5 Editorial

6 Letters

7 Science notes

7 Pupils develop a theory of evolution using Darwin's observations Deborah Lovrich

11 The mysterious blue diode: linking quantumand wave effects raises an anomalous result Geoff Auty

17 Notes on a demonstration of projectile motion Ian MacInnes

19 Ascience-based trip to Europe and beyond Adrian Fenton

21 Special editorial: Outdoor science

23 Chemistry outdoors Peter Borrows
There is a surprising amount of simple chemistry in the outdoor environment. Including this in your teaching can both enrich it and provide a way of revising familiar concepts in new contexts

33 Twenty-first century pollution detectives Phil Sanderson
Analytical methods are described which will allow 14-19 year-old pupils to carry out fieldwork aimed at tracking down sources of river pollution

41 Making the invisible visible: monitoring levels of gaseous carbon dioxide in the field and classroom
Roger Delpech
Use of a gaseous carbon dioxide sensor and data-logger can make real to studentsb the impact of their lifestyle choices on climate change

53 Putting earth science teaching into its outdoor context Chris King
Try ESEU's stepwise approach to developing the educational potential of the outdoor environment - from Earth science through the window to the school grounds and beyond

61 Unorthodox ways of teaching physics: making use of your surroundings Francisca Wheeler
Teaching outdoors can help to make physics more attractive and meaningful to many students

65 Physics outdoors: from the Doppler effect to F = ma Nicholas Weaver
Even rough-and-ready approaches outdoors can add greatly to the teaching of physics

69 Data-loggers in ecological enquiry in school grounds and beyond Frank Fearn
Ideas and hints on using data-loggers to enhance outdoor enquiries

75 The Survival Game: teaching ecology through role-play Samantha Hillcox
An active role-play game for learning about food webs, factors affecting the distribution and relative abundance of organisms in habitats, energy transfer and species conservation

83 Some prickly thoughts: does holly become more prickly when it's grazed? Anne Bebbington
An investigation introducing plant defence mechanisms and the idea of adaptation

91 What happened to the holly leaf miner? Studying real food chains Melissa Glackin, Maddy Jones and Simon Norman
Apractical ecological investigation suitable for 14-16 year-olds that is easy to resource, even in an urban environment

99 Biology field work in school grounds: a model of good practice in teaching science
Sue Howarth and David Slingsby
Three case studies which illustrate how easily organised outdoor investigations can bring science to life

107 The value of outdoor learning: evidence from research in the UK and elsewhere Justin Dillon, Mark Rickinson, Kelly Teamey, Marian Morris, Mee Young Choi, Dawn Sanders and Pauline Benefield
Research indicates that fieldwork, properly conceived and planned, well taught and effectively followed up, offers learners opportunities to develop knowledge and skills in ways that add value to their everyday classroom experiences

113 Is BMAT the way forward? Peter Hughes
BMAT, which is used by some medical and veterinary schools for selection of their candidates, is likely to become more important in the future

119 Kidney failure and dialysis: a problem-solving approach inteaching Science, Technology and Society
Yeung Chung Lee
How can we engage pupils in learning STS, apart from employing common approaches like data analysis, case studies and class debate?

126 Book reviews

136 ICT reviews

142 Science websearch

144 Notes for contributors/Special issues list