The Schools Analyst Competition is an annual event organised by the Analytical Division of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Teams of three students, from the first year sixth form or equivalent groups, compete to solve a practical exercise requiring laboratory skills, interpretation, and problem solving within a specified period of time. Regional heats are held in the RSC regional centres, which for the North East are Huddersfield, Bradford, Newcastle, Teesside, and Sunderland. The results from the winners of these local heats are then compared, and the best team is selected to enter the national final.
The Sunderland heat of this competition will be held on Monday the 18th of March between 1:00pm and 5:30pm in the Fleming Building at Sunderland University.
The Newcastle heat of this competition will be held on Wednesday, 27th March 2013 between 4.30pm and 7.30pm in the Ellison Building Laboratories (EBA504) at Northumbria University.
Each school in the area is invited to enter one team of three students drawn from Year 12. The winning team will need to demonstrate practical competence, organisation, problem solving skills, and effective written communication. The winners are selected on the basis of a detailed report of their results and conclusions.
Laboratory and safety considerations mean that they can only accommodate a limited number (9) of teams of three. Entry will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis.
The Royal Society of Chemistry have just launched their ‘Chemistry in the Olympics’ website and global experiment.
The site went live last week, featuring information and data entry pages for their global experiment, and dozens of resources exploring chemistry in sport. The global experiment will test the effects of sports drinks on athletic performance and encourage participation in students of all ages. Children in school and at home are encouraged to take part, ideally before the start of this year’s London Olympics!
Alistair Brownlee, twice world champion triathlete and former chemistry student, introduces the global experiment site and talks about the role chemistry played in his own education and how chemistry is vital to his sport.
From Monday there will be 46 unique QR code stickers in locations across Newcastle City Centre. Scanning the code will take you to a website with further information about the chemical relevant to that place or product. You might find an Ethanol sticker down the pub, or caffeine at the coffee shop, but the challenge is to find all 46, including some you may not be familiar with.
What is a QR Code?
A QR Code is like a barcode, but it links to a webpage. They are readable using free apps downloadable to any smart phone (e.g. BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, Windows Phone)
What if I don’t have a smartphone?
You can request a booklet which will be sent to you as a PDF to print out, then you can tick off the QR codes you find, making a note of their location.
How can I find out more?
A full list of the chemicals on the trail can be found here: http://www.newcastlechemistrytrail.co.uk/, the locations of the QR codes are however top secret! There are also active facebook groups (search Newcastle Chemistry Trail) and a twitter feed (@NCLChemTrail).
Can I have a QR code to display?
Yes! If you would like to help increase awareness of chemistry and its importance to Newcastle’s history by displaying a relevant QR code at your workplace, your school or anywhere else you think may be relevant please do contact mail@newcastlechemistrytrail.co.uk, requesting the QR codes you would like to display.
The Royal Society of Chemistry is offering 2 grant-schemes to schools:
Chemistry at Work events are careers-based for Year 11s and under, which can also include Primary. Outside speakers who use chemistry in their working life give hands-on presentations to groups of students and during the day, the students move round until they’ve visited everyone. Smaller events (150-ish students) tend to be run over one day and you can bid for funding up to £800 per day. Larger events, where more schools are involved can last up to 3 days and the daily rate is the same (£800 x 3 = £2400). Chemistry at Work events can be run in a school where if possible other schools are invited, in industry, at a University or anywhere you think it would work. You don’t just have to run one event but if you are thinking of running a few, please bear in mind the time it will take to organise and also put in a separate form for each event.
The expression of interest forms for Chemistry at Work events need to be sent to chemistryatwork@rsc.orgby 1st December 2011.
ChemNet events are for 16-19 year old chemists and are much smaller and tend to last a few hours rather than the full day. Ideally, they’d be 20-30 students per event and as with the Chemistry at Work events, speakers would give hands on sessions. You can bid for up to £500 per event with one form submitted per event.
The expression of interest forms for ChemNet events need to come to Joanna Buckley joanna.buckley@sheffield.ac.uk by 1st December 2011.
STEM Ambassadors can support chemistry events in your school for free! Fore more details please contact STEM Outreach team.
A celebration of the innovative science happening in our region
Venue: Scotswood Suite, Centre for Life, Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne Date: 17 May 2011 Time: 12noon – 5pm
Newcastle is a proud city of science. Driving forward the development of electric vehicles, playing a leading role in identifying causes and prevention of Alzheimer’s and pioneering cutting-edge stem cell research into the diagnosis and treatment of cancer – just some of the innovative science activities that are happening right here in Newcastle.
