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Trailblazers Conference – 8th March 2013

8th March 2013
9.30 to 4.00pm
Discovery Museum

£7 per student, maximum of 10 students per organisation

Trailblazers is an inspiring and exciting conference for 16 to 19 year olds, being delivered to open a major exhibition and engagement programme at Discovery Museum. The conference will focus on current career opportunities and professions in the science, engineering and technology industries in the North East and beyond. There will be an emphasis on increasing the female work force in these industries but the conference is relevant for both male and female students.

Rosalind Elsie Franklin by Vittorio Luzzati, 1950 © National Portrait Gallery, London

The day will include keynote speakers including Professor Isobel Pollock from the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Member of Parliament for Newcastle Chi Onwurah, and Baroness Prosser from SEMTA (sector skills council for Science Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies). There will also be a range of practical workshops, demonstrations and careers stall areas from different organisations and businesses representing a wide cross section of science, engineering and technology specialisms.

The ticket price, as well as the talks, workshops and stall areas, includes a delegate pack for each student and lunch and refreshments.
Please book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment as places are limited. Students will also receive a complementary invitation to the evening exhibition launch at the museum.

For bookings and enquiries, please contact the Discovery Learning Team on 0191 2772174, email learning@discoverymuseum.org.uk

This conference is sponsored by SEMTA
Trailblazers is sponsored by SCMPharma

Win a trip to CERN: STEMNET Awards nominations open

We are delighted to open the nominations for The STEMNET Awards 2012! These are online at www.stemnet.org.uk/awards

The STEMNET Awards aim to recognise the UK’s most inspirational people for motivating young people in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is again kindly offering a trip to CERN for the winners of each award. Winners will be announced at The STEMNET Awards 2012 Ceremony which will take place at the House of Lords on Wednesday 21st November, hosted by Lord Sainsbury.

From Friday 31st August to Monday 1st October, there is the opportunity to nominate for the following awards:

• Most Dedicated STEM Ambassador- for those Ambassadors who have made a significant contribution to the programme.

• Most Dedicated Employer- for those employers that have supported their employees to become an Ambassador and then to actively engage through this with their local schools.

• Most Dedicated Teacher- for those teachers who have proactively engaged with the programme for the benefit of their pupils and school.

• Most Dedicated STEM Club- for those STEM Clubs who have proactively engaged with the programme for the benefit of their pupils and school.

• The Inspirational Technician Award- for those technicians who have inspired young people to follow technician career routes.

There is no limit to the number of categories you can nominate in and please do forward onto your contacts too.

We are pleased to invite anybody to the awards ceremony who nominates a shortlisted candidate.

A day for everyone teaching physics!

Everyone who teaches physics, from to PGCE students to technicians to fully seasoned teachers, are being offered a day of training sponsored by The Institute of Physics, Science Learning Centre North East and Durham University.

A range of interactive workshops will provide the opportunity to explore some of the latest development in physics and new resources for teaching physics in the classroom.

There is a choice of four workshops, of which participants will need to select two from the following: “Physics and Toys”, ”ICT in the science classroom”, “Jolting the jaded – do physics” or “Seeing inside the body: practical medical physics activities and resources”. More information can be found here.

The day is being help at the Durham University
on 21 June 2012 from 9.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.

Participants can book by ringing Nicola Hall on 0191 370 6200,
or by emailing n.l.hall@durham.ac.uk.

The day is an excellent opportunity and is completely FREE, with lunch and refreshments included. Places must be pre-booked through the Science Learning Centre North East. (Failure to attend without prior notice will incur a £25 administration fee.)

Putting the ‘M’ into STEM – Maths Communication Training Day

Tuesday 8th May
Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester

Are you looking to improve and develop skills for maths outreach? Do you currently do public engagement in maths and want to improve, or are you looking to try and incorporate the ‘M in STEM’ into your work?

BIG’s forthcoming skills day helps dispel the myth that Maths is a difficult and scary subject, among communicators as well as the public, and we hope to make it easier for people to engage with and to see the kind of work being done to popularise maths, as well as learning approaches to delivering their own sessions.

There will be three very skilled Maths communicators running the day: Matt Parker, Joshua Award-winning maths communicator and ‘Stand-up mathematician’, Nicola Stock, Centre for Life and Dr Sara Santos, from the Maths Busking project.

The event will cost £50 for BIG Members and places are strictly limited to a maximum of 20. Non-members will need to join BIG first at an annual cost of £30.

For more information, or to register, click here

STEM @ Sunderland – Free Careers Advice for Post 16 Students

Free Regional STEM Careers Guidance Event for Post 16 Students
Date: Wednesday 15th March 2012, 10am – 2pm
Venue: University of Sunderland, Dale Building, Sciences Complex, City Campus, Sunderland

Held within National Science and Engineering Week the STEM @ Sunderland Event is a hands on showcase event highlighting STEM careers and building the links between education and industry. Aimed at year 12 students with an interest in STEM careers and those who are considering university progression the event is open to schools and colleges from across the north east region. Delivered as a joint venture between The University of Sunderland, STEM Outreach at Newcastle College and RTC North Ltd; students will engage in employer led workshops across the four STEM disciplines. Participating companies include:

• Proctor and Gamble
• BT
• 3M
• EDF energy
• Thorne Lighting
• NHS careers
• NHS Pathology labs
• SABIC
• Siemans

Additional activities will be provided by ICE and Go Motorsports with a series of stimulating and exhilarating activities also offered by the University of Sunderland including Real Man Simulation (Sim Man) and Xsens MVN Biomech Suit.

