Ever wondered what its like to be involved in a career in Engineering?  

Well this inspiring video insight looks at the work of STEM Engineer Sara Ridley who is the Assembly and Test Manager for Caterpillar Remanufacturing.

Her role looks at the reconditioning of automotive engines turning them back into a fully functioning product.

The STEM Partnership Support Team has once again commissioned the help of Brady Haran from the BBC to produce a series of short ‘Day in the Life’ videos of real life STEM professionals in the region. We hope you enjoy!

 

As the end of the year draws closer, the East Midlands STEM Partnership Support Team would like to thank Partners for their continued support.  The Partnership reached its second birthday this year, and to date has come a long way, so far we have…

• Held 5 Forum Events, attended by 446 partners
  
• Recruited 190 STEM Student Journalists
  
• Posted 91 blogs which have received 18 comments and 67 ratings

Latest News… 

• Enriching the STEM Workforce of Tomorrow

The Forum Event at No 1 Nottingham Science Park in November was a great success, 122 delegates attended to listen to presentations from Sir Alan Jones, of Toyota and SEMTA, Kate Bellingham, National STEM Careers Co-ordinator and a host of East Midlands STEM employers, including, Siemens, NHS, 4energy and Easibind. 
If you missed out, presentations and photos can be viewed here.

• STEM Student Journalist Awards 2009

The STEM Student Journalist Award announcement took place this week and the winners are:

1. Best under 16 years Reporter – Liam Mullen, Trinity School, Nottingham
   
2. Best over 16 years Reporter – Kayleigh Lawrence, University of Lincoln  
   
3. Best Educational Institute – English Martyrs School, Leicester

All students who submitted a report has been sent a certificate, and all reports are live on the STEM Student Journalist student section of the website.  Congratulations to all!

2010 dates for your diary…

• STEM Student Journalist Workshop, Thursday 11th February 2010

Venue: Derby College
Time: 9.15am - 1.00pm

The fifth STEM Student Journalist Workshop will be led by BBC Business Correspondent Rob Pittam, and BBC Camera Women Sarah Sheppard at Derby College.  Students will experience hands-on activities to equip them with the necessary skills to become an East Midlands STEM Student Journalist.  Visit http://stembbcmediaworkshop.eventbrite.com/ for further information or to book your place.

• East Midlands STEM Forum Event, Wednesday 3rd March

Venue: 3M, Loughborough
Time: 9.30am – 2.00pm

The sixth East Midlands STEM Partnership Forum Event is hosted by 3M Health Care Limited and will focus on mathematics.  Due to the location of the event, numbers are strictly limited to 75 so places will be booked on a first come, first serve basis.  Visit http://stemforummarch2010.eventbrite.com/ for more information or to book your place.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

East Midlands STEM Support Team

 

The STEM Support Team are pleased to announce preparations for the 5th Forum Event are currently underway. 

The theme of this conference is ‘Enriching the STEM Workforce of Tomorrow' and will be held at the new Nottingham Science Park on 18th November 2009 (9.30am-2.00pm).  

This conference seeks to explore STEM employer engagement and welcomes keynote speaker Sir Alan Jones, Chairman of Semta.  As Chairman of Semta, and also the Employer Champion of 14-19 Diplomas, Sir Alan Jones will provide an insight and expertise in the UK industry and employers’ skills needs.  

As well as Sir Alan Jones, you will have the opportunity to hear from local key STEM employers providing examples of STEM engagement. 

More information and full agenda to be published shortly. 

To avoid disappointment please book your place on this conference ASAP, by clicking HERE.  

The East Midlands STEM Partnership Forum Event took place on Wednesday 29th April 2009.  Over 70 partners came together to listen to key speaker Pat Morton, and a range of project showcases from across the region.  Delegates finished the morning with county and city based workshops to discuss how partners can work together to improve impact regionally. 

If you missed out - presentations, pictures and actions from the workshop can be viewed on the Forum Event page on the website. 

Hear what the delegates had to say… 

“Well organised event.  Great to have so many informative and engaging speakers.” Lynn Sargeant, Connexions Derbyshire 

“Excellent opportunity to find out what STEM activities are taking place.  Thank you.” Deborah Wray, City & Guilds  

We are still on the look-out for more people like Pete, who have interesting roles within STEM subjects.  If you think people would be interested in your day-to-day role, or know someone who would make a good case study, .

