Archive

STEM Club Video Guides 6: Tips for Success

In this guide: Positive approaches to running STEM Clubs and general tips for running a successful STEM Club.

Challenges

STEM Club Video Guides 5: Funding

This guide shows you how to go about the important issue of funding, how to run a STEM Clubs with next to nothing, and the possible sources of finance for your STEM Club

Ways to Fund Your Club

Running a Club on a Shoestring

STEM Club Video Guides 4: Who Can Contribute

This guide shows how students can be involved in STEM Clubs, and how STEM Clubs can also benefit from STEM Ambassadors and other volunteers.

Involving Students

Involving External Volunteers

STEM Club Video Guides 3: Reaping the Rewards

This guide will give you an idea of the impact STEM Clubs have on achievement, some opportunities for staff CPD, and the awards and competitions STEM Clubs can engage in.

Awards and Competitions

Life Skills

Academic Achievement

Professional Development

STEM Club Video Guides 2: Identity, impact and profile

This series of films will give you an idea of how to create your club identity, extend the impact of your club, and working with other schools and your local community.

Your Club Identity

Working With Other Schools

Involving the Wider School

Working With Your Local Community

STEM Club Video Guides 1: Setting up a STEM Club

In this guide: STEMNET highlight what you would need to consider when setting up your club, and show a range of different approaches.

The Benefits of setting up a STEM Club

Working across STEM

Who will be your STEM Club members

Practical considerations

What to do and how to do it

Big Bang North East – Wednesday 3 July 2013 at Newcastle University

Excite… Inspire… Celebrate! The Big Bang North East
Wednesday 3 July 2013 at Newcastle University

BOOKINGS NOW OPEN!

Join us for a celebration of science, engineering and maths in the North East
• Enter pupil project work to win cash prizes and places at The Big Bang UK 2014
• Bring a group of pupils for a fun, exciting and inspirational day out

Enter the Competition
Do your pupils have science, engineering or maths project work they want to show off? The Big Bang North East includes the regional heats for the National Science + Engineering Competition. There is over £1500 prize money up for grabs and the best projects will win a place at The Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair 2014. Find out more and register here http://www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/northeast/

Visit the fair
Bring a group of pupils for a fun, FREE, day out. Visit the fair for a full day (10am-2.30pm) and enjoy a selection of activities which including science shows, hands-on workshops, drop-in zones and inspirational talks. Headliners are the Science Museum’s crazy comedians, Punk Science, who return for 2013 with The Most Disgusting Show in the World.
Find out more and book here http://www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/northeast/

Places for competitors and visitors are FREE but limited, so REGISTER NOW to make sure you don’t miss out! http://www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/regionalregistration/?tid=4

Any questions? Contact us on northeast@thebigbangfair.co.uk or 01642 740400 or tweet us @TBB_NorthEast

The Maths and Science Challenge 2012 – STEM Challenge 10

STEMNET and Cisco are challenging 11-16 year olds to use their Maths and Science skills to
plan a major sporting event in their local area. The Challenge is to plan a major sporting event that would transform your local area and showcase local and national talent. Teams of 4-6 students must choose a sport and a venue or location, and work out what resources, facilities and equipment would be
needed for the event. As with all STEM Challenges, teams will present their project at a STEM Challenge
local judging event.

Learn more and register: www.mathsandscience2012.co.uk/challenge-2012

Download your Challenge 2012 resources
www.mathsandscience2012.co.uk/challenge-2012

Register your teams online
www.stemchallenges.net/register

Registration is open from 27 February to 15 May 2012.
Teams must register by 15 May 2012 to take part.

Sign up for email updates!
www.mathsandscience2012.co.uk

Don’t miss out on the latest news on the Challenge and the Out of the blocks series.

4×4 in Schools

What is the 4×4 in Schools Technology Challenge?

