All About the Teacher Scientist Network (TSN)

What is the TSN ?
Mission Statement
Structure
Status and Location

What is the TSN?

TSN is a local science education charity founded in 1994 that strives to enhance science education in a variety of ways, all of which involve bringing together the science and education communities.

One of TSN’s most distinguishing features is its ‘bottom up’ collaborative structure. In other words, all our activities are steered by those who use the scheme. This design allows TSN to respond quickly and flexibly to local needs, and all our activities have evolved and adapted accordingly. Inevitably, such ‘bottom up’ arrangements tend to be organic, and so formal statements of purpose or policy have tended to follow rather than lead our activities.

Emerging documents are more a statement of what it is that TSN actually does rather than a set of fixed aims. However, we have tried to produce clear statements that describe what it is we try to do without hindering our ability to change and develop according to the needs of its members.

Mission Statment

The TSN's mission is to enhance science in schools across Norfolk and North Suffolk through the supportive involvement of the local science community in science education;

by encouraging activities of mutual benefit to both scientific and educational communities;
by providing support, advice and resources to the teachers and scientists involved in the Network;
by regularly reviewing, adapting and updating activities in accordance with the changing needs of the network's members.

Structure

TSN currently employs a single member of staff - the co-ordinator is employed full-time to manage and develop the network and its associated activities (including overseeing the Kit Club), previously managed by a dedicated member of staff.

TSN received generous funding for over 10 years from The Gatsby Charitable Trust although other agencies contributed to specific projects in that time. More recently TSN, since the withdrawl of Gatsby support, has received grant-support from the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC) (http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk) and other funding agencies within the UK and Europe through successful bids in open competition.

From the outset, TSN has been overseen by a teacher-dominated Steering Group, representative of the local education structure, together with representatives from the 3 science-focused organisations that support TSN [the John Innes Centre (JIC) - our host organisation - JIC) and Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL), the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the Quadram Institute].

Major decisions are made and new directions set by this group with meetings taking place once each term. Steering Group members are listed here

Status and Location

The Teacher Scientist Network is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. Registered in England, No.455366. Registered charity No. 1096208.

The registered office of the TSN is: John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK.

Telephone: +44 (0)1603 450000 Fax: +44 (0)1603 450045 Email: ts.network@nbi.ac.uk

Although hosted through the generosity of the John Innes Centre, the TSN is totally autonomous and independent.

As a registered charity we are able to accept donations, and we have opted to use the facility offered by 'charity choice' to enable donors to use an online facility. Alternatively cheques should be made payable to The Teacher Scientist Network, and sent to our registered office address above.