What happens if you water plants with juice? Where can you find bacteria in your house? Is slug slime as strong as a glue stick? How would your child find the answers to these questions? In The Curious Kid's Science Book, your child will learn to design his or her own science investigations to determine the answers! Children will learn to ask their own scientific questions, discover value in failed experiments, and — most importantly — have a blast with science. The 100+ hands-on activities in the book use household items to playfully teach important science, technology, engineering, and math skills. Each creative activity includes age-appropriate explanations and (when possible) real life applications of the concepts covered. Adding science to your at-home schedule will make a positive impact on your child's learning. Just one experiment a week will help build children's confidence and excitement about the sciences, boost success in the classroom, and give them the tools to design and execute their own science fair projects.

Psychologists, sociologists, philosophers, historians - and even scientists themselves - have often tried to decipher the basis for creativity in science. Some have attributed creativity to a special logic, the so-called scientific method, whereas others have pointed to the inspirations of genius or to the inevitable workings of the zeitgeist. Finally, some have viewed scientific breakthroughs as the product of chance, as witnessed in the numerous episodes of serendipity. Too often these four alternative interpretations are seen as mutually exclusive. Yet the central thesis of this book is that the chance, logic, genius, and zeitgeist perspectives can be integrated into a single coherent theory of creativity in science. But for this integration to succeed, change must be elevated to the status of primary cause. Logic, genius and the zeitgeist still have significant roles to play but mainly operate insofar as they enhance, or constrain the operation of a chance combinatorial process.

Through a refreshing blend of theory and practice this book provides stimulating material to develop creative approaches to science in the classroom. It includes: a range of teaching approaches that relate directly to the topic under discussion examples of pupils' work that portray how theory can be translated into practice quick off-the-shelf example model lesson plans which can be adapted. User-friendly and clearly laid out this book is a core text for primary teachers, NQTs and students who want to inject some creativity into their teaching and put that "WOW" factor back into their science lessons.

Being a scientist has changed dramatically in recent times. Through patenting and commercialization, scientists today can develop their work beyond a publication in a learned journal. Indeed, universities and governments are encouraging today's scientists and engineers to break their research out of the laboratory and into the commercial world. However, doing so is complicated and can be daunting for those more used to a research seminar than a boardroom. Start-ups are journeys into uncertainty and entrepreneurs are individuals who are comfortable with uncertainty, thrive on challenges and are prepared to take risks. This book, written by experienced scientists and entrepreneurs, deals with businesses started by scientists based on innovation and sets out to clarify for scientists and engineers the steps necessary to take an idea along the path to commercialization and maximize the potential for success, regardless of the path taken. The difference between a scientist and an entrepreneur is discussed as is the consequence to an enterprise of misunderstanding this difference. The various roles in which an entrepreneur can act are discussed, as are the types of business that a scientist can start. The concept of patent protection is explained as is the process of applying for a patent. The authors take the reader through the need for a business plan and give examples of how such a plan might look. Fundraising is discussed at length with attention focussed on sources of funding and the technique of 'pitching' for funds. Managing a start-up is explored and the function and roles within the management team are discussed.

