National Grid, in partnership with The Smallpeice Trust, is offering Year 10s the opportunity of a one week residential work experience at National Grids Training Centre in Eakring. The week is aimed at students who are considering studying STEM subjects at A level and beyond.
This will be the fourth academic year that they have run the work experience week with the support of the staff at Eakring and volunteers from the business, with tremendous feedback from the delegates.
They will be holding two work experience weeks; the weeks commencing 8 April and 1 July 2013.
The week is an inspirational insight into National Grid and consists of interactive talks, hands on activities, trips to operational sites and a Project Day covering gas and electricity sides of the business.
If you have family or friends that would like to apply for the course, please visit their site here and complete the form.
Any questions regarding the Work Experience Weeks should be directed to Caryl Coton on 07769 558062 or caryl.coton@uk.ngrid.com.
SCENE at Newcastle College would like to invite teachers to bring groups of 5-10 of their Year 10 students to an exciting free event at Newcastle College on Friday 29th June.
The "Rio +20 Youth Solutions Conference" will give students a chance to debate the same global issues to be discussed by world leaders at the "Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development" in June.
Young people will have the opportunity to see how these issues are affecting the North East as part of the College’s role in the UN Regional Centre for Expertise (RCE) in Education for Sustainable Development. Through this they aim to give young people a voice about sustainability issues. The solutions from the event, suggested by young people, will be discussed at the next annual meeting for the global RCE.
Debates will be facilitated by passionate Sixth Form Students from the College, industry experts and professionals, and teachers will be invited to support debates. Also during the day we hope to provide information to students about careers and training in sustainability and the environment sector.
Issues to be discussed on a local level:
• Jobs
• Energy
• Food
• Flooding and Drought
(More information about Rio+20 can be found at www.uncsd2012.org/rio20)
The event will be suitable for gifted and talented students as well as subject areas like citizenship, sciences, geography or a school eco-committee. Please register with Rachael Little via email rachael.little@ncl-coll.ac.uk or phone 0191 200 4453.
Summer Residential Course Opportunities for students with an interest or natural ability in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths!
Educational charity, The Smallpeice Trust is looking for current Year 11 students to apply for a place on a Low Carbon Energy residential course over the summer. They will gain experience of university and industry that will accelerate their personal development and their potential for greater academic achievement.
Yr 11, Low Carbon Energy
Newcastle University, 23rd – 26th July, 2012
The move towards a lower carbon economy requires us to develop a portfolio of low carbon energy technologies for the electricity, heat and transport markets. Sponsored by Senergy, a global energy services company, this course introduces you to the wide reaching opportunities in this fast changing sector and the difference you could make within this area of engineering.
What will I be doing?
Learning about the different forms of low carbon energy including wind, waves and tide through a series of masterclasses and laboratory sessions
Having question-and-answer sessions with leading experts from Senergy in low carbon energy and marine engineering
Using state-of-the-art research facilities including wave tanks, wind-wave-current tanks and circulating water tanks to conduct tests and experiments
Learning about the engineering challenges involved in capturing, distributing and storing energy from the environment
Competing in teams to design-and-make the most effective and innovative low carbon energy capture devices, tested in commercial and research test facilities
Benefiting from the experience and guidance of student mentors from marine technology and engineering
This course is subsidised and costs £225 which includes all accommodation, meals, course materials and fully supervised social activities. Students can apply directly from the Smallpeice website. Applications are reviewed and places allocated on a first come, first served basis.
STEM Ambassadors under 30 years-old working in careers relating to ethical or ecological issues are sought to contribute to a careers guide that will be sent to schools and colleges nationwide. The guide looks at Ethical and Green Careers and will be published by Babcock Lifeskills.
The time commitment would be less than one hour and there would be no travel involved: the communication would be done entirely by phone or email. You would be asked to send a few photographs to illustrate the text. You would be sent a list of standard questions, and a deadline by which a response would be appreciated. You would be sent both a draft for approval, and a copy of the final product.
