BP Announces Carbon Challenge Education Programme for UK Secondary Schools

10 January 2007
BP is to launch a major Carbon Challenge education programme for schools in September 2007.

This new education programme under the themes of carbon footprint and climate change is for 14 to 16 year olds across the UK. The main subjects for the BP Carbon Challenge are Science, Mathematics and Enterprise, with activities linked to the relevant UK education curricula and guidelines.

Working in partnership with the Science Museum, London and building on the success of BP’s Carbon Footprint Toolkit, the two-part programme is designed to reach over 400 schools and around 60,000 students across the UK each year.

The Science Museum’s expertise in science communication and interpretation will be used to create a one-day teacher training programme delivered regionally around the UK. Science Museum staff from the Learning Unit will deliver training in facilitating and managing dialogue, debate and discussion around often controversial issues in contemporary science that are at the forefront of national and international policy agendas.
Peter Mather, BP’s Head of Country for the UK said: “It is important that everyone plays their part in helping the environment, and if we can help reach out to teenagers then they may take further care of our planet in the future.”“BP already plays its part through targetneutral and other environmental projects”, he added.

The Science Museum’s teacher training is followed by the BP Carbon Challenge Day roadshow, where students will learn about their carbon footprint, conduct tests to enable them to measure it, devise and test strategies that could help to reduce carbon emissions both in the school and in the wider community.

The programme will be available to UK schools and colleges serving the 14-16 year age group from September 2007. Schools will be invited to register for the BP Carbon Challenge from May 2007. They can express their interest in the programme by emailing bpes@bp.com through the link below – this will be used solely to inform them of when registration is open for their region.
bpes@bp.com
About the Carbon Footprint Toolkit
The Carbon Footprint Toolkit was launched online and as a free CD-ROM to UK schools at the beginning of November 2006. It is a state-of-the-art education resource from the BP Educational Service, providing teachers with a flexible way to teach students about carbon emissions, impacts, choices for reduction and alternative energy supplies.

Since launch, it has been ordered by over 60% of all UK secondary schools and colleges. You can find out more by visiting Carbon footprint toolkit: www.bp.com/bpes/cft

About BP and the Science Museum
BP is the principal sponsor of the ‘Energy – fuelling the future’ gallery at the Science Museum in London. The gallery has been created especially for young people to explore how energy powers every aspect of their lives, and to discover the latest ideas on how we’ll help to meet the planet’s growing energy demands in the years ahead. The exhibition tackles this often complex and abstract subject through interactive and scenario-based exhibits that allow users to make their own intellectual and creative choices about energy.

About the BP Educational Service
The BP Educational Service (BPES) provides an enquiry service and educational resources for students, teachers, parents and employees. The team of educationalists produces innovative resources about BP and the energy business for all UK schools, directly matched to UK education curricula and focusing on energy, environment, leadership and business skills.

Further information:
Office: Science Museum Press Office
Phone : +44 (0) 207 942 4328
Email: lauren.gildersleve@sciencemuseum.org.uk

Contact Information

Sheila Williams

BP Press Officer

BP

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