by SAPS, visit: www.rsb.org.uk/biology-week...
October 7, 2025 at 9:08 AM
saps-news.bsky.social
The #google doodle today is 'Learning about Photosynthesis'. Definitely our favourite doodle to date 💚

Check out our range of resources on #photosynthesis using the search & filter on: www.saps.org.uk

You will find practical resources, videos, quizzes & an animation! 🌱🫧❔

@royalsocbio.bsky.social
September 19, 2025 at 9:45 AM
saps-news.bsky.social
Accessible Science is a chance for your A-level students to hear from world-leading researchers about their work. On 7 Oct, live-streamed talks to cover plants, genomics, human health & careers in science. 🌱

🏫Register your school: jic.link/NBIAST2025
🖱️Programme: jic.link/NBIAST2025-P...

#plantsci
September 18, 2025 at 2:36 PM
saps-news.bsky.social
Join us at the #ASEConf2026 at the Uni of Nottingham from 8-10 Jan. Exhibiting & facilitating CPD sessions throughout the conf:

🔬Teaching #microscopy using #plants
🥼Practical work for #technicians

Book your early bird tickets now: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2026-ase-a... @associationscied.bsky.social
A view of our stand at a previous conference. Exploring our practical focusing on dissection and scientific drawing at a previous conference. Conference delegates making use of the microscopes at a previous conference. Delegates from a previous conference carrying out our osmosis practical using bell pepper pericarp tissue.
September 17, 2025 at 10:31 AM
saps-news.bsky.social
@royalsocbio.bsky.social #BiologyWeek (11 Oct) is fast approaching.

Check out their resources including a practical activity 'Why do leaves change colour in autumn?' here: www.rsb.org.uk/biology-week...

Also available:
🌱School & home resources
🌱Games
🌱Quizzes

What are you planning? 👂
#plantsci
A screenshot of the 'Why do leaves change colour in the autumn?' RSB resource.
September 11, 2025 at 8:25 AM
saps-news.bsky.social
When it comes to supporting your teaching & tech support - we want our finger on the pulse.

Tell us how you think we are doing & how we can better support you with our annual #survey
To show our appreciation of your time, there are prizes to be won!

✏️https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/C4aMgb
A line of trees in an aerial view representing the line of a heart rate.
July 21, 2025 at 10:20 AM
saps-news.bsky.social
Calling Early Career Teachers 🎙️

Are you in need of help & support for teaching #biology using plants? Looking to explore resources developed for teaching key principles?

Join on 18/09 for the @rsc.org New #Teacher Series. Free!
Sign-up: edu.rsc.org/.../teaching... 💚

Also in series, CLEAPSS & IOP.
Alstroemeria flowers are often use for the development of dissection skills and scientific writing. Bananas offering an unexpected view of chlorophyll. Our 'Awesome Plants' poster comes with wow real-life examples of plant science and accompanying resources. Bramble rust seen under the lens of a microscope.
July 21, 2025 at 10:09 AM
saps-news.bsky.social
🗞️NEWS🗞️
Our latest newsletter is available with our Annual Survey (prizes to be won), new resources, free CPD for early career teachers, news stories and much more! 🌱
Read online here: zc.vg/hO838?m=0 👀

#plantsci #microscopy
@associationscied.bsky.social @stemlearning.bsky.social@cleapss.bsky.social
Image: One of only four Snowdonia Hawkweeds known to exist. Credit: Robbie Blackhall-Miles / BBC. Image: Using paper and acetate printouts to work out the thickness of a sunflower leaf. 
July 17, 2025 at 1:30 PM
saps-news.bsky.social
Plants, Sustainability & Science Education🌱🌎🍎

Join us with @chrisgraham.bsky.social for a session at the Secondary Science Festival at Bedford College on 8th July.

For more info & to book, use the QR code. 📲

@cleapss.bsky.social @fieldstudiesc.bsky.social @stemlearning.bsky.social
July 2, 2025 at 1:10 PM
saps-news.bsky.social
Our #plantscience #summerschool teachers have been immersed in all things plant science. From lectures on contemporary research, practical workshops to resource development - the teachers will be leaving with an armour of new material and a network of plant-proud teachers.

💚🌱🎒🧑‍🏫👩‍🏫
Teachers immersed in developing ideas for new resources. Teachers preparing for the vascular stem microscopy practical. The teachers using microscopy to identify cells.
July 2, 2025 at 10:42 AM
saps-news.bsky.social
Prof Anne Osbourn inspired our teachers no-end with a fascinating talk on harnessing plant metabolic diversity for therapeutic applications. "Finding drugs in the garden"💊🌱
So many questions answered. The teachers' students are in for a treat💚
#plantscience #summerschool @johninnescentre.bsky.social
Professor Anne Osbourn in conversation with the Summer School teachers.
July 2, 2025 at 10:30 AM
saps-news.bsky.social
After a truly fascinating lecture looking at how plants pattern their petal with Dr Edwige Moyroud, the teachers were able to sit down for a Q&A & explore how this unique are of plant development can be brought into the classroom🌺