Visit our You Tube channel to watch the other day-in-the-life videos

I was invited to Big Bang, the UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair to report as a STEM Student Journalist on behalf of Ignition* and the East Midlands STEM Partnership.  The Big Bang, held at the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre, in London, is a culturally and educationally important event with high profile dignitaries including HRH Duke of York and local MP Mark Field.  Over the 3 days, the event will see 6000 schoolchildren be inspired by their peers. 

My first stop was a wide-ranging exhibition of industries and associations who use science and engineering in their daily activities.  From nutritionists and sports scientists, who helped James Cracknell, Ben Fogle and Ed Coats reach the South Pole, to engineers modeling the flow of people for new stadiums yet to be built for the 2012 London Olympics. 

A brief stopover in the Careers Hotel gave me the chance to chat to several interesting scientists and engineers before wrapping up the day with ‘Visualised’, a show of everyday objects used in a dazzling and unusual way, to inspire students to look at science and engineering in a new light.

http://www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/home.cfm

The East Midlands STEM Partnership would like to invite you to the fourth Forum Event, STEM Partnership - Gathering Momentum.

Date: Wednesday 29 April 2009
Time: 9.00-1.30pmVenue: Henry Ford College, Loughborough, LE11 3UZ
Book now at www.stemforumevent.eventbrite.com

We can now confirm that Pat Morton, Project Manager for the Government’s new careers project - STEM Subject Choice and Careers will give an overview of the national project, including the ‘see where they can take you’ ad-campaigns, and the role of the new National STEM Careers Co-ordinator. 

You will also hear from exciting STEM projects based here in the East Midlands, highlighting creative approaches and excellent partnership working. There will also be workshops for each city and county to allow you to share and build on what has been achieved since the last Forum Event back in November 2008 and find out what else is happening in your area.

Book now at www.stemforumevent.eventbrite.com

We look forward to seeing you there! 

Science was very prominent in yesterday’s news, so just in case you missed out, here’s some links…

The Government launched a campaign on Wednesday 28^th January 2009 [So What? So Everything] to reduce public perception of science as "elitist". The campaign is being run by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (Dius) and will try to change the geeky opinion of science within the community.  Press Release - Website

Following on from the Government’s announcement yesterday morning, BBC Radio 4 Today Programme featured Professor Marcus du Sautoy, Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University and Science Minister Lord Drayson discussing the fact that many people think that science is "too clever for them or elitist in some way" click here to listen 

Happy 2009 to you all, I hope you have all settled back into the office after the Christmas break.  I thought I’d up-date you on some of the key activities taking place over the next couple of weeks… 

1. You’re invited to the first online STEM presentation…
The first Teleconference call for the New Year - Progression and Careers: An Introduction to 'Your Future East Midlands' is taking place on Tuesday 27th January (10.30-11.30am).  This session will introduce a new format of Teleconferencing for 2009 - rather than the usual discussion led meetings, participants will get the opportunity to log-in and listen to an online power point presentation.  The meeting will finish with the opportunity for participants to ask the guest speakers any questions.

Title: Progression and Careers: An Introduction to 'Your Future East Midlands'
Date: Tuesday 27th January 2009
Time: 10.30-11.30 am
Guest Speakers: Neil Raven and Carla Herbert, Aimhigher in the East Midlands
Book Now! Please e-mail  to confirm your place

2. National Science and Engineering Week – 6-15th March 2009
Each year National Science and Engineering Week has a theme. This year it is 'Change'. This fits with Darwin200 and the International Year of Astronomy, both happening in 2009.  Find out more about National Science and Engineering Week here.

3. Keep up-to-date with all things STEM
Keep up to date with STEM related news and events in 2009 with the news and events section of the website.  Please forward any press releases or news items for the news section, events and blogs – the best blogs are selected for the monthly newsletter, a great way to reach the 300+ partners.  For more information, e-mail .

The first Teleconference call in the New Year - Progression and Careers: An Introduction to 'Your Future East Midlands' is taking place on Tuesday 27th January (10.30-11.30am).  Rather than the usual discussion we will be welcoming guest speakers Neil Raven and Carla Herbert from Aimhigher in the East Midlands, who will be introducing the ‘Your Future East Midlands’ website www.yourfuture-eastmidlands.co.uk followed by a Q&A session.

E-mail , to book your place on the call.