Here’s a quick run-down of National Science and Engineering Week events open to the public and schools in the North East. Click on the links to view full descriptions of the events
National Science & Engineering Week: Events and activities for everyone, 9–18 March 2012
In 2012, National Science & Engineering Week explores “our world in motion.”
National Science & Engineering Week shines the spotlight each March on how science, technology, engineering and maths relate to our everyday lives and helps to inspire the next generation of scientists with fun and participative activities.
With over 4,500 events and activities attended by 1.7 million people in 2011 and generating over £1m in press coverage, this is the UK’s widest grassroots celebration of all things science and engineering. You can join the celebration by attending an event or taking part in our national activities.
Armstrong the Electrical Wizard
Date(s): 14th March 2012 (11:00) to 14th March 2012 (13:00)
Date(s): 14th March 2010 (14:00) to 14th March 2010 (16:00)
After some fantastic placements last summer we are now looking for project hosts for Summer 2012. Could you host one of the region’s bright, enthusiastic and capable young scientists and engineers?
Nuffield Bursaries offer aspiring young scientists the opportunity to explore their chosen field of science, technology, engineering or maths during a 4 to 6 week summer placement. North East placements are offered by leading local and national businesses, scientific industrial research institutes and all of our excellent local universities.
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:
As you know, water is a basic requirement for all life, yet water resources are facing increasing demands and competition from users. The UN General Assembly assigned 22 March of each year as the World Day for Water after the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992. Since 1995 World Water Day has been celebrated across the world, raising the issues related to water. In 2011 there were over 600 World Water Day events being held around the world, one of which was at Kenton School.
Water for the World
Over 100 people from 12 primary schools across Tyne and Wear turned up to support World Water Day and to gain a greater awareness of water scarcity issues. A range of entertaining workshops were on display to get stuck in to; from scientific experiments to mapping water scarcity on Google Maps to throwing cups of water at sixth formers – the latter being very popular! Many thanks are in order for the workshop deliverers including: the Environment Agency, Newcastle University, TDR, Kenton School, Sir Charles Parsons Primary School, WaterAid as well as SCENE Ambassadors from Newcastle College Sixth Form.
The Open Air Laboratories network (OPAL) is launching a new Climate Survey this March, and as part of the launch OPAL North East will be hosting the OPAL Climate Roadshow for one week only.
The Roadshow will be a great opportunity to learn more about our changing climate and weather systems, through exciting hands-on experiments and activities. With the help of professional meteorologists, visitors will explore the science behind the weather, and gain a better understanding of the impact that a changing climate may have on our everyday lives.
For those who already work in relevant areas, the Roadshow can help to inspire new ways of communicating important climate issues to the wider public, and will be an excellent opportunity to discuss your thoughts and have your questions answered by our meteorologists.
The Roadshow will run from Monday 14th until Friday 18th March at the Claremont Quad, Claremont Road. Monday and Friday are open to all to drop-in and take part in the Roadshow Activities, any time from 10am-5pm.
There are also have a limited number of private sessions available for booking by groups (max. 35). Each session runs for 90 minutes and will be led by the meteorologists and OPAL NE Education officers. Slots available are:
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
On the 22nd March, all over the world, people will be celebrating World Water Day. Newcastle College, Kenton School and the Climate Change Schools Project would like to invite your school to be involved in an event to raise awareness of water issues around the world.
Your KS2 students will have the opportunity to participate in workshops led by sixth form students about different water issues including flooding, climate change adaptation, water scarcity and clean water. We recommend that you bring between 5 and 10 students to the event who can then go back to your school and share what they have learnt.
The event is half a day and is free to attend.
There is the opportunity to register for either the morning session or the afternoon session:
Morning: 9.30 am – 11.30am
Afternoon: 12.30pm – 2.30pm
In each session students will get to participate in two interactive workshops.
A number of sample teaching resources will be available for teachers to look at from a number of organisations including WaterAid, Oxfam and Northumbria Water.
Where:
Kenton School
Drayton Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE3 3RU
The event is going to be really fantastic and an excellent opportunity for your students.
