Archive

The National Big Bang Fair

Congratulations are in order for 10 projects from schools in the North East who competed in the regional Big Bang fair in July. They are going forward to compete in the National Science and Engineering competition at the Big Bang fair held at London’s ExceL on 10^th – 12^th March 2011. Shows including ‘Brainiac Live’, ‘Bang Goes the Theory’ and activities like ‘Amoeba to Zebra’, ‘The Ever Wondered Why Roadshow’, ‘Grow Your Own Body Parts’ and ‘Hydraulics for Frolics’ will be taking place at the event.

For more information on The Big Bang fair, to register your attendance and book tickets please visit www.thebigbangfair.co.uk.  

Congratulations and the best of luck to the following schools and their projects:

STEM Outreach would also like to congratulate and wish the best of luck to Corylus Learning’s Colin Wilkinson and Sarah McLusky at Sparks Education who will be co-ordinating the Big Bang North East at New College Durham on 12^th July 2011. For more information on next year’s regional Big Bang fair feel free to contact Colin at colin@coryluslearning.com or Sarah at sarah@sparkseducation.co.uk or visit www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/northeast/

The Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust Teachers Award

The National Science & Engineering Competition is proud to announce The Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust Teachers Award is taking nominations for the 2011 prize.

This prize is open to any UK teacher (full-time/part-time, specialist advisor, AST etc) who teaches or supports Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) lessons in and out of school/college from primary to top end secondary.

The Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust Teachers Award is looking for a teacher who shows enthusiasm, passion and energy for their work, commitment and dedication and good subject knowledge / expertise, all of which have been used to enthuse the students they work with.

If you think you are this person, or if you know a teacher who deserves to have their hard work in STEM acknowledged, then please contact Ellie Chambers at Ellie.Chambers@britishscienceassociation.org or on 020 7019 4945 so you can be sent either a self nomination or nomination by another person form. Please take the time to fill either of them out and put your nomination forward (do make sure you let the nominee know first though!) You can return the form electronically, in the post or by fax on 020 7581 6587.

The winner will receive £500 and a certificate as well as being invited on an experience trip and many other benefits and perks for the coming year.

Teachers can either nominate themselves, or be nominated by another person.

From the pool of entries, five teachers will be shortlisted and have their travel costs covered to attend The Big Bang where they will be interviewed by a judging panel to select the award winner. The recipient will be announced at the National Award Ceremony on the same day in the evening of Friday the 11^th March.

Deadline for entries:  30^th January 2011.

Renewables don’t run out

The Association for Science Education (NE Region)

presents:

Renewables don’t run out

Thursday 25 November 2010, 4.30–6pm

Whitehouse Primary School

Dunelm Road, Elm Tree Farm, Stockton on Tees, TS19 0TS

Presenter: Michele Smale, Advisory Teacher, Children Challenging Industry in Yorkshire, CIEC, Department of Chemistry, University of York

Target Audience: Primary School Teachers

Synopsis: This practical workshop is aimed at teachers of upper KS2 looking for an innovative approach to scientific enquiry of green plants and their technological applications in a changing environment. Set in the real life context of industry’s need to look for renewable fuels and energy sources, children explore sunflowers and other oil rich seed plants to understand their potential in this cutting edge field of science.

Participants will have the opportunity to try out a sequence of practical explorations and investigations that follow the story of the sunflower from seed to oil, fuel and lubricants. There are opportunities to see how these activities link closely to assessment using APP, participants will see how this resource supports the AF2, understanding the applications and implications of science, strand.

Booking is not essential but it would be very helpful if you could let the Field Officer know if you (and any colleagues) are attending. Contact Lyn Bossons at lynbossons@ase.org.uk or on 0191 3737753.

This meeting is free and open to non-members.

Tea/coffee and biscuits will be available from 4pm onwards.

SCENE Conference

SCENE – Sustainable Communities and Environments North East

We would like to invite you to the SCENE launch conference on Thursday 18th November 2010 at the Assembly Rooms, Newcastle.

SCENE is a brand new venture from Newcastle College as part of their commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility. The four key strands of SCENE are corporate social responsibility, carbon reduction, sustainable development and community cohesion. SCENE works with schools and communities in the North East to raise awareness of and educate about climate change and sustainable development issues both regionally and globally.