Held at the Sciences Complex, City Campus, University of Sunderland; groups students will have access to regional and national employers, advice on STEM careers and university progression routes including funding advice and an insight into STEM opportunities.

Information for teachers

• Open to 10 x year 12 students (per institution) interested in STEM careers and university progression
• Interactive sessions delivered by companies and STEM ambassadors and supported by university students
• Opportunity to meet and talk to current STEM employers encouraging education and industrial links for the school / college and employer contact, information and advice for the student
• Access to University information and advice throughout the day
• All students will receive 6 x 30 minutes taster workshops with sessions allocated to schools in advance
• It is anticipated that 18 schools from across the region will take receive a place therefore allocation given on a first come first served basis
• Unfortunately lunch is NOT provided therefore packed lunches must be brought by individuals

Registration

For further information and to register your school for this event please contact STEM Outreach at ambassadors@ncl-coll.ac.uk

Engineering Further Education

Supporting teaching and learning in colleges
Are you interested in becoming an ementor?

Aims
Ementoring is a flexible way to volunteer and an opportunity for you and your mentee to develop new skills. By sharing your experiences, you can support other people to grow in confidence and explore options for their future. All you need to be a mentor is a willingness to help other people and an online connection. Because ementoring is done online, you can do it at a time and place that suits you.

Who are we looking for?
Mentors can be from all levels, working in an engineering related profession or with an engineering background, and from a variety of ethnic/cultural backgrounds and social classes. Ideally you would have progressed up through the further education route or have knowledge of the further education sector. You will need to be enthusiastic, passionate about Engineering, want to help other people and have a willingness to share your experiences and insights to help encourage young people in further education to remain committed to a career in engineering. It will be helpful, but not essential, if you were an existing STEM Ambassador and have previous experience of working with young people.

What is involved?
Once you have registered and completed your training, the Bright Links engineering team will match you with up to four mentees who will be students in further education colleges who are studying engineering courses at Level 2, Level 3 and possibly Level 4. They will be looking for advice and support around study skills, apprenticeships, engineering careers, applying to university and much more. You will communicate with your mentees through the safe and secure Bright Links ementoring website, which will have its own engineering section dedicated to this Engineering Further Education ementoring project. To be effective you need to be willing to spend between 30 minutes and 1 hour a week supporting your mentees.

Next Steps
Become a mentor: If you think you’ve got what it takes to be a mentor, apply to the Bright Links engineering programme today at www.brightlinksengineering.org

EMentor Recruitment Flyer

EMentor Recruitment Flyer Addendum

Share your passion for IT

Are you an employer or IT professional who wants to use your skills and experience to help inspire the next generation? Get involved with IT education by signing up for e-skills UK’s IT Ambassadors scheme.

Why IT Ambassadors?
Fewer students than ever are choosing to study IT-related degrees at university and the sector is experiencing shortages as a result. IT Ambassadors aims to harness the enthusiasm of people who work in technology to inspire more students to take up rewarding careers in IT.

Who can get involved?
From games designers to business analysts, software developers to project managers, IT professionals at any stage of their careers can become IT Ambassadors.

What will I be doing?
You’ll be supporting IT education and careers activity in schools and colleges across the UK. Ways you can get involved include:

• giving a careers talk in schools
• hosting visits to your company for students
• providing information about your company for a student careers website
• providing work experience for students

How IT Ambassadors works

1. Find an activity
Businesses and individuals can explore the e-skills activity pages to find a suitable way to get involved with schools. If you’re an individual volunteer, you can find something that matches your interests, experience and availability. If you’re a company you can find a range of activities designed to suit a variety of business interests.

2. Get advice and guidance
A range of resources to help you engage with schools are available. Everything from templates to case studies and guides are available for download on the e-skills activity pages.

3. Connect with a school
The IT Ambassadors scheme is a partner of the STEM Ambassador programme. You can find a local school to work with through STEMNET’s network of schools. For Tyne and Wear schools contact stempoint@ncl-coll.ac.uk

If you’re planning to work on an individual basis with students in schools you’ll be eligible for a free CRB check as part of the STEM Ambassador programme.

Visit: www.e-skills.com/itambassadors
Start exploring our activity pages to find a way you can get involved with IT Ambassadors.

STEM Forum Event

Event for STEM Ambassadors and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics school / college teachers

STEM Advisory Forum and STEMNET are pleased to invite you to the

STEM Forum Event
The Royal Society,
6-9 Carlton House Terrace,
London,
SW1Y 5AG

Tuesday 22 March 2011
4:30pm to 7:00pm

This event brings together school and college teachers with people who use Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in industry and business. There will be presentations on the school curriculum and on STEM in the economy. The main purpose of the event is to enable a sharing of information and views between education and the workplace.

