STEM SUSSEX

KS5 Masterclasses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics

For Post -16 teachers and FE lecturers this summer term

SEEDA FUNDING* IS AVAILABLE FOR A TEACHER OR TECHNICIAN TO ATTEND FREE OF CHARGE WHEN ACCOMPANYING A PAYING TEACHER.

These one-day masterclasses are led by presenters experienced not only in subject knowledge and practical expertise, but also in curriculum development.  You will have the opportunity to explore strategies and approaches to both practical and topical aspects of the new A – Level specifications.  The masterclasses will provide hands-on pedagogy and resources to enhance teaching and learning at post-16 level.

KS5 Biology Masterclass

Tuesday 9th June at University of Sussex, Brighton

Wednesday 24th June at University of Kent, Canterbury

Tuesday 30th June at Science Learning Centre South East, Southampton

NB: You might also be interested in our statistics course

STATISTICS FOR POST-16 BIOLOGY TEACHERS

Tuesday 30 June - Science Learning Centre South East

KS5 Physics Masterclass

Friday 19th June - Science Learning Centre South East

Thursday 2nd July - Charterhouse School, Godalming, Surrey

KS5 AS Chemistry Masterclass

Wednesday 24th June - Faringdon Community College, between Oxford and Swindon

Wednesday 1st July - University of Reading

KS5 A2 Chemistry Masterclass

Friday 19th June - University of Kent, Canterbury

Friday 26th June - Science Learning Centre South East

Smallpiece Trust - course places available

Below is a summary Smallpiece Trust courses with available places:

Yr 10 Marine Technology (Glasgow) – 3 places remaining
http://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=41&Itemid=88

Yr 10 Engineering Materials (Manchester) – 21 places remaining
http://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=169&Itemid=199

Yr 11 Sustainable Energy (Newcastle) – 6 places remaining
http://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=165&Itemid=177

Yr 11 & 12 Technical Textiles (Manchester) – 27 places remaining
http://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=320&Itemid=379

Yr 11&12 Entrepreneurial Engineering (Suffolk) – 20 places remaining
http://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=387&Itemid=385

Yr 11 &12 Naval Architecture (Plymouth) – 19 places remaining
http://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=394&Itemid=386

Yr 12 Power Engineering (Birmingham) – 19 places remaining
http://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=322&Itemid=380

For full information visit: http://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk

Smallpiece Trust - New Entrepreneurial Engineering Course, Year 11 and 12

Sponsored by BT, this course is team-based, fast-paced and an exciting introduction which explores the skills required to make money from innovative ideas.

Students will get the chance to build prototypes of their most creative innovations and then pitch them to our very own ‘Dragons’ !  Smallpiece Trust are looking for students who can think outside the box and aren’t afraid to take risks.

Students will learn how to adopt the right commercial model for their business and how to change it as new players enter the market.

The subsidised rate is £149 per student an includes 3 days, full board, all course materials and social activities.

Teachers are advised to encourage students to apply early as places are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Teachers can send up to 5 students from their school.

Download booking form: EntrepreneurialEngineeringYr_11_12.pdf

For more information visit: http://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk

Smallpeice Trust introduce 2 brand new courses

Smallpeice Trust are pleased to introduce 2 brand new courses:

Yr 11 & 12 ‘Entrepreneurial Engineering’ sponsored by BT, 6-8 July 2009, BT Adastral Park, Ipswich
http://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=387&Itemid=385
Students will investigate the use of Software Development Kits (SDKs) to build solutions from a kit of readily available parts.  They will get the chance to impress a panel of BT experts (our very own Dragons!) with their most inventive and imaginative ideas, and to use the latest software packages to make prototypes of their products.
£149 incl. full board, all course materials and excursions.

Yr 11 & 12 ‘Naval Architecture’ sponsored by Babcock, 27-30 July, University of Plymouth
http://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=394&Itemid=386
As well as getting a real insight into the day-to-day work of a naval architect, students will get to design and build their own Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) - a device frequently used by naval architects in the construction and inspection of offshore structures - and then test it on an underwater obstacle course.
£169 incl. full board, all course materials and excursions.