The conference is suitable for teachers, sixth form students, community groups and any interested businesses. Please forward to any colleagues who might be interested.

The agenda for the day is as follows:

08.00    Arrivals / Teas and Coffees

09.00    Lynda Evans – Welcome and introduction to SCENE

09.15     Speaker – Ann Finlayson, SEEd Director

10.00     Workshop 1

11.00      Break

11.30      Workshop 2

12.30      Lunch

13.30      Workshop 3

14.30      Speaker – Adrian Hilton – Climate North East

15.15       Thank you and Close

Please contact Lizzie Lunn at elizabeth.lunn@ncl-coll.ac.uk or on 0191 200 4453 to register your attendance or if you have any queries.

For more information on SCENE and to register please visit www.scenelink.org

Come and find us at the Assembly Rooms (Newcastle) Ltd, Fenkle Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5XU

F1 in Schools Curriculum Resource

It prepares students for the F1 in Schools Technology Challenge, a multi-disciplinary contest in which teams of students use computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacture (CAM) software to design, analyse, manufacture, test and then race miniature balsa wood racing cars powered by compressed gas.

Intended to develop students’ interest in, and knowledge of, engineering and design, the ‘F1 in Schools Curriculum Resource’ enables schools to run a cross-curricular project. It is an excellent way to move STEM work from after-school clubs to timetabled classroom activities, and thereby give STEM more prominence in school life.

The resource is provided online, and an annual subscription costs just £295+VAT per school. Discounts are available if several schools purchase together; please contact us for further details. You can also encourage schools in your area to subscribe by sending them the following link to an information site, which is at: http://www.parsonpublishing.co.uk/fscr/ 

To view a brief demonstration of the ‘F1 in Schools Curriculum Resource’ (Bloodhound SSC), enter the user name ‘demo’ and the password ‘password’ at: http://fscr.pearson.co.uk 

To subscribe, a school should print out, complete and return the order form provided at: http://www.pearsonpublishing.co.uk/fscr/subscribe

This edition of the ‘F1 in Schools Curriculum Resource’ is for the 9-14 age group and Bloodhound SSC level of the challenge; subsequent editions for the F1 Class level will be available shortly.

To express your interest in editions for the 11-14 or 15-19 age group at the F1 Class level of the challenge, or for any other queries about the ‘F1 in Schools Curriculum Resource’, please email fscr@pearson.co.uk or call 01223 350555.

Pearson Publishing

Tel 01223 350555

Fax 01223 356484

www.pearsonpublishing.co.uk

Oceans of Opportunity – Your Future in Science and Technology

Careers fair Wednesday, 1st December 2010

Lindisfarne Room, Main Campus, Newcastle University

You and your students (Year 10 – 13) ar invited to the Oceans of Opportunity Careers fair on Wednesday, 1st December 2010 at the Lindisfarne Room, Newcastle University.

The event is an opportunity for  pupils to participate in a suite of stimulating interactive activities that bring science and technology learning to life. A wide range of high profile STEM companies and employers will be represented at the event with many challenging and exciting careers showcased. While all careers represented are in science and engineering, many also have a focus on the marine sector, a field that a lot of young people will have not considered.

Schools can book a choice of two free activities from a choice of 4, participate in an engaging debate, have the opportunity to win prizes and resources, and find out more about the fantastic careers and courses on offer.

There are a number of different options available to your school/college:

The options are:

• Attend the morning session (10am-1pm) : participate in two hands-on activities, speak to organisations and companies at the Careers Exhibition, and be involved in the debate.
• Attend the afternoon session (12-3pm): participate in two hands-on activities, speak to organisations and companies at the Careers Exhibition, and be involved in the debate.
• Participate in Careers Exhibition only – from 10.00am-12noon
• Participate in Careers Exhibition only – from 1.00pm-3.00pm

Please contact Annie Cunningham at annie.cunningham@ncl.ac.uk or Tel: 0191 222 3066 to register your attendance. See also this link http://www.ncl.ac.uk/marine/learning/inspiringoceans/.