Director: Dr Lynne Bianchi, Director of the Sheffield Comino Centre for Personal Capability and Leadership, Centre for Science Education, Sheffield Hallam University, Howard Street, Sheffield, S1 1WB Phone: 0114 225 4870 Fax: 0114 225 4872 l.m.bianchi@shu.ac.uk Working week - Mondays to Wednesdays

The Sheffield Comino Centre is based in The Centre for Science Education (CSE), which is part of the Faculty of Development and Society at Sheffield Hallam University. It has a core focus on the development of young people's capability and leadership skills through the school curriculum, with specific reference to primary and secondary education. It championships working with real teachers in real schools, helping to bring the real world of science, careers and curriculum innovation into the classroom.

Established in 1990, the Comino Centre was associated with such projects as Problem Solving with Industry, which stiil has currency today in the context of education for enterprise and innovation. As the CSE has evolved and established itself as a leading force in innovative curriculum development and consultancy, the Comino Centre in Sheffield has worked across the education sector to focus thinking and practice on developing youngsters' scientific and personal capabilities. A range of different projects have enabled the Comino ethos to spread within science education networks, such as Smart Science, the STEM Leadership Qualification and Smart Talk - exploring the use of verbal behaviour analysis in science education

The Comino Centre has, uniquely, supported the notion of 'dream time' - the necessary time within a busy workplace - which is so vital for innovation and idea creation and testing. Staff in the Comino Centre have used this opportunity to give birth to new ideas, develop thinking and forge new networks in the world of Science Education and beyond.

The Comino Centre acts as a driving force to enable new vision and dynamic growth with large networks of people. Key areas of development at present are: exploring the notion of 'wonder-full' learning experiences - ways in which awe and wonder can be encouraged within primary and secondary school science learning; the enrichment of continued personal and professional development of teachers and the development of leadership capabilities in young people.

The Sheffield Comino Centre is interested in hearing from groups or individuals who are also seeking to promote personal responsibility through school, college or university based initiatives, and those who innovate through curriculum development in Science Education.