Is Hibiscus trionum the *new* model plant? 🤔
#plantsci #summerschool
Teachers sitting down with Dr Edwige Moyroud after the lecture for a Q&A.
June 30, 2025 at 10:22 AM
saps-news.bsky.social
The classroom is ready for our group of post-16 biology teachers to explore SAPS practicals at the #PlantScience #SummerSchool 🎒

Any ideas what practicals we might cover? 🌱🔬🌾
June 30, 2025 at 10:09 AM
saps-news.bsky.social
The van is packed and we are ready to go... 🚚

We are looking forward to welcoming 8 post-16 biology teachers to the Gatsby Plant Science Summer School 2025 on Sunday. 🌿

It will be a week of #plantscience immersion with practical workshops and lectures from contemporary plant science researchers. 💚
Van packed with kit for the Summer School.
June 27, 2025 at 12:56 PM
saps-news.bsky.social
Take things further with your teaching of microscopy?

Online Wed 25/06. You will:
🔬develop knowledge of calibration & measure
🌱identify specimens
👀https://www.ase.org.uk/events/taking-things-further-calibrating-and-measuring-how-develop-these-skills-ks4-and-5-students

@royalsocbio.bsky.social
Plant material looked at underneath the lens of a microscope.
June 23, 2025 at 4:34 PM
saps-news.bsky.social
Do you want to improve your #teaching of #microscopy?

Join us on Wed 11/06 for an online session where you will:

🔬explore 2 of the most fundamental components of slide prep
🔎identify specimens to demo
✅For more & to book: ase.org.uk/events/stain...

#plantsci #biology @associationscied.bsky.social
Cluster of sclereids (stone cells) in pear tissue, stained with toluidine blue to show lignin (x400 magnification). Cluster of cells from an unripe banana, stained with iodine to show starch grains (x100 magnification). Chromoplasts in cells of the skin of a red bell pepper (Mag = x400. Field of view ≈450µm).
June 6, 2025 at 3:03 PM
saps-news.bsky.social
Are you looking to build your confidence in microscopy?

Join us in partnership with @associationscied.bsky.social
on 04/06 for a twilight event (1/3). Suitable for teachers with all levels of experience🔬🌱🧑‍🏫
For more: www.ase.org.uk/events/build...
@stemlearning.bsky.social @royalsocbio.bsky.social
Course outcomes. Dandelion. Credit: Pixabay. Dandelion under the microscope. Credit: Chris Graham.
May 20, 2025 at 9:09 AM
saps-news.bsky.social
📥Newsletter📥

In our latest edition of the newsletter, you will find:

🔬Microscopy CPD
📚Resources to build your confidence with microscopy
🗞️Plant Science News Round
💚Endeavour Challenges with prizes
👀 Read the newsletter here: t.co/Yz4SKVAIbr

#plantscience #plantsci #newsletter
Here you can see a thin slice of celery has been stained with toluidine blue in preparation for viewing under the microscope for our 'dissection and microscopy of a plant stem' practical. Credit: SAPS. Chromoplasts in cells of the skin of a red bell pepper (Mag = x400. Field of view ≈450µm). Credit: SAPS / Chirs Graham. A Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula) is a well-known example of an insectivorous plant. Credit: Flickr.
May 16, 2025 at 1:49 PM
saps-news.bsky.social
You can still apply!
As a teacher of post-16 biology, enhance your teaching of plant science at the Plant Science #SummerSchool 2025
🗓️Runs 29/06 - 02/07
❎Applications close 05/05
💸Bursaries available
👀For info: www.saps.org.uk/growth-hub/s...
📩To apply email: saps@botanic.cam.ac.uk

See YOU there!
Teachers from a Summer School exploring plant material on a slide using a microscope. A Summer School teacher carrying out the vascular stem microscopy practical. Teachers from the Summer School in conversation with Professor George Lomonossoff who had provided a lecture. Teachers from the Summer School carrying out plant ID.
April 28, 2025 at 4:46 PM
saps-news.bsky.social
We have had the privilege of joining like-minded teachers, trainers & researchers for a discussion on #sustainability & a tour of one of the world’s largest #climatechange experiments. Thank you BIFoR.
🌲🌳
Check out their research & resources here: canvas.bham.ac.uk/courses/52405 💚
April 8, 2025 at 1:56 PM
saps-news.bsky.social
Looking to enhance your teaching of plant science? Teacher of post-16 biology?

If yes, the Plant Science #SummerSchool 2025 is now receiving applications.
🗓️29/06 - 02/07
❎Closes 05/05
💸Bursaries available

👀For info: www.saps.org.uk/growth-hub/s...
📩To apply: saps@botanic.cam.ac.uk
Summer School 2025 lecture titles. 2025 course outcomes. 2025 Practical workshops. Summer School teachers from a previous year carrying out a SAPS practical.
April 2, 2025 at 2:26 PM