Teachers are advised to encourage their students to apply early as applications are reviewed and places allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Below is a summary of courses with available places:
Yr 9 Marine Technology (Southampton) – 18 places remaining
Yr 10 Marine Technology (Glasgow) – 16 places remaining
Yr 10 Engineering Materials (Manchester) – 26 places remaining
Yr 11 Sustainable Energy (Newcastle) – 9 places remaining
Yr 11 & 12 Technical Textiles (Manchester) – 27 places remaining
Yr 11& 12 Mining & Minerals (Leeds) – 3 places remaining
NEW Yr 11&12 Entrepreneurial Engineering (Suffolk) – 40 places
NEW Yr 11 &12 Naval Architecture (Plymouth) – 40 places
Yr 12 Power Engineering (Birmingham) – 13 places remaining

For full details see: http://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk

Go Goblin Sussex Project

Race day was held on Saturday 21 March 2009 at Plumpton College, Lewes

PRIZE WINNERS

1st Willingdon Primary School
2nd Southdown Junior School
3rd Parkside Community Primary School
4th Cumnor House School

‘Best Bodywork’ Chyngton School

For more information on Greenpower and Go Goblin visit: http://www.greenpower.co.uk

Invitation to apply for a fully-funded continuing professional development opportunity

Do you teach secondary level science, geography, or citizenship in the UK?
Are you passionate about conservation, wildlife and environmental issues?

If so you are eligible to apply to the Earthwatch Educator Expeditions in the summer holidays 2009. These fully-funded expeditions provide a fantastic continuing professional development opportunity for educators who want to:

• Experience environmental research in action in the UK
• Work alongside leading scientists
• Learn transferrable field research skills
• Bring new ideas and knowledge back to your students
• Integrate environmental themes into your teaching
• Develop teaching materials and resources for your classroom
• Meet and exchange ideas with like-minded education professionals

Past Educator Testimonials:

“The project gave me direct experience of field work and the chance to talk directly with researchers. The experience itself was so exciting that it filled me with heaps of enthusiasm that will stay with me for a long time.” - Joel Rodker, Expedition participant 2008

“I have picked up loads of ideas for whole school environmental development which I am already putting in to practice. I now have contacts in other schools and we are bouncing ideas to each other.” - Lucy Richardson, Expedition participant 2008

“The most positive experience was working with the team to put what we had learnt into tangible lessons, linked to the curriculum.” - Kirsty Busby, Expedition participant 2008

“The project gave me the ability to transfer what is done in the adult world of research to the confined space of a classroom” - Gemma Dale, Expedition participant 2008

For more information visit http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/educators or email

Minister leads call for industry backing of national Science and Engineering programme.

STEMNET spearheads campaign to create 27,000 ‘science heroes’ for schools by 2011
 
 
Lord Drayson, the Science Minister, has today (9 March) spoken out about the need for UK industry to engage with the next generation of young people through the UK-wide Science and Engineering Ambassadors programme to avert a national STEM skills crisis.
 
Speaking at the start of National Science and Engineering Week, Lord Drayson said: “As we enter tough economic times and look to boost British expertise in areas such as high tech manufacturing, the foundation for which is Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths skills, it is more crucial than ever that employers join the drive to inspire young people about the possibilities of studying and pursuing a career in these areas.
 
“The Science and Engineering Ambassadors programme is a UK-wide network created to help industry to do this. It connects our most inspiring young scientists, engineers and technology experts with hundreds of thousands of young people across the UK. I would like to see all science enterprise businesses from SMEs to multinationals signing up to this scheme. We want every school in the country to have access to their own ‘science hero’ by 2011.”
 
The Science and Engineering Ambassadors programme was established in 2002 by STEMNET (the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths Network) with funding from the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills (DIUS). Since then the scheme has grown to involve over 19,000 professionals working in these areas from snow board designers to web developers, pharmacists to rocket scientists. More than half the Ambassadors are under 35 and 40% are women. 
 
Ambassadors visit schools and colleges on a regular basis to help with after-school activities, give careers talks and organise inspiring work-place trips. Research has shown that young people at are much more likely to study science at A Level and pursue science, technology, engineering and maths at university if they have had exposure to positive role models.  The Ambassadors are available to help support students and teachers across all school ages, from 5 to 19.

Yvonne Baker, Chief Executive of STEMNET, added: “We are very grateful to every one of our volunteer Ambassadors and the employers who support them – each Ambassador can make a real difference to young people’s understanding of where science and maths can lead and how it can help them fulfill their dreams.  Ambassadors are in great demand and we are always looking to expand the network so that more young people can have access to inspiring role models. None of it is possible without the backing of STEM employers and the willingness of their employees to give their time, enthusiasm and commitment to the scheme. We are thankful to all those organisations which do support and we are always happy to welcome more. The economic climate may be difficult but this is an investment that business cannot afford not to make if the UK is to compete with emerging economies such as India and China.”

Matt Bross, Chief Technology Officer at the BT group, which provides Ambassadors for the scheme, said: “One of the most important things we can do to stimulate the next generation of technology innovators is to help excite and inspire young people by harnessing their natural enthusiasm and affinity for technology and unleashing their natural flair as innovators. The men and women of BT who work as Ambassadors help put the ‘T’ into ‘STEM’ and experience the challenge and excitement of passing on the passion that they feel for what they do. They show aspiring young innovators that it’s people, commitment, inspiration and enthusiasm that make technology work, not boxes! BT’s success in the UK is dependent upon a having a thriving and effective ecosystem of technology literate customers, suppliers and competitors.”

