Archive
February 29, 2012 - 3:26 pm
Be behind the headlines!
Scientists, social scientists, engineers and clinicians can experience life in the heart of the newsroom by applying for a British Science Association 2012 Media Fellowship.
Spend 3-8 weeks this summer working with hosts including the BBC, Guardian and Nature to produce accurate, well-informed news about developments in science, and work alongside the UK’s top science editors in the British Science Festival Press Centre.
Return to work with media confidence, contacts, and first-class communication skills.
“I came away brimming with ideas, skills and advice for my researcher peers and I met some amazing people with the same values and drive as me. It was extremely interesting, educational and fun I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the world outside their research bubble.” Media Fellow
Apply online from 16 January – 11 March 2012
We welcome applications from researchers at all stages of their career and for eligibility criteria, experiences from past Media Fellows, and the online application form go to
www.britishscienceassociation.org/mediafellows
Sponsored by RCUK, Wellcome Trust, BBSRC, STFC and the IET
February 22, 2012 - 2:22 pm
Easter Residential Course Opportunities!
Educational charity, The Smallpeice Trust is looking for Year 9 students to apply for a place on a residential course over Easter. Students can apply to attend a foundation ‘Engineering Experience’ course and ‘Engineering Construction’ course. They will gain experience of university and industry that will accelerate their personal development and their potential for greater academic achievement. Students can apply directly from the Smallpeice website. Applications are reviewed and places allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Yr 9 Engineering Experience, 2-4 April 2012, University of Nottingham
This popular ‘foundation course’ is perfect for those who want to find out more about engineering and the exciting career opportunities available. You will get to work with engineers from leading companies across the UK and solve real engineering challenges.
• Analysing products, studying the roles they perform and the characteristics that make them effective
• Designing and building products using a range of different materials and control systems
• Learning the practical applications of the techniques and processes you will be using
• Understanding the importance of budgets in developing designs and materials, allowing you to calculate the financial implications of your decisions
• Collecting data from your project and analysing it to make better decisions
• Working alongside real engineers from industry, drawing on their knowledge and putting your new skills into practice
This course is priced at a special introductory rate of £95 which includes all accommodation, meals, course materials and social activities.
Year 9 Engineering Construction, 2-5 April 2012, University of Wolverhampton
This brand new course gives you the chance to be mentored by real-life engineering construction professionals.
You will find out about the diverse career opportunities available; from professional engineers, project managers and supervisors, to technicians, craft engineers and semi-skilled operatives. Can you rise to the challenge?
• Exploring the world of engineering construction through a series of hands-on workshops and demonstrations
• Meeting and working with real-life engineers from leading companies like Doosan Babcock, Foster Wheeler and Siemens, drawing on their expertise and putting your new skills into practice
• Working in a team on a design and build project, giving a practical insight into this field
• Collecting data from your project and examining it to make better decisions and evaluate performance
• Understanding the importance of financial management in developing designs and materials, allowing you to calculate the budgetary implications of your decisions
• Gaining an understanding of the wide range of career opportunities that you could explore and salary potential
This course is priced at a special introductory rate of £95 which includes all accommodation, meals, course materials and social activities.
For more information visit: www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk
October 24, 2011 - 4:06 pm
Moorland Indicators of Climate Change Initiative (MICCI)
The National Park’s Audience Engagement Project needs growing support from Voluntary Rangers and volunteers to help more people (both numbers & type!) to enjoy Northumberland National Park.
The latest opportunity to help out and do something a bit different is Moorland Indicators of Climate Change Initiative (MICCI)
What is MICCI?
Very basically the project gets young people out to measure the depth of peat, take soil samples and send data to be analysed by www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk So not only is it fun & educational for those involved, but it the data analysis is an output that will benefit other areas of the organisation’s work such as biodiversity and archaeology
Where did it come from?
This project has been running in the Peak District National Park for the past 4 years. Have a look at http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/learning-about/learning-projects/climatechangeproject for a bit more background.
Why do it in Northumberland?
Our Border Mires are internationally important and have an unbeatable (we think but let’s prove it!) depth of peat. Some schools have already shown interest in helping us collect consistent data on peat depth in our park.
What is the volunteers’ role?
We need volunteers to assist staff, teachers and university students on field trips to carry out the peat depth sampling. These trips will take place next March to coincide with science week (weather depending). To enable interested individuals to do this we are running a training session this autumn.
MICCI TRAINING SESSION
DATE: Friday, November 11th
TIME: 10.30am – 4pm
VENUE: Twice Brewed Inn, Bardon Mill, Hexham, Norrthumberland, NE47 7AN, plus site visit
AGENDA:
Indoor session at Twice Brewed Inn (back room)
10.30-11 Background & how MICCI works (Chris Robinson, Learning and Discovery Officer at the Peak District National Park)
11-11.30 Peat in Northumberland, including a showing of Our Beautiful Bogs (Gill Thompson)
11.30-12 How will MICCI work in Northumberland? (Mandy Roberts)
12- 1pm Lunch (provided) & travel to site
Site Visit at National Trust land south of Peel Crags.
1pm-3.00 Practice Field Trip
3.00-4.00 Travel back to Twice Brewed for warm-up, coffee & quick discussion.
If you are a STEM Ambassador or a teacher interested in this training session please contact STEM Outreach team on 0191 200 4453.