To register to attend or for more information contact SCENE at:
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 – 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
Organisation
Workshop Name
Description
Climate Change Schools Project
CCSP’s Adaptation Challenge (AC)
Newcastle College has just become a Climate Change Lead School. This workshop will discuss how Newcastle College could lead on an AC project in Newcastle. Examples of other wonderful projects taking place by the Lead Schools around the region to give ideas.
ActionAid
Power Down
ActionAid provides award-winning resources, lesson ideas, participatory and visual materials, information on assemblies and workshops from ActionAid’s network of teachers, to inspire, amaze and explore.
Sustaine
Brighter Futures Together toolkit
Participants will have the opportunity to hear more about the Brighter Futures Together toolkit, learn more about sustainability and explore how they can begin to take action to improve their own local neighbourhoods.
The Great Debate
The Great Debate ‘taster’ workshop
A two-session workshop introducing sixth form students to the world of debate, showcasing the work of The Great Debate and RCE North East. The aim is to encourage young people to engage in serious discussion of contemporary issues.Students will be given a topic to research prior to attending the workshop.
Team Kenya
Climate Change Connections
Ecotourism In Kenya
Tourism Concern
Exploration of the human and environmental costs of unsustainable tourism.
This workshop will explore the human and environmental costs of unsustainable tourism, through the stories and photos presented in Tourism Concern’s exhibition ‘Demonstration Tsunami’ documenting what has happened to India’s coastal communities in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami.
Newcastle City Council and North East Skills
Enviro Schools and Schools Against Waste
Workshop about how the Newcastle City Councils Enviro Schools Programme engages with schools on sustainability issues and what the Schools Against Waste programme is, how schools can access this free resource and why we have develop it.
Energy Saving Trust
Carbon Reduction
Practical ways to tackle Carbon Reduction.
SCENE, Newcastle College
SCENE Ambassadors
SCENE Ambassadors are sixth form students who create a resource related to the SCENE strands (e.g. climate change) and deliver it in primary schools.
Fundraising Skills UK Ltd
Fundraising
Introduction to fundraising and factors in fundraising success.
OPAL
Learning to lead environmental surveys
A workshop on environmental surveys.
John Muir Award
Environmental Award
The John Muir Award is an environmental award scheme which encourages people of all backgrounds to connect, enjoy and care for wild places
Come and find us at the Assembly Rooms (Newcastle) Ltd, Fenkle Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5XU
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
The Oceans of Opportunity event is being held on Wednesday 1st December 2010 at Newcastle University. It will be attended by an estimated 600-700 pupils aged 15-18yrs, from schools and colleges around the NE region and further afield.
Schools can sign up to a range of stimulating, interactive activities that bring science learning to life, participate in an engaging debate, and find out more about the fantastic careers and courses on offer. A wide range of high profile companies and employers will be represented at the event with many challenging and exciting careers showcased.
There are a number of different options available to your school/college, as there are different elements that make up the event.
The options are:
Attend the morning session (10am-1pm) which will include chance to participate in two hands-on activities, the opportunity to speak to organisations and companies offering courses or careers in marine, maritime and science based fields at the Careers Exhibition, and the chance to be involved in the debate.
Attend the afternoon session (12-3pm), and participating in the activities described above.
Participate in the Careers Exhibition only – from 10am-12pm
Participate in the Careers Exhibition only – from 1-3pm
As part of your session, students will get the opportunity to participate in two activities out of a choice of four.
Activity
Show off or blend in: What is the best strategy? The role of colour, light and shape in adaptations to the challenges of the marine environment.
Environmentally Friendly Oil Slick The oil disaster challenge!
Sink or Swim? Ship design and PropulsionGet stuck into marine technology in the laboratory.
Marine Biology in Action!An introduction to life in our seas.
To ensure your school/college’s participation in the Oceans of Opportunity event, please complete the form below by 4pm on the Tuesday, 2nd November 2010 and return it to Annie Cunningham at annie.cunningham@ncl.ac.uk or post to Annie Cunningham, Dove Marine Laboratory, School of Marine Science and Technology, Newcastle University, Cullercoats, North Shields, NE30 4PZ.
