If this sounds familiar The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications and the National HE STEM Programme have a solution to help you tackle these questions. The extensive ‘Maths in a Box’ resource  was sent to all secondary schools last year.  A free twilight energiser event is being offered on the use of the resources in the box 4.30 to 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday 30 March 2011 at the University of Birmingham. Who should attend:-       Heads of Mathematics and Teachers of Mathematics in secondary schools-       University staff and undergraduates from Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Engineering disciplines who are interested in working with schools and colleges Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Register by emailing Annette Smart, Widening Participation and Outreach, National HE STEM Programme Midlands and East Anglia with your name, job title, school/HEI, address of your organisation, your telephone and email and any special needs.

School pupils across the United Kingdom are being challenged to design an online presence for a member of ParalympicsGB as part of the latest STEM Challenge, run by STEMNET in partnership with Cisco, the Official Network Infrastructure Provider of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Cisco is inviting 11-14 year old school pupils to design an official web presence that will help raise the profile of Rachel Morris, one of Britain's leading Paralympians, in the run up to and beyond next year’s Games. Students must consider how their design will allow people to find out more about Rachel's sporting achievements and her disability.  Launching this week and running until 20th April, students will work in teams to complete tasks directly connected to the curriculum for their chance to win top prizes including a trip to the World Skills 2011 Conference courtesy of Cisco, and up to £1,000 of STEM equipment for their school

Following a very successful inauguration last year, the Nottinghamshire Branch of the British Science Association proudly announces Science in the Park 2011. This science extravaganza will run at Wollaton Hall, Nottingham on Saturday 12 March 2011.

Activities will be for all the family and include:

• Spineless wonders (invert stall with stick insects, snails, tarantula, giant hissing cockroaches, etc)
• University of Nottingham Vet School stall including lambing simulator and animal bones
• Various genetics activities (genetics of taste, genetic coding, genetic modification)
• Plants: the inside story (plant science stall with activities and demos)
• Pop goes the diesel (how Nottingham’s LACE project is hoping to give us better bioenergy)
• Chemistry demonstrations
• Exploring engineering
• University of Nottingham technology demonstrator
• Interactive science toys from CELS (at Nottingham Trent University) including chemical models, earthquake simulator, magnetic field, lightning generator
• Interactive stall and demos from Science on Stage

Derby College marked National Apprenticeship Week in February by featuring the Bloodhound Show Car on the turntable of the historic Roundhouse, a recently renovated locomotive shed that is the stunning centre piece of college life. Over two days local primary and secondary school pupils were wowed by the car, the presentations and the Intel Atom animation played on a large screen at full volume. Local STEM Ambassadors were out in force to support the school pupils as they took part in the Bloodhound Balloon Car Challenge alongside the full size show car. On day two, Andy Green, the Bloodhound Supersonic Car driver, came along to present to local businesses and to Derby College students from the Engineering and Motor Vehicle faculties which really made the balloon challenge competitive and the design modifications fascinating! Full story here.

Find out how a modern jet engine works – its key components, the materials used, how it is manufactured and the science behind how it works, hear from Rolls-Royce employees who work on those components, then test your knowledge in a short quiz. This new interactive resource from Rolls-Royce has been developed for use by 14-19 year old students to explain how the major parts of a modern gas turbine - jet engine - work. The resource is accompanied by extension activity notes that outline some classroom based activities related to the science of a gas turbine. Rolls-Royce is actively involved in a range of education projects and engaged with partners in the educational sector, to inspire young people with enthusiasm for science and technology because it can provide them with opportunities in their lives and is key to our future economic prosperity. At the company’s major sites around the world Rolls-Royce supports a range of education projects with many of our employees working with local schools to support young people.  For example, around 400 employees across the UK are STEM Ambassadors who undertake regular or one-off activities with schools to enthuse young people about the STEM subjects. The jet engine resource is at: http://www.rolls-royce.com/interactive_games/journey03/index.html  

Further information on Rolls-Royce support for education at: http://www.rolls-royce.com/education/

The world of invention was brought to life in Derby Westfield Centre last month through exciting, hands-on activities and demonstrations such as a motorised steam armchair and model building. Throughout November and December a series of weekend events were held across the country to support BBC One’s ‘Wallace & Gromit’s World of Invention’. STEM Ambassadors were recruited to support the event and to share their passion for their subjects. 