The challenge is aimed at young people aged 11 – 19 years old (key stages 3, 4 and 5), and involves 3 to 6 team members working together to design and build a radio controlled 4-wheel-drive (4×4) vehicle to set specifications, that can successfully negotiate a specially designed test track that emulates that of real life and what a full scale 4×4 vehicle can do. Teams entering the challenge will spend a number of weeks designing, researching, building and project managing their 4×4 vehicle to enter it into a regional heat to compete against other schools from their area. Regional winners will be selected via a judging process to go through to the National Final where they will compete again but this time against the other regional winners to challenge to become the 4×4 in school Technology Challenge UK National Champions.

Registration for the 4×4 in Schools Technology Challenge 2011/12 season is now open and the 2011/12 Rules & Regulations and Challenge Handbook are now available to download from the 4×4 in Schools website. I am delighted to announce that following the success and high standard of entry from the 2010/11 season, the 2011/12 Regional Finals will be held in February (dates T.B.C) and the UK National Final will be held at the Big Bang Fair on Thursday 15th March 2012 at the Birmingham NEC.

For more visit: www.4x4inschools.co.uk/

Newcastle Science City Showcase event

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 to helen.mcloughlin@newcastlesciencecity.com

(Please note it is anticipated that each school will need 1.5 hours to see the exhibition in full)

RMetS launches theWeather Club

The Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS) launched “theWeather Club” in September 2010. theWeather Club is the public outreach arm of RMetS, where general public members can become part of a community in which the weather is something to be celebrated, enjoyed and talked about. To enthuse people with a passing interest in the weather with stories about exciting, often dramatic, occasionally sublime weather from around the world. A recent survey in the UK revealed that the average Briton spends an astonishing six months out of their lives talking about the weather so this club is appealing to an eager audience.

Membership includes a free Galileo thermometer, a quarterly magazine called “theWeather,” full access to website content, weather forums and a great range of discounts on weather related products, weather postcards, a collectable A-Z of weather and a membership card,.

The launch of theWeather Club was marked by a project called “The Great British Weather Experiment,” during September and October to help study the arrival of autumn. The study is the largest of its kind in UK with hundreds of people taking thousands of observations of weather, temperature and rainfall. The results can be found on theWeather Club website. The launch also included a tour of Britain in a VW campervan called Daphne, visiting 16 cities in 8 days and encouraging schools and individuals to participate in the experiment.

Dr Liz Bentley, founder theWeather Club, said: “theWeather Club is for all those who appreciate the weather for all its wonders. Its beauty, its power, its fragility, its occasional absurdity, and deep fundamental influence it has upon us all. It will allow us to come together and share our obsession with the weather.” To find out more about theWeather Club visit www.theWeatherClub.org.uk

Grid Computing

Wednesday 15th December 2010 at 19:00 (refreshments from 18:30)

Presented by R L Warrender - Senior Lecturer, University of Sunderland

The University of Sunderland Cluster Computer (USCC) is an example of what can be built using commodity components for the creation of a high performance computer cluster. Built just over three years ago, the USCC uses 160 Intel ‘Woodcrest’ Cores running in 40 compute nodes and can be booted into either Windows or Linux operating systems.

The talk will focus on three key areas:
a) The system architecture and construction – size really matters!

b) Examples of recent uses being made of the system – how effective is the USCC?

c) The development of teaching resources for use by staff and students interested in applications to be run on the USCC.

In addition to the talk, attendees will also get the chance to visit the facility and see a variety of visual applications running on the cluster.

The talk will be given by R L Warrender, who is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Computing at the University of Sunderland. As well as teaching within the Computing Department, he is also studying for his Professional Doctorate developing a Framework for Efficient Cluster Computing Services in a Collaborative University Environment.

The tour of the USCC facility and demonstration will be given by Professor John Tindle who designed the USCC system.

The meeting will be held in room 007, Prospect Building. This is building 41 on the map of the St. Peter’s campus.

If driving do not forgot to print the Car Park Notice to receive free car parking at the University.

For more information please contact Adam Moss at ADAM.MOSS@CHILDMAINTENANCE.GSI.GOV.UK

Electric Car Racing event

Electric car racing event – Wednesday 6 July 2011 at Croft Circuit, Darlington

Your school is invited to participate in this exciting Greenpower electric car racing event. Your school still has time to get involved, to design, build and race an electric car.