STEM Ambassadors will have the opportunity to talk directly to those involved in STEM teaching at school/college and will be able to share examples of how they use STEM in their work.

Teachers will have the opportunity to share with those in industry and business the factors that influence what happens in lessons. Teachers will be able to use the examples of STEM in the workplace in their lessons.

A light buffet will be provided at 6.30pm.

To book your place at this exciting event, please click on the event registration link below:

Event Home Page

If you have any further queries then please contact Matt Daly at matt.daly@nordanglia.com

Promoting STEM careers in your classroom conference

The Promoting STEM careers in your classroom course is on 17-18th March 2011 at the National science learning Centre in York. The course is designed for teachers of STEM subjects from Key Stage three to Post- 16, careers education and information, advice and guidance practitioners. It will provide opportunities for STEM staff to extend and enhance the work they do already. Tap into a wealth of new resources and support networks to raise awareness about the exciting STEM related careers available to young people. Hear from schools who have successfully integrated STEM careers awareness into their curriculum. Network with experts from industry, engineering, higher education and the Department of Education’s STEM cohesion team and other STEM professionals.

This conference carries an ENTHUSE Award of £751, an easy to apply for bursary available to all teachers, tutors and lecturers from maintained schools or colleges to help cover costs plus a small amount of money to help implement ideas once back in the classroom. For further information about the ENTHUSE Award, please visit www.slcs.ac.uk/enthuseaward

Promoting STEM Careers in your Classroom
Date: 17 – 18 March 2011
Course Cost: £351 +VAT
ENTHUSE Award: £751.00

To book your place on this exciting conference, please phone 01904 328 300 and quote nac10114p or visit www.slcs.ac.uk/national/nac10114p

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

National Centre for the Excellence in the Teaching of Maths (NCETM) updates

Be a part of the first ever engineering mathematics network

A unique and exciting opportunity has arisen for engineering mathematics practitioners to join a new networking group. The group will support those who are teaching mathematics in the engineering diploma (whether mathematics teachers or engineering teachers) by providing opportunities to meet together and share what they are doing, as well as to try out the resources available. This groundbreaking initiative is aimed at Engineering Mathematics Level 3 practitioners, and anyone teaching mathematics within other engineering courses, who wants to seize a valuable opportunity to investigate a variety of teaching approaches, network and learn from others and explore and develop resources. Venues are likely to include Manchester, London and Bristol and will take place between 22 November and 3 December 2010. To express an interest in attending or for more information contact Melanie Harradine

Embedding Excellence in Mathematics Leadership conference

This free one-day NCETM conference will assist with the professional development of newly-appointed mathematics subject leaders in the primary, secondary and further education sectors. It will allow participants access to experienced, practising teachers identified as excellent subject leaders in their sectors. Delegates will also become part of a support network. The conference, on 13 November, 09:30 am to 5:30 pm at City Inn, Brindley Place, Birmingham, will be launched with a keynote speech from HMI Jane Jones. To apply, complete the online application form by 20 October 2010.

Last chance to join secondary subject leaders’ seminar

The second NCETM national online seminar for secondary mathematics subject leaders will address some of the big issues secondary subject leaders face, suggest resources that can support you in the role, give you the chance to hear from other subject leaders and share your experiences and challenges, and offer the opportunity to join a continuing secondary subject leaders’ network. The meeting, on Wednesday 20 October from 8:00 to 9:00 pm, will use Elluminate Live! but no particular equipment or software is required, nor is expertise or experience of online meetings. If you are interested in joining the meeting and/or would like to know more, contact Phillipa Marshall.

If you would like more information on NCETM please contact them at info@ncetm.org.uk

Theory Slam – BBC Radio Three’s Free Thinking Festival

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

The North East Science Alliance (NESA)

The North East Science Alliance (NESA) provides people who work in science communication and education the opportunity to network, share ideas and form collaborations. The informal meetings typically start at 7pm, after refreshments have been served, with short presentations about current projects, research or other schemes of interest from a variety of speakers.

NESA also promotes the opportunity to network with contacts, and this is carried out with plenty of time at the face to face meetings, but also via a Google Group that allows members to share news, job opportunities, discuss current issues and pass on information.

 The aims of the NESA are:

• to promote public dialogue about science in its broadest sense
• to raise the profile of public engagement activities in North East England
• to encourage the co-ordination of public engagement activities in North East England
• to promote collaboration in accessing funding, staging activities and making the most of all of our resources to maximize public engagement with science

 As a member of the NESA you will be able to attend the quarterly meetings, give presentations and share information as well as taking advantage of this excellent networking opportunity.

Membership of NESA is free and open to anyone working to engage the public with science; the network is run by volunteers and relies on the generosity of hosts, presenters and organisers providing assistance free of charge to operate. To join, and learn about future meetings, please sign up at: http://groups.google.com/group/ne-science-alliance For more information, please visit the British Science Association website, which hosts information about the network: http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/nesa