Please complete the following details to register:
School Name:
Contact name:
Telephone:
Fax:
Best time to phone:
Email:
No. of places required in total:
No. of KS4 pupils:
No. of Post-16 pupils:
Please number the options below in order of preference, put a cross against any options you cannot attend.
Session
1- 4 or X
Morning full session 10am-1pm
Afternoon full session 12-3pm
Morning Careers Exhibition 10am-12pm
Afternoon Careers Exhibition 1-3pm
If you are attending a full morning or afternoon session, please specify your activity preferences below and we will do our best to accommodate your top choices.
Activity
1- 4
Activity 1
Activity 2
Activity 3
Activity 4
If you have any questions or queries please contact Annie Cunningham on the above email address.
Can your students work as a team, design a community sports venue and overcome engineering problems?
Want them to have fun putting science, engineering, maths and technology to the test? Then it’s time to take on the Create Sport Challenge
What is it?
The Create Sport Challenge is a FREE national competition. It allows 12/13 year old students to work in teams with a built environment professional to complete a challenging project that introduces real-world problems to the classroom.
Why take part?
Your students will:
Get active input and guidance from a working professional
Use their creativity and curriculum knowledge to overcome a range of engineering problems
Become more aware of the world around them and understand the things engineers do every day to solve worldwide and local issues
Develop skills in project management, design & technology, communication, presentation and organisation
What will your students do?
Work together as a team (20 to 30 hours for CREST awards)
Create a design for a community sports venue
Build a model of the venue
Write a detailed report of the different project stages and the problems encountered
Use the competition website and social networking tools to help with the project
What’s the prize?
Teams will be judged regionally and the best will be invited to present their work at a grand final in June 2011 at the Institution of Civil Engineers in London. The prize for 1st place will be £1,000 for the school of the winning team. Prizes for other places include a school visit by an athlete and a trip to a major sporting venue.
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
Over the summer we have run our “Splashdown” summer schools.
This year, we ran two week long schools, one for Key Stage 2 and one for Key stage 3 pupils.
Children come for 5 days and get involved in science explorations of the natural environment. We focus strongly on marine habitats, but also investigate rivers, woodland and sand dune habitats. Pupils can use our microscope, aquarium and science facilities to plan their own projects, and in past years, these have been submitted for Crest awards. The week is very enjoyable with plenty of opportunities for fun, and to make new friends.
There is a fee involved and registration forms for next year’s summer school will be downloadable from our website, certainly from February 2011 onwards. There are some places offered for free and schools can contact us to find out more information regarding these.
We are planning our “Inspiring Oceans” careers event for 1st December. This will be a repeat of last year’s great success where lots of companies from science, technology and marine related organisations come along to offer advice, and hands-on activities to school groups. There will be bookable interactive activities, careers talks, and lots of prizes to be won. This event is free of charge, but booking is essential. It is aimed at pupils of 14-15 years and older.
We are also holding a “Marine Science conference” on Wednesday 15th December 2010 open to A-level Biology students. The conference has been organised by a committee of final year Marine Science undergraduates with speakers from a range of universities in the north. The day will be run in the style of a scientific conference with poster sessions and information stands.
WE are advertising our “X-factor” competition, which is spelt “ECS factor” – Environmental Consultancy Solutions. Teams (up to 4 pupils) can register to participate, and will role-play as a team of scientists working to solve a particular problem. They should identify a topic of their own choosing related to the marine environment.
This could be:
· a study of a given species or habitat,
· it could be a threat to marine diversity,
· or a problem related to food harvesting from the oceans,
· it could also be a technology or engineering problem related to the marine environment,
· perhaps something to do with renewable energy
· the topics are limitless as long as they are related to marine issues.
The pupils should research this topic and come up with solutions to the problem.
Guidelines can be sent out on competition submission criteria.
Winning teams (submission deadline is in early March 2011) will get a day out at sea on the University’s new research vessel to conduct scientific surveys of marine habitats with a team of professional marine biologists.
We also offer a comprehensive programme of activities for schools on STEM activities. Schools can book challenging and well structured days throughout the year. These can be fieldcourse or lab-class based. We accommodate all age groups.
