I have now settled in as scientist in residence at Lab 13 at Crown Hills Community College and look forward to our official launch on the 25th of February. There is a buzz going around the school fuelled by those who have discovered Lab_13 and have enjoyed the experience. For the most part, people who need assistance can just leave a simple message like "Would you write my persuasive essay for me?", and they will receive an answer soon.

The lab has so far seen a number of Lunchtime clubs (exploring the science used in hollywood films) and an inventors club where students have had the freedom to design their own innovative project. A Come Alive With Science project (looking at the science behind fashion) has also taken place in the lab.

The experience of working with the students in Lab_13 at Crown Hills has also helped me to grow as an individual as I have had to manage the expectations of a school, a group of confident students as well as the aims and objectives of the project as a whole. Apart from all the amazing experiments I have been able to demonstrate so far, I have also learnt not to show students how to make slime and to leave decorating the lab to the art department! 
 
Tom Carter, Scientist in Residence, Lab_13, Crown Hills Community College

Find out more about Lab_13

 

The lab is now open! Lab 13 was officially launched on April 3rd, 2009, at Dovecote Primary School in Clifton, Nottingham. It was clear from the start of the day, a buzz of anticipation was in the air. Guests were welcomed by the Management Team, who all introduced themselves and told us about their individual roles. 

This was followed by speeches from Andy Jenkins, Head teacher, Ed Williams, Chair of Governors, Andrew Morgan, East Midlands Development Agency, Emily Cummins, Inventor, finishing with Rick Hall, Ignite! Guests, including families of the Management Team, were then treated to two fantastic STEM demonstrations; chemical reactions by Sam Tang from the University of Nottingham, and an engineering spectacle from Ericsson.
 
The launch certainly attracted some media attention, with reporters from the Nottingham Evening Post, 96 Trent FM and BBC Radio Nottingham all present. Various members of the Management Team were interviewed, along with Emma Dowsett, the newly appointed Scientist in Residence. Whilst interviews were taking place, the rest of the guests were taken in groups to visit the new lab, and see the first experiment take place – a chain reaction machine!

I think I speak on behalf of all the guests present, when I say what a resounding success the opening of Lab 13 was. The day ran very smoothly, with no glitches, and the Management Team and their teacher Tracey Barton were exemplary in their coordination of the day's activities. We are now really looking forward to setting up the next group of Lab 13s! 

Amy Turner,Ignition*

Lab 13 is like the Doctor Who Tardis! Lab 13 is no ordinary classroom, it's where science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) experiments and ideas are created and de-constructed by young people!

Theories old and new are tested and learnt in new and exciting ways...no teachers! A STEM specialist-in-residence is on hand to help pupils try things out, build things, test and probe...this is off the curriculum, imagination-engaging work.

School children cannot go to the room until they have finished all their normal class work - there's the incentive! A school pupil management team organises all details, from room design, which specialist in resident, equipment and marketing, experiments, science trips, etc. They have their own democracy which they share with the school so that every pupil can participate in the room. It's a STEM delight!

If you know of a school (primary or secondary) who would be interested in learning more about having a Lab 13 please send expressions of interest asap to we have funding for 5 more in the East Midlands!