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STEM team takes 'sustainability' to the Gambia

by Guest Blogger: STEMPoint 29. March 2010 15:17

 

The Derbyshire Education Business Partnership’s STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – team, together with staff from Kniveton CE Primary School, have been on a trip of a lifetime to offer some much needed educational support to the Janet International School in Gambia. 

Mangrove swamps, dusty dirt tracks, oyster farms, blistering heat and the sound of baboons, awaited the team who spent a week over the February half term sharing a programme of work with students and teachers in the underprivileged area of Bakoteh. The programme focused on local environments and incorporated work on climate change, the carbon footprint and sustainable energy. The team settled in straight away after a warm welcome and were able to deliver a series of fun and engaging activities - including K’Nex solar panels, LEGO NXT robotic cars, wind turbines and solar ovens – to the beaming students, who had never in their life seen such technology. 

STEM manager, Lawrie Peck said, “It was an incredible privilege to be part of this project – to see the students growing in confidence as they embraced the new ideas, particularly in a region so in need of cost-cutting sustainable energy technology like these. It just demonstrates what an important role science, technology, engineering and maths can play in our world, and how important it is to build this into education from a young age.” 

Guest Blogger: Lawrie Peck, Derbyshire Education Business Partnership

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National Science and Engineering Week in the East Midlands

by HannahB 18. March 2010 14:08

On Wednesday 17th March the East Midlands STEM Partnership hosted an event as part of National Science and Engineering Week. Students spent the afternoon at the National Space Centre and saw ‘Bridget’, the multi-million pound robot, part of the EXOMars project that will touch down on Mars in 2016 to study the biological environment. Students from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire participated in some of the 150 interactive master classes held at the National Space Centre. A student from The Long Eaton School, Nottinghamshire, who attended the A-Level Physics master class said; "Today was an experience of a lifetime, most beneficial to further my studies in science".

Prior to visiting the National Space Centre, the day began at Crown Hills Community College in Leicester, where students demonstrated inspiring creative science activities; including Lab 13, a dedicated science space in the school, managed by pupils, for the pupils. Students also experienced Kit in a Kase taking part in some fun, contextual science. The morning concluded with a Come Alive with Science demonstration. Students had the opportunity to design and make their own t-shirts using photochromic paints and LED lights. A student from Crown Hills Community College said “Come Alive with Science is great fun, an enjoyable mixture of different lessons with maths, technology and science lessons".

The event supported National Science and Engineering Week (12-21 March) and was an opportunity to promote some of the fantastic STEM activities taking place across the East Midlands, many of which are funded by the East Midlands Development Agency. Other activities across the region included Lab in a Lorry, a mobile lab giving students the chance to explore science hands-on, which visited Montsaye School in Northamptonshire. Students at Montsaye, learnt how oil is extracted from its source and participated in experiments involving frequency and sound.  Year 9 students from Haven High Technology College, Lincolnshire hosted a screening of their film about climate change ‘Enter the Future’ as part of the Come Alive with Science programme.

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New report from Science and Learning Expert Group

by Guest Blogger: CathyB 5. March 2010 13:41

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' (BIS) Science and Learning Expert Group has recently released a report Science and Mathematics Secondary Education for the 21st Century

The report outlines five priority areas for improving STEM learning in schools and colleges;

  1. Recruit more STEM graduates into teaching, then train and retain them
  2. Improve the content and assessment of science and maths at GCSE and A-Level (including having expert groups advise on the design and development of qualifications and assessment)
  3. Clearly differentiate the learning pathways available to young people
  4. Integrate IAG into science lessons and enrichment, and develop HE and workplace links
  5. Foster a commitment to excellence in science and mathematics in schools and colleges through accountability mechanisms and incentives. 

There’s a good article about the report on the BBC website.  You can see the responses from Schools Minister Iain Wright and Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson on the BIS website.

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Maths Inspiration: 25 March 2010, Nottingham Playhouse

by Guest Blogger 5. February 2010 13:11

Maths Inspiration is returning to the Nottingham Playhouse on 25 March after the huge success of this school lecture event in 2009.  We’re expecting pupils from about 40 schools from Nottinghamshire and the surrounding counties to come, with full houses (nearly 700) at both shows. 

The event aims to inspire more teenagers to pursue mathematical subjects to a higher level.  Audience interaction and humour are an important element.  Scientist and stand-up comedian Helen Pilcher is the MC, and Mark Lewney – rock guitarist and physicist – is the headline act.  The audience will also get insights into the building of the 2012 Olympic Stadium from engineer Paul Shepherd, and a talk on the maths of psychology (with a bit of Derren Brown style telepathy thrown in) from author and broadcaster Rob Eastaway.

The event is suitable for sixth formers and more able/motivated Year 11s. To book your place, or find out more visit http://www.mathsinspiration.com/events.html

Guest Blogger: Rob Eastaway

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Events

Top 20 Most Popular Future Jobs of 2030

by HannahB 1. February 2010 14:17

A new report (.pdf) commissioned by the U.K. government and conducted by Fast Future asked a select group of futurists and thinkers to list what science and technology jobs they think would be most popular by the year 2030.

The group came up with over 100 roles, 20 of these were selected for the study. 

These roles could see trips into space no longer being just for astronauts, with future jobs as space pilots, tour guides and astro architects! Computers and robots are expected to transform the fields of medicine and farming. The world of medicine will see advances in nanotechnology, enabling scientists to treat cancer and other resistant diseases at the cellular level.