Greenpower is dedicated to promoting engineering and technology as a career option to students aged 9 to 25 in any form of full or part-time education. This is achieved through unique hands on projects to design, build and race an electric car, with the support of an engineering ambassador.

By taking part in the competition, all participants are given an insight into the real, tangible world of science and engineering. The competition is very popular, which stands as a testament to its unique approach to engineering and its ability to bring together and excite young people from a variety of different areas and backgrounds.

Not only does Greenpower approach the idea of science and engineering from a less mainstream direction than normal lessons or after school clubs, it also encourages creativity and most importantly enthusiasm and cooperation in problem solving invaluable skills for any young person. For the school getting involved will bring the following:

-          A project which can be used to enhance the engineering diploma or CREST award or other STEM activities.

-          Links with Mechanical, Electrical and Design engineers as mentors.

-          National and regional recognition.

-          A visit to North east school that has already taken part to share experience.

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers is delighted to offer continued support to Greenpower. Participation in this exciting challenge requires teamwork, engineering skills, commitment and enthusiasm.

If you are willing to give your students a brilliant opportunity to get involved in a project like this and would like to receive more information about how to enter this Websites:

Institution of Mechanical Engineers – http://imeche.org/ Greenpower

http://www.greenpower.co.uk/ 

Email: info@greenpower.co.uk 

Tel: 01243 552305

If you would like to enter the competition then please contact Julie Harrison on 07899 050767 or email julieharrison@a4e.co.uk.

Please note: pupils will also be able to attend that are not participating in the actual design and build programme. Further details about this will be sent to schools nearer to the time.

 NORTH EAST REGION In partnership with IMechE North East

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/

Young Engineers Leader Board Challenge

Young Engineers needs to commission two new ‘Top Gear’ leader boards for the regional Big Bang Fairs taking place this Summer. Rather than employing the services of an established engineering firm, we think this is an excellent opportunity for our club members to work on a real mini-engineering project.

Requirements and Specification

The leader board is taken around the country and used to generate excitement and encourage competitors to give their best performances when taking part in our engineering challenges. As in the Top Gear television programme, our leader board needs to be of an impressive height. The whole front face must enable information strips to be easily attached and slid around. (Our current board uses white magnetic white board strips on a steel surface).

The leader board needs to be self-standing, as we will be setting it up in many different locations. It must also be stable so that it will not topple over and hurt someone, and the health and safety implications of any protrusions at the base must also be considered in the design. As we use the leader board in all sorts of places around the country, it must pack down to fit in a small car boot and be robust enough to be sent by courier. It should also be light weight to save on fuel and portable so that it can be carried long distances across car parks and up and down stairs. Set up times for our challenges are often very tight, so the leader board must be quick and easy to set up and pack down.

Dimensions for the main unit*:
When standing: 2000mm x 500mm with a maximum depth of 60mm.
Packed down for transport: 1000mm x 500mm with a maximum depth of 200mm.

Weight for the main unit*: As light as possible – target weight around 10kg.

*Additional units may form part of the design. We haven’t given specifications for these, but they must compliment the design and help it to meet our requirements.

Project Time Line

Submission of design brief by: Friday 14th May
Award contact on: Wednesday 19th May
Delivery of finished leader board to Young Engineers by: Monday 14th June

Design Brief

Briefs to be submitted no later than 5pm on Friday 15th May.

Please include:
• School name and address and club number
• Names , age, gender and roles of each project team member
• Description of leader board and techniques which will be used to construct it
• An annotated diagram, showing what materials will be used where and how the design fulfils the brief
• A construction schedule
• A budget which includes the list of the materials and the suppliers
• Method of delivery or transportation to Young Engineers Head Office
• Your Club Leader’s permission to take part! They must email your design brief or sign a hardcopy confirming they will supervise the team’s work.

Download a copy of the competition pdf with photos of the current leader board

Email Leader Board Challenge Enquiries if you have any questions.