To showcase these activities Newcastle Science City are bringing the city’s science excellence to life under one roof, at the International Centre for Life on 17 May between 12noon and 5pm. The venue will come alive with a vibrant exhibition of the work happening across our region giving schoolchildren and the local community the chance to meet with scientists and get behind their discoveries through models, films, presentations, even taking part in a real-life experiment!
On the day we’ll be joined by special guest Steve Mould, Blue Peter’s resident scientist, who will be bringing science to life using his unique, engaging style that has won the hearts of children and adults alike.
This event is a must for anyone studying science at school, thinking of a career in a scientific area or those who simply enjoy seeing science in action!
If your school would like to attend please provide; your school name, how many children you will be bringing and your estimated time of arrival at the event via email tohelen.mcloughlin@newcastlesciencecity.com
(Please note it is anticipated that each school will need 1.5 hours to see the exhibition in full)
£80 per week available to students studying A Level or other higher academic or vocational STEM qualifications in the North East!
Nuffield Foundation offer up to 1000 bursaries a year, for students to work alongside practising scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. Projects take place during the summer holidays, giving students an insight into the world of scientific research and development.
Placements are available across the North East, in universities, research institutions and other organisations.
Take a look at projects available for Summer 2011 here:
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 10th – 12th 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:
School
Project
Central Newcastle High School
EES Project
Emmanuel College
Automatic Curtain
Emmanuel College
The Nyctolight
Emmanuel College
Frequetherapy
Emmanuel College
Electronic Musical Keyboard
Emmanuel College
Electronic Safety Device for Bike Users to Wear
Newminster Middle School
Which Tattoos Last the Longest
Queen Elizabeth High School
Gun Barrel Movement on a Challenger Tank
Sacred Heart High School
Liver Disease
St Bede’s RC School
Safety First Warning Lights
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 12th 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/
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.
The Make a Mint Challenge is a stimulating, two stage competition open to young people aged 14 – 19 from across Newcastle. The competition encourages young people to develop key business skills, gain an innovative approach to problem solving and generate real business solutions for a future world. Each Challenge invites young people to consider the next generation of innovative products and how they meet the needs of a future marketplace.
The Challenge is in 2 stages:
Gateway Stage 22nd September – 20th October 2010
Individuals are challenged to generate ideas, designs and applications for new products meeting the brief provided. Ideas must be exciting, innovative and eye-catching. Entrants work individually and submit entries online.
Challenge Final 16th November 2010
A design and build teamwork stage held at the Spark in the Park Festival at St James Park on 16th November 2010. The Challenge Final includes business rigour, planning, teamwork and budgeting. The overall winner will be the team that best meets the Final Challenge brief in an innovative and practical way.
To enter the Make a Mint Challenge, students must register their details and complete the online Gateway Challenge no later than Wednesday 20th October 2010.
The Challenge is run in conjunction with Newcastle City Council and the Make your Mark campaign and offers the opportunity to take part in a business ideas competition that celebrates and stimulates enterprise skills and talents. The challenge is free to enter and offers the opportunity for individuals to win prizes for themselves and recognition for their schools /youth groups.
Please click on the link below to find out more about the challenge or alternatively download a information pack.
As part of BBC Radio Three’s Free Thinking Festival (try saying that quickly), Cafe culture Newcastle are organising a Theory Slam event.
This is your chance to expound on those little mad, exotic, insightful ideas that for years have been whirling around in your head and may in fact be absolute truth. You will have three whole minutes to convince an audience that your theory, which can be on any subject- science, philosophy, conspiracy, cookery…- is valid and robust. There are even prizes on offer.
The Theory Slam is likley to appear on radio three at some point over the next 12 months, so this is your chance for three of your fifteen minutes of fame!
The event takes place at SAGE Gateshead on November 6th, but please submit the title of your theories beforehand to info@cafeculturenortheast.org.uk
More information can be found at cafeculturenortheast.org.uk, and about the whole festival (including free tickets) at www.bbc.co.uk/freethinking
An overveiw of what is coming up from the Royal Society of Chemistry:
In November there is a schools’ chemistry quiz, open to teams of 4 (two from year 9 and one each from years 10 and 11)
In december we’ll have our Christmas Chemistry lecture, which we’re also hoping to make a public lecture in the evening.
In January or early Feb there are the Holmes lectures, which are aimed at
14 year olds and run over three consecutive nights. The theme is lights, camera, action and is part of the international year of chemistry.
There are plans to run a series of lunchtime chemistry careers talks, mainly for undergrads but also open to sixth formers or year 11. The plan will be to have a talk from a local chemist (or person with a chemistry
qualification) telling the audience about their job and how they got into it. Aftwerwards there will be an informal lunch where people will get a chance to talk to the speaker.
Also, just to mention, it’s National Science and Engineering week in March and funding applications for running events closes sometime before Christmas.