September 8, 2011 - 11:36 am
Title: Developing Demonstrations & Using Props Science Communication Training
This workshop is specifically aimed at those with more than 20 hours of experience of science communication over the past 5 years, but is open to anyone with an interest in developing their science communication skills. Please feel free to pass this information on as you see fit. Places are limited to a maximum of 20 to ensure that all participants are actively involved throughout the workshop. If you would like to participate in this training please book a place by completing the form available at: http://forms.ncl.ac.uk/view.php?id=2171
This training session will be lead by Wendy Sadler & Gareth Smith from science made simple Ltd.
Date: Monday 26th September 2011
Time: 9.30pm – 4.30pm (Registration from 9.15am).
Venue: Room OC218, Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics, Durham University Science Site, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE
Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Source: NESA group
August 30, 2011 - 12:17 pm
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
August 23, 2011 - 3:55 pm
Title: Icebreakers and Games Science Communication Training
Date: Wednesday 21st September 2011
Time: 9.30pm – 4.30pm (Registration from 9.15am).
Venue: Room OC218, Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics, Durham University Science Site, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE
Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Icebreakers and Games:
Successful science communication activities and events depend on making their target audiences feel comfortable and at ease. Icebreakers and the use of games formats are popular and effective ways of encouraging participation and engaging different types of audiences. In this training session you will have the opportunity to try a variety of icebreaker techniques and games e.g. DEMOCS, quiz show and board games formats etc. Please feel free to bring along an activity you have used to share with the group, or an idea that we can help you develop further!
This workshop is specifically aimed at those with more than 20 hours of experience of science communication over the past 5 years, but is open to anyone with an interest in developing their science communication skills. Please feel free to pass this information on as you see fit. Places are limited to a maximum of 20 to ensure that all participants are actively involved throughout the workshop. If you would like to participate in this training please book a place by completing the form available at:
http://forms.ncl.ac.uk/view.php?id=2170
This training session will be lead by Ben Johnson & Louise Webb from Graphic Science Ltd.
Ben Johnson, Graphic Science
Ben has been involved with Science Communication and Education for over 15 years and is Managing Director of Graphic Science Ltd, one of the most innovative and influential consultancies in the field. Ben specialises in direct hands-on engagement, designed to promote dialogue about science and engineering. He has worked extensively in schools researching, devising and delivering drama based projects and curriculum enhancement resources on topics as diverse as Robotics, Bioethics, Climate Change and currently, Engineering. Ben also has a strong portfolio of evaluation and research, conducting scoping studies and external evaluations for clients including EPSRC, NCCPE, BIS, The British Council, The Royal Society, The Wellcome Trust, Cheltenham Festivals Ltd, COPUS, STEMNET, The Open University, the Association for Science Education, At-Bristol and the Bristol Natural History Consortium.
Louise Webb, Graphic Science
Louise is Training and Project Development Consultant at Graphic Science. Prior to this she was Head of Skills Development at the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres where she has specialised in the development of engagement in informal learning settings; from science centres to youth groups. After working as a postdoctoral research chemist for the EU, Louise has spent the last 12 years as a professional science communicator for organisations including Techniquest Science Centre and the British Science Association. She has developed and managed highly successful national projects including Go For It! with sciZmic Space and Science projects. She has also managed the learning and programmes package for the Wellcome Trust funded Inside DNA touring exhibition project, developed science shows, workshops and other public engagement activities for a variety of audiences.
This training is part of the Embedding the Benefits of Innovation in Disadvantaged Communities project, which is a joint initiative between The University of Durham and the County Durham Development Company. It is part financed by the European Union’s ERDF Competitiveness programme 2007-13, securing £0.49m of ERDF investment through the Regional Development Agency One NorthEast. The ERDF programme is bringing over £250m into the North East to support innovation, enterprise and business support across the region.
Source: NESA group
July 26, 2011 - 12:54 pm
CREST is a UCAS-endorsed and easy-to-run STEM enrichment scheme. It allows 11-19yr olds to link their personal passions with curriculum-based learning through creative projects. CREST is run by the British Science Association, accredits over 20 other national schemes and offers tangible benefits to both students and teachers. UCAS endorses the inclusion of CREST Awards in students’ personal statements. Find out more at: www.britishscienceassociation.org/crest
STEM Outreach organises a CREST assessment training for volunteers who would like to judge CREST projects in the future. New as well as more experienced individuals are more than welcome to attend the session. We will learn how to assess Bronze, Silver and Gold CREST projects and how to talk to students about their findings. The training will be delivered by Colin Wilkinson. Details of the training session are below:
Date: Wednesday 31st August 2011
Time: 5-7pm
Venue: 616 Parsons Building, Newcastle College, Scotswood Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7SA
All welcome!
- 12:46 pm
Did you know that we have over 20,000 STEM Ambassadors in the UK???
STEM Ambassadors programme is a UK-wide scheme for STEM professionals and people with interest in STEM. Volunteers are CRB checked, inducted and insured and they deliver minimum 1 STEM-related activity in schools every 12 months. STEM Ambassadors represent small and large companies, universities and other organisations. Interested in becoming a STEM Ambassador?
If yes, you will need to follow the 3 steps listed below:
1. register on the STEMNET website: https://db.stemnet.org.uk/register.cfm
2. complete online CRB application
3. attend induction session and ID check
Details of the next induction for our new STEM Ambassadors from Tyne & Wear and Northumberland are below:
Date: Wednesday 31st August 2011
Time: 3-5pm
Venue: 615 Parsons Building, Newcastle College, Scotswood Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7SA
To register your interest please contact STEM Outreach office via email ambassadors@ncl-coll.ac.uk or call: 0191 200 4453.
All welcome!
