Your guide to key STEM events in the region and throughout the UK.
The STFC will be sending out electronic Christmas cards this year and that card could be carrying your picture. STFC would like designs from UK students from the age groups of 11-14 years (Key Stage 3) and 14-16 years (Key Stage 4). There are prizes for winners and runners-up in both categories: the winners will receive an iPod Shuffle but they will also get an all expenses paid trip to STFC’s telescopes on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands for themselves, a friend and an accompanying adult. Runners-up will win an iPod Shuffle, £50 of book vouchers for their school and an expenses paid trip for themselves, a friend and an accompanying adult, to one of STFC’s UK research laboratories.
The design for the Christmas card must be of a Christmas or winter design with a scientific flavour, ideally reflecting STFC science and technology. The designs can be hand drawn or designed and submitted electronically.
This is the Leicestershire heat of the annual chemistry competition and is being run by Leicestershire Education Business Company (http://www.leics-ebc.org.uk/) in partnership with AstraZeneca.
Winners from this heat will go forward to the regional final at the University of Leicester on 10th January 2009. The Leicestershire heat is open to mixed teams of Y9, 10 & 11 students from schools in Leicester City and Leicestershire.
The Institute’s public engagement grant scheme is designed to give financial support of up to £1000 to individuals and organisations running physics-based events and activities during 2009. This includes, but is not limited to, members of the Institute of Physics, researchers in academia or industry, schools, museums, community groups, not-for-profit organisations, arts groups and libraries. The grant scheme has two rounds each year. Round 1 of the 2009 scheme has a closing date of 7th November 2008.
A post-16 careers fair with a space industry focus. Representatives from leading UK space industry organisations will present career based talks on how they got into the positions they are in today. These presentations will be followed by a keynote talk given by Dr Matt Genge on meteorites and expeditions to study meteorite craters.
For primary and secondary education. The scheme offers up to £3000 to support teachers, scientists and engineers in working together to inspire young people. Fantastic projects can be created by partnerships like these, allowing teachers to increase their scientific knowledge and giving scientists and engineers the chance to develop their communication skills and engage with enquiring young minds. Perhaps most importantly, these projects give school students a taste of science and engineering today, and their relevance for society.
Announcing the launch of a competition for students aged 11-18. Winners will be given the opportunity to take control of the Cassini spacecraft, currently orbiting Saturn, to take a picture which will give information about the planet, the rings or one of its moons. There are three potential targets and you are asked to choose one image which you believe will gather the most interesting scientific data. Your case then has to be presented to the Cassini scientists in a 500-word essay.