Here’s the complete list of all 20, with summarized descriptions:

  • Body part maker: Create living body parts for athletes and soldiers.
  • Nano-medic: Nanotechnology advances mean sub-atomic treatments could transform healthcare.
  • GM or recombinant farmer: That’s “GM” as in “genetically modified” or engineered crops and livestock.
  • Elderly wellness consultant: As an aging population increases in size, we’ll need folks to tend to their physical and mental needs.
  • Memory augmentation surgeon: Like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, surgeons could boost patients’ memory when it hits capacity.
  • ‘New science’ ethicist: With the rise of cloning and other ethically-dubious practices, ethicists will be needed to ford the river of progress.
  • Space pilots, tour guides and architects: Space tourism will allow for space pilots, tour guides and the architects that will allow them to live in lunar outposts.
  • Vertical farmers: The future of farming is straight up. Vertical farms in urban areas could significantly increase food supply.
  • Climate change reversal specialist: Regardless of what you think about human-induced climate change, it’s clear we’ll need scientists who specialize in altering it.
  • Quarantine enforcer: When a deadly virus spreads rapidly, quarantine enforcers will “guard the gates.”
  • Weather modification police: If weather patterns can be altered and adversely affect other parts of the world, law enforcement will be needed to keep things legal.
  • Virtual lawyer: As international law grows to supercede national law, lawyers will be needed to handle cases that involve people living in several nations with different laws.
  • Classroom avatar manager: Intelligent avatars will replace classroom teachers, but the human touch will be needed to properly match teacher to student.
  • Alternative vehicle developers: Goodbye, internal combustion engine. Zero-emission cars will need smart people to design and manufacture them.
  • Narrowcasters: As in, the opposite of “broadcaster.” Media will grow increasingly personalized, and we’ll need people to handle all those streams.
  • Waste data handler: Think of it as an “IT axe man”… for information. Waste data handlers will destroy data for security purposes.
  • Virtual clutter organizer: Now that your electronic life is more cluttered than your physical one, you’ll need someone to clean things up — including your e-mail, desktop and user accounts.
  • Time broker/Time bank trader: What’s more valuable than precious metals, stones or cold, hard cash? Your time.
  • Social ‘networking’ worker: A social worker for the Web generation.
  • Branding managers: These already exist for celebrities, but now everyone needs a “personal brand” so others can easily digest who you are and what you stand for.

For complete descriptions and resources for these jobs see the original article

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Discussion

Less than 2 months to go... National Science and Engineering Week (NSEW), 12 – 21 March 2010

by HannahB 21. January 2010 14:13

 

The East Midlands STEM Partnership is supporting The NSEW Team to encourage organisers to register their events on the national database – this is a great opportunity to celebrate the fantastic work taking place here in the region.

We are interested in all your events – big and small! Do you have an event or activity planned for NSEW here in the East Midlands? If so, add your event to the online national database by registering here, then fill in the online form by selecting ‘Add an event’ from the left-hand menu.

Thousands of people across the UK take part in NSEW events and activities every year and join the celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths and its importance in our lives…this year, why not be one of them!

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Inspiring maths event returns to the East Midlands

by Guest Blogger: CathyB 23. November 2009 16:04

Maths Inspiration is returning to Nottingham after a successful visit last March. Bookings are now open for the event on 25th March 2010 at The Playhouse, Nottingham.
                            
Maths Inspiration is one of the largest maths enrichment programmes for teenagers in the UK. It's a chance for Year 11s and sixth formers to experience the UK's most inspiring maths speakers, live in big venues, presenting mathematics in the context of exciting, real-world situations. There is always a lively Q&A session at the end of each show.

The planned talks at the Nottingham event are: "How to Build an Olympic Stadium", "When Maths Meets Psychology" and "The Maths of the Rock Guitar". There are two sessions to choose from: 9.45-12.30 and 1.00-3.45.

The content is ideal for Year 12s and for more motivated Year 11s. Tickets are £6 per attendee with one adult entitled to free entry for every 10 students.

The Maths Inspiration event at Nottingham is sponsored by emda (East Midlands Development Agency).

For more information and booking details see: www.mathsinspiration.com

Teachers who attended last year’s Maths Inspiration event in Nottingham said:

“Excellent, reminding me of the enjoyment of maths despite the constraints of exams and curriculum"
 
"Inspiring and energising: I feel that I could better prepare students for interview"
 
"Stimulating lots of discussion between colleagues and students”
 
"Excellent – the idea that you can guess accurately will hopefully engage students at all levels"

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Events

Bridge To School Events

by Guest Blogger 14. April 2009 12:34

The Bridge to Schools scheme is a new and exciting part of Institution of Civil Engineers East Midlands strategy to raise awareness of the work of civil engineers and their contribution to society.  

At a typical school 3-day event, four groups per day of up to 30 pupils (aged between 9 and 13) spend one hour learning about civil engineering, building the bridge and then walking over it.  Myself and up to 3 Ambassadors challenge the pupils to work in two teams, solve any problems together and understand how the bridge keeps their teacher off the ground!  Pupils are also told about the large number of exciting careers made available to them if they continue with their science, maths and engineering subjects. 

The project was initially launched in back November 2008 to ICE East Midlands Ambassadors and potential new recruits   Bridge to School events have currently taken place twice in Nottinghamshire and twice in Leicestershire, with events booked up for the summer term in Lincolnshire and Derbyshire.  

Malcolm Jackson, East Midlands Regional Director said: “ICE East Midlands is committed to encouraging young people into civil engineering.  The Bridge to Schools project is a key part of our schools initiative and we are extremely pleased to have been able to work in partnership with school staff and ICE ambassadors in achieving our objectives.”

Guest Blogger: Bridget Burke, Bridge to Schools Co-ordinator, Institution of Civil Engineers

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Events

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this Blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of the East Midlands STEM Partnership, its partners or funders, including East Midlands Development Agency.

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