THIS WEEK - 11-17 MAY 2013
SATURDAY
A visit from the force
As Yoda would say: filmed in the UK, Star Wars will be. British fans awoke to the news that the next instalment in the series will be made in their fair land. Yippee! Or “Aaaaaggggh!”, in the words of Chewbacca.
SUNDAY
Mapping the mind
The brain: probably the only place you can’t find on Google Maps. Not yet, at least. Researchers flocked to the 10th Annual World Congress of the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics in Baltimore, US.
MONDAY
Look beyond the lobes
In more brain news, research revealed that human intelligence cannot be explained by the size of the frontal lobes - the cerebellum may play a key part, too. And you thought it was all down to doing sudoku.
TUESDAY
Robot wars
Remote bomb disposal, unmanned drones, robot “cheetahs”: a UK thinktank hosted a discussion with author Christopher Coker about his book Warrior Geeks, which considers how technology is changing war.
WEDNESDAY
Welcome aboard
Ellen Church, a nurse who harboured dreams of being a pilot, became the world’s first air stewardess on this day in 1930. Ten years later, nylon stockings first went on sale in the US.
THURSDAY
Swotting up
UK education secretary Michael Gove, who was left red-faced after it was discovered he had cited dodgy PR surveys as evidence for policy, was scheduled to speak in London, England. Let’s hope he did his homework.
FRIDAY
Join the food revolution
He trounced Turkey Twizzlers in Britain’s schools but the US didn’t take to his seven-vegetable sauce. Chef Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Day is taking place today, with foodie events around the world.
NEXT WEEK - 18-24 MAY 2013
SATURDAY
Europe united in song
Earplugs in: the Eurovision Song Contest final is to take place in Malmo, Sweden. But hang on, doesn’t the backing singer for the Latvian entry look like the head of the geography department?
SUNDAY
Mighty opponents
Don’t try this at school, folks. The May Grand Sumo Tournament is in full swing in Tokyo, Japan. Wrestlers are fighting over two weeks, aiming for promotion to yokozuna, sumo’s highest rank.
MONDAY
Stretch your legs
The simple act of walking to school is increasingly becoming a rarity rather than an everyday activity. Walk to School Week, which is part of National Walking Month, starts in the UK.
TUESDAY
Born Free
A rare bird in the bush is worth more than two rare birds smuggled into Europe. In England, Prince Charles and Prince William will host a conference about stamping out the illegal trade in wildlife.
WEDNESDAY
Expect an epic after-party
It has been described as “the epic conclusion to an incomparable odyssey of mayhem and bad decisions”. No, not your teaching career - The Hangover Part III, which premieres in London’s Leicester Square tonight.
THURSDAY
Octogenarian glamour
Joan Collins, actor, author and star of a UK advertisement for a well-known chocolate bar, will celebrate her 80th birthday today. And she doesn’t look a day over 60.
FRIDAY
Break time
At last, it’s the UK half-term holiday. It may have been six weeks since Easter but it feels like a lifetime. British teachers and their families can look forward to overpriced package tours and choked roads.