Monstrously Creative Science Fair Summary about this story: In a small town nestled between misty mountains and quiet woods, a beautiful science fair started a change that lasted for generations. Two unexpected guests, Frankenstein's monster, and Dracula, showed up with their own projects. This showed how powerful creation and unity can be. Everyone was amazed by what Victor, the monster, and Dracula came up with. They told the village that being yourself can lead to wonderful findings. Victor made the Astro-Melodi scope because he was interested in how astronomical moves could be turned into music. Dracula showed off the Bat Bot Brigade, a group of fake bats that help pollinate flowers at night. Their shows got people's attention and started a movement that pushed people to be creative and work together. Over time, the town became a hub for new ideas. After seeing the first science show, Lily and Max decided to help young inventors. The outdoor garden, which used to be small, turned into a big place where kids shared ideas, stories, and goals. The town went from being known for its mystery to being known for its mastery. Now, the town is known for its creativity, motivation, and unity. This change was not just about the town. It sent shockwaves all over the world and made people want to follow their dreams with more enthusiasm. Frankenstein's monster and Dracula's legacy have become symbols of how imagination and community can change the world. Institutions changed the way they taught, putting more focus on teamwork and critical thought. Every year, people from all over the world come to a celebration of invention. Once just a simple backyard feature, the beautiful garden is now a place where people come to pray and where children's laughter and heavenly symphony music can be heard. The legacy stressed that great discoveries often come from the most unexpected places and that following one's dreams with an open heart can change one's future. The town's story kept shining brightly, giving future generations something to think about. It was a good lesson that people can change the world if they dare to think differently, want to take unusual paths, and are willing to work with people who have different ideas. The scientific fair that changed the world left behind a memory that shows how beautiful the imagination is and how the human spirit has no limits. How the story started: A small, unremarkable town stood in the middle of a peaceful country, between tall, misty mountains and quiet, whispering woods. Even though this town was small, it had a gem that brought smart young people from all over: a science fair like no other. It wasn't just another meeting of science exhibits and expected experiments. Instead, it was a place where imaginations could run wild and the unexpected was the guest of honor. The people in the area looked forward to this event every year with bated breath, waiting for the day when creativity would take center stage. Young creators, dreamers, and explorers put their whole hearts and minds into their ideas, hoping to surprise, delight, and inspire. This was their chance to show off ideas that came from their wildest dreams and to do something amazing by combining science and art. As soon as the sun came up on the long-awaited day, the town square became a busy place. Booths and displays popped up like flowers after a summer rain, each one a testament to the seemingly endless power of human imagination. There were quiet voices, tinkling laughter, and the sound of paper moving in the air. Even though there were a lot of interesting figures, Frankenstein's monster and Dracula stood out. These two unexpected guests did more than just watch; they started an event that would change the way people think about inventions. Both were shrouded in mystery, bringing to life stories that had scared and fascinated people for ages. The first was Victor, who was created by Dr. Victor Frankenstein and was once scary but is now a figure of kindness and wonder. Victor was tall and stitched together. His scars showed how hard his life had been, but his heartbeat with an intense desire to learn. He had spent weeks working on a secret project that had turned his corner of the circus into a magical place of chemistry. Dracula, the beautiful and mysterious monster from the stories, was the second amazing guest. People knew him as a nighttime person, but behind the darkness was a mind full of scientific curiosity. He worked hard in the lab of his castle to make something that would surprise even people who thought they had seen everything. As the day went on, the people in the town were amazed by the amazing displays, which ranged from small robots to complicated experiments that broke the laws of physics. Victor's and Dracula's shops, on the other hand, were the ones that cast the most interesting spell. Victor presented the "Astro-Melodiscope" with a calm voice and serious eyes. This was a device that showed how celestial bodies moved in time with music. As beautiful music played, people watched the stars and planets dance and shine. The deep velvet shades on Dracula's booth gave it an air of dread. He made a big deal out of introducing the "BatBot Brigade," a group of carefully made fake bats. These insects of the future flew with amazing precision. Each one carried a tiny pod that burst open and released tiny colorful pieces into the air. The crowd gasped in amazement, and the science fair became a place of wonder and new ideas. The judges, who were usually experienced students, looked confused when they realized they were seeing the birth of ideas that were different from what they had expected. Children were amazed and interested as they looked up at Victor and Dracula. The same people who had been in their dreams before were now pushing them to dream bigger and more daring dreams. In a world where anything was possible, like one where a monster and a vampire could live together, it seemed like there were no limits to what could be made. As the sun went down below the horizon and the moon rose, the fair's magic kept working. Victor and Dracula were praised for more than just their inventions. They were also praised for their ability to smash preconceived ideas and spark creativity. So, the small town in the middle of misty mountains and quiet woods left its mark on the history of the world. The science fair had been the spark, and Victor and Dracula had used it as a canvas to paint a vivid reminder that innovation thrived in places where imagination ruled and the unexpected was not only accepted but cherished. When the town's kids got home that night, their hearts were full of ideas and their minds were buzzing with possibilities. They were eager to dream beyond what was normal. In the middle of a beautiful town, tucked between high mountains and quiet woods, lived a creature like no other. Victor, as the few people who knew him called him, was a monument to the strange and surprising. He was a creature with patched-up limbs and a mind as bright as the lightning that had given him life. He was born when science and the supernatural collided. From the moment he was born, Victor was very interested in the world around him. It was the need to understand and deal with the mysteries of life that stood out like the moon in the night sky. Under the intimidating exterior was a heart as big as the mountains that surrounded the town and filled with the warmth of people. Victor's journey of self-discovery was driven by his intense desire to learn. He read books about science, art, and philosophy with the same enthusiasm. His mind was like a complicated clock with many gears. His safe place, a hidden nook in an abandoned tower, became a place where he could get away from the world's criticism and learn about all the different ways people think. As the weeks turned into months, Victor's solo studies took on a meaning that he didn't understand. He made up stories about how he would show the world what he had to offer, something that would go beyond the limits set by others. He thought of an idea that would show how smart he was, a product that would show that he was more than just a strange collection of parts. The walls of the tower showed that Victor was always committed. His shaky but determined calligraphy was on pages of notes spread across tables and tucked into cracks. Diagrams and sketches show how an idea that he worked on with all of his being came to be. Victor worked hard all night long while the rest of the town slept under the watchful eye of the moon. He did this because he thought he could make his own future. Finally, there was a buzz in the air the day before the village's yearly science fair. Victor chose to go into the spotlight to show off his new ideas to a world that had often misunderstood him. By the light of an oil lamp in a dark corner of his tower, he finished his masterpiece, the "Luminafier." With the Luminafier, Victor showed how smart he was and how creative he could be. It was a tool that captured the essence of the world's beauty: the way light dances on leaves, the way stars shine against a soft sky, the way a butterfly's wings shimmer. The Luminafier imitated these miracles by using complex machinery and smart design to project a beautiful dance of light and color on the surfaces around it. As dawn broke on the day of the science fair, Victor's heart raced with both joy and fear. He carefully carried his work to the fairgrounds and put it in a small space. In the morning light, the Luminafier shone like a memorial to the beauty he had seen and the creativity he had used. As the peasants trickled into the fair, the Luminafier's strange show caught their attention. As the amazing dance of light and color happened in front of them, people gasped in amazement. As Victor stood there and watched their shocked faces, his heart filled with joy. But it wasn't just the Luminafier that caught their attention; it was also how someone they used to dislike had changed. People looked past his mended skin and the scars that showed his past. They saw that he had a bright mind, a heart as big as the mountains, and a will as strong as the lightning that had given him life. The Luminafier wasn't just a technical wonder; it was also a symbol of the strength and greatness of the human spirit. Victor had not only made a machine that showed respect for the planet's beauty, but he had also broken down the walls that had kept him hidden. He showed off his creative skills, showing that he was more than just a jumbled-up figure. He was a force to be reckoned with and a warning that genius had no limits. So, in a town between misty mountains and whispering woods, a brilliant mind rose from the depths of confusion and fear to shine as brightly as the Luminafier's luminous show. Victor Frankenstein had shown, through courage, hard work, and a heart that reflected the beauty of the world, that even the most unusual people can bring light to the world through their creativity and promise. Victor's success at the science fair was a turning point not just for him, but for the whole town as well. The Luminafier's show was so interesting that it not only kept people interested, but it also gave them ideas. People at the fair saw the Luminafier as a real example of how magic can come from the most unlikely places—a monument to the power of creativity to change things. As word of Victor's invention spread through the town, people started to see him in a different way. He was no longer the mysterious man who hid in the dark. Instead, he was a shining example of cleverness and creativity. Children with questions would come up to him and ask about the Luminafier or ask for help with their own projects. Victor used to be alone because of how he looked, but now he is surrounded by people who want to learn from him and share his interests.

