Discover Science & Engineering has launched Greenwave 2010, the mass science experiment in which students across the country log their sightings of species that indicate the arrival of spring in Ireland.
The project is based on the fact that this is the time of the year when buds on trees and hedges begin to open up. This creates a green wave which can be seen from space.
The wave begins in southern Europe in February. Then as temperatures rise, it moves up across Europe, travelling at about four miles an hour (6.5kph) – similar to walking speed.
The Greenwave project was launched in 2007, and last year schools submitted more than 800 sightings and 500 observations of signs of spring.
Maths and wind speeds
The Greenwave.ie website
This year’s projects will have an additional element: students will learn how to build an anemometer to measure wind speeds. This will also give the students practical experience of using mathematics skills in science projects.
Peter Brabazon, Programme Director, Discover Science & Engineering, says: “Greenwave has always proved highly popular with students because of the increased interest in the environment and climate change.
“All of our educational initiatives are geared to make science and maths exciting for students by bringing the textbook to life and incorporating concepts into experiments that relate to their everyday lives.
“This year we have put an added emphasis on maths as part of our strategic remit to help improve skills in young people as we lay the foundations for an innovation economy for the future.”
Prizes
Participating students will be in with a chance to win some great prizes by submitting photographs of their sightings on the Greenwave website.
Once again the photos will be judged by meteorologist Gerald Fleming and botanist and microbiologist Éanna Ní Lamhna, and the winning school will receive a digital camera and printer.
The information obtained from the students’ logs will also be valuable for scientists like Éanna and Gerald to determine whether or not climate change is causing flowers to bloom earlier, and how Irish wildlife is affected.
Learn more
Find out how to take part and view this year’s results as they come in at Greenwave.ie
