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National Science Learning Centre

Independent biomedical research charity, the Wellcome Trust is providing £25 million to fund the National Science Learning Centre, which is due to open in Autumn 2005.  It will be housed in a purpose built, high-tech venue at the University of York, and will provide professional development for science teachers and technicians from across the UK.

Teachers and technicians will be able to explore the advanced resources on offer at the National Science Learning Centre through residential courses, informal visits or online.

The leading aim of the National Science Learning Centre, together with all the regional Centres, is to upgrade the quality of professional development on offer to science teachers, technicians and support staff.

The rate of scientific progress and change, across industry and research, creates a real need for subject-specific professional development for science educators.  Through partnerships with teachers, scientific organisations, industry leaders and technology developers, the National Science Learning Centre aims to offer support in teaching exciting science by drawing upon best practice highlighted by contemporary research in science and the teaching of science.

The National Science Learning Centre is also co-ordinating the development of the Science Learning Centres Web Portal, in order to create a central resource for the science education community: helping teachers and technicians identify their professional development needs; highlighting courses that can meet those needs; bringing together science educators, industry and researchers and providing ongoing support for all.