Can two scientists work and live together? Marie and Pierre Curie proved that it was indeed possible to have a happy marriage and do brilliant research together. This collection of seventeen original essays explores the interplay between marriage and scientific work in the lives of two dozen couples in the nineteenth and twentieth century. It is the first book to discuss the professional and personal lives of scientific couples. For much of this period, marriage was the only acceptable way a woman could gain access to the tools, space, and colleagues indispensable to doing science. Yet, collaboration with her husband could also mean the denial of full credit for her work, inability to move to better jobs, and the juggling of domestic and scientific responsibilities. For the husband, collaboration with his skilled, unpaid wife could bring greater achievements than he might have achieved alone, but also meant the suspicion of his professional peers and the necessity of supporting the household. The creative couples described in this volume range from Nobel Prize winners and world-renowned social scientists to obscure field biologists. The essays describe marriages and scientific collaborations that were a joy to both partners, as well as those that proved disastrous. In addition to the editors, the contributors are Marianne Gosztonyi Ainley, Barbara J. Becker, Bernadette Bensaude-Vincent, Mildred Cohn, Janet Bell Garber, Christiane Groeben, Joy Harvey, Susan Hoecker-Drysdale, Pamela M. Henson, Maureen J. Julian, Sylvia W. McGrath, Marilyn Bailey Ogilvie, John Stachel, Linda Tucker, and Sylvia Wiegand. They provide unique insights into the nature of cross-gender collaboration and intimacy. This volume will be of enormous interest to contemporary scientists, to historians of science, and to anyone interested in the ways women and men share marriage and work.