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

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.

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

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

 

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!

Do you know of any 11-18 year olds who have done an amazing project or invented something new? If so then you should encourage them to enter the 2010 National Science and Engineering Competition. They should have completed a project or activity in any field of science, technology, engineering or maths.  

There is over £50,000 of prizes to win for both teams and individuals in three age categories. The best entries will be invited to present their projects at The Big Bang: UK Young Scientists’ and Engineers’ Fair, in Manchester on 11-13 March 2010. The two individual winners in the senior category will also gain the titles of UK Young Scientist of the Year and UK Young Technologist of the Year. 

Closing date for entries is 30^th October 2009.  See www.nationalsciencecompetition.org for full details. 

Please encourage talented young people in our region to enter.

NSEW 2009 has seen the students of Derbyshire undertake a wide range of activities relating to Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics. 

Granville Community school, in Derbyshire kicked off NSEW 2009 last Friday by holding a STEM enrichment day for the whole of their Year 8 students.  The students, supported by engineers from Severn Trent Water were able to take part in a range of design and manufacture challenges such as making hovercraft, constructing 6m tetrahedron structures and test flying innovative rocket designs. 

This week continued to be unabated with Brimington Manor Infant School, Alfreton Park Community Special School and Clay Cross Infant and Nursery School, who discovered the wonder of space and the rockets we use to transport us there. Woodthorpe Primary and the West Chesterfield Primary Network have also been learning that paper can be strong enough to support the weight of a 6 year old. 

The numerous STEM related companies located in Derbyshire have also supported NSEW 2009, by running their own bespoke STEM related outreach initiatives, including…  Rolls Royce’s BrightSparks program at Curzon School.  Bombardier’s (Rail Division) Build a Train challenge for Yr9 Students at Highfields School, Matlock.  And the British Geological Society, who provided CPD for teachers who wish to integrate their Seismology Project into existing Geography, and Geology courses. 

As NSEW 2009 comes to a close today we will be anxious to see the results of the Shirebrook School Dragons Den competition but we will also enjoy Derby’s Science Festival which will be taking place on 14^th March at the University of Derby, Kedleston Road Campus.  The festival will demonstrate new and exciting advances in Sports Science, demonstrate the historic and evolutionary development in Derby of the Jet Engine, in conjunction with Rolls Royce and the Royal Air Force and will allow visitors of all ages to experience what it is like to fly a glider, experience flying rockets and lots more beside.  This free event will be open from 10am to 4pm.  

Guest Blogger: Lawrie Peck, DEBP, Derbyshire STEMPoint

You should take a look at the new Google map of all the public events registered for National Science and Engineering Week 2009 (NSEW) at http://www.the-ba.net/the-ba/Events/NSEW/WhatsOn/Event+Map.htm There are a few in the East Midlands and it would be great to get more on there. 

If you are planning to organise an event during NSEW, can I encourage you to register your event, ideally by the end of this year? Please pass this on to anyone else who is organising an event. 

Although the map only shows public events, you can register both public and private events on the searchable list. The benefits are that you get free promotion of your event and organisation through the BA website and marketing campaign. There are various freebies up for grabs for schools who register their events. Deadline for the prize draw is Feb 1st 2009. 

NSEW is one of the world's largest celebrations of science and engineering. 2008 was a huge success with an estimated 3500 events and 1.4 million attendees!  More information on the mass participation events and NSEW activities will be issued shortly. There will be a campaign called ‘Save our Bees’, a blog for social and scientific debate called ‘Change Exchange’, national activities related to the celebrations of Darwin200 and International Year of Astronomy, the new ‘National Science and Engineering Week Awards’ with £1000 prize money, a school competition called ‘Darwin in Space’ and much, much more!

For the NSEW events listings, resources, funding ideas and more see:  http://www.the-ba.net/the-ba/Events/NSEW/index.htm

There's a STEM revolution going on in the East Midlands. Across the region, thousands of young people are discovering that science, technology, engineering and maths are creative subjects - fun, exciting, engaging and well worth thinking about for further study and careers. 

We are currently looking for anyone based in the East Midlands who is working in a STEM-related organisation and interested in assisting school students and staff to devise and run their own creative STEM activities and events during National Science and Engineering Week (6th-15th March 2009).  We welcome inspiring practitioners with a STEM background from industry or academia, including undergraduates, postgraduates and postdocs. Practitioners will receive payment. 

We are particularly looking for people in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire. 

Come Alive with Science provides an opportunity for young people to recognise STEM subjects as creative, and that they are based on exploration and curiosity. As part of the Ignition* programme, secondary