Derby teenagers Charlie and James said: "We're in year 9 at school and picking our GCSE options soon and it's definitely made me want to take more science and engineering subjects because I've really enjoyed today and possibly do it as a job.” Parents and Grandparents alike also had a great day and praised the Roadshows for the ways in which they encouraged young people to engage with STEM activities. Paul Jonson from Derby has twin daughters who are 13 years old: "I thank you for hopefully stimulating the imaginations and curiosity of the many children who attended your road show this weekend. Keep up the wonderful work.”

Congratulations to Nottingham High School for winning the regional final of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Top of the Bench Competition. The team was up against stiff competition from nine other East Midlands’ schools which had qualified through county heats. In second place were a team with students from both from Hastings High School and John Cleveland College in Leicestershire. Belper School in Derbyshire took third place. The event was held on the 8^th January 2011 at the University of Derby. Each team comprised 4 students (2 Year 9s, 1 Year 10 and 1 Year 11). The competition kicked off with a tough chemistry quiz and then the students moved into the university labs for the practical challenge. The event finished off with a demonstration of how to make ice cream with liquid nitrogen. Other schools that took part in the regional final were Littleover Community School, Swanwick Hall School, Loughborough Grammar School, Stamford School, The King’s School Grantham, Gedling School and The Nottingham Emmanuel School. The winning team will now go on to the national final of Top of the Bench in London in April and we wish them well as they represent the East Midlands at that event. More information about Top of the Bench at http://www.rsc.org/education/schoolstudents/totb.asp

Forty senior leaders from schools and colleges in the East Midlands heard powerful messages about how progression through STEM subjects can help raise students’ attainment and open up a wide range of career opportunities. They attended the Regional Conference for Headteachers and Principals at Rolls-Royce in Derby on 9th November. The theme of ‘Driving success through STEM’ was supported by presentations from the National STEM Centre, Rolls-Royce, and Headteachers and Principals who talked very persuasively about the importance of STEM in their own institutions.

This was the second such regional conference organised by the National STEM Centre (the first was in London in June). The organisation and delivery of the event was supported by Rolls-Royce, STEMNET, NCETM and the Science Learning Centre East Midlands. The event was also supported by two STEM Ambassadors who talked about their career background, their role and what support they can offer schools.

In October we hosted the bi-annual STEM Partnership Forum event at emda, and judging by the evaluation reports we had a particularly successful day.

The SWAN Rural Enterprise Centre, a Community Interest Company (CIC), located on Pury Hill Business Park fought off strong competition to winning Enterprising Business of the Year at the prestigious Business Excellence Awards in Daventry. The centre was able to meet the criteria of the award as an organisation which embraces an 'enterprising culture' and can provide results of successes due to a positive attitude towards 'enterprise'. In the space of just over a year has seen the (South and West Northamptonshire) SWAN partnership develop and launch the SWAN Rural Enterprise Centre as a Community Interest Company.   This journey started back at the end of October 2009 when the partnership successfully bid for funding through the “Catapulting Kids Further” initiative funded by the East Midlands Development Agency. The original funding was to fit a professional chef’s kitchen in an off site school premises which would offer training and real work experiences to students which match the rural economy in this part of the county.  Working with a range of partners the kitchen was fitted into premises on a rural business park and now boasts a professional kitchen, The Cygnets Bistro and Enterprise Room. For more information about the SWAN Rural Enterprise Centre and what it is offering to local schools, businesses and the community visit their web site http://www.swancic.co.uk

Heather Payne