George Quayle, Managing Director of Technical Fibre Products Ltd, a small high-tech materials company based in Cumbria which provides three Ambassadors, said: “Industry needs to get behind the STEMNET programme. STEM students are the future wealth creators of this country. They need to be enticed to join industry to ensure the UK prospers in a very competitive world. TFP has benefited from involvement as the programme has motivated our young STEM graduate employees and enhanced their leadership, project management and mentoring skills, as well as generating interest in future employment from a pool of local talent.”

Guide to the Top 10 things you can still do during National Science and Engineering Week 2009

1) Go and visit an event in your local area - whether it’s all singing, all dancing science festival or a small hands-on workshop at your local museum, there should be something near you!  See http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/NSEWevents  for the full National Science and Engineering Week events programme. 

2) Enter the Darwin in Space Competition and draw us a picture of an animal on an alien planet to win a Nintendo DS and a “Future is Wild” education pack for your class. http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/darwincompetition

3) Plant some bee-friendly plants or go to one of our nationwide “Bee Aware” events as part of our Save Our Bees Campaign! To find your nearest event or to register your interest, go to http://www.saveourbees.org.uk and receive a free activity pack.

4) Let The British Science Association know what you would like to see and what you wouldn’t in the future and they’ll get scientists and engineers to let you know whether it’s a possibility - check out the Change Exchange at http://www.changeexchange.org.uk

5) Tell The British Science Association your stories of how climate change is affecting you in small or large ways at the 2009 UK Climate Change Diary.  Have you changed your travel plans? Have you made your house more eco-friendly or made other changes in your life? Let us know at http://www.ukclimatediary.co.uk

6) Take part in the “How unique are you?” project at http://www.well.ox.ac.uk/uniqueness . Learn about your own body and investigate how you compare to other people taking part.

7) Bop along to the world’s first virtual sci-pop festival - Geek Pop!  Sign up at http://www.geekpop.co.uk

8) Video your own event or one that you have visited and upload it on our YouTube page - the best clips will be made into a trailer for National Science and Engineering Week 2010!  http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/NSEWvideo

9) Test your brain with this year’s National Science and Engineering Week Quiz - http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/quiz

10) Try some hands-on activities and experiments at home or at school from one of our fantastic challenge packs at http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/challengepack

Smallpiece Trust - Year 9 Engineering Experience - places available

Smallpiece Trust - Year 9 Engineering Experience

Harper Adams University College, Newport, Shropshire: 6-9 April 2009
Askham Bryan College, York:  14-17 April 2009

availbale

This ‘foundation course’ is perfect for those who just want to find out a bit more about engineering in general or are unsure what a career in engineering actually entails. 

Students will have the opportunity to work alongside young professional engineers, who will guide them through every stage of a project, from initial concepts to final testing.  Previous years’ students have been lucky enough to work with engineers from ARUP, the RAF, Rolls-Royce, The Home Office Scientific Branch and United Utilities.  Just some of the projects from last year include developing a robotic security device to protect the crown jewels, designing and building a life-size obstruction course which will deliver a marble to its destination and constructing a civilian bridge with intricate details and accuracy in measurement.

The courses are heavily subsidised by around 75% and the cost to students/schools is £125 which includes all accommodation (4 days), food, course materials and excursions. If you are a teacher and want to come along too, you will also be paid £240 in gift vouchers as a thank you (although you do not have to accompany your students as full supervision is provided!)

Schools can send up to 10 students from their school on the course.

To find out more call 01926 333200 or Students can apply directly online on our website http://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk

Salters’ Chemistry Camps 2009

The Salters’ Chemistry Camps 2009 will be taking place between June and August next summer with 16 Camps due to be hosted by Universities across the UK.

The Camps are open to students at all secondary schools in the UK and the Republic of Ireland and teachers may nominate four students from:

• Year 10 in England and Wales
• Years S3 in Scotland
• Year 11 in Northern Ireland

Year 3 in the Republic of Ireland

Students get the opportunity to experience a very memorable few days learning more about Chemistry, sampling a taste of University life by staying in the Halls of Residence and meeting new friends!

Applications will be considered in the order in which they are received so please apply early to avoid disappointment!

For further information and to download an application form for the 2009 Salters’ Chemistry Camps online visit http://www.chemistrycamps.co.uk

or contact the Camps Administrator on:

Tel: 020 7628 5962 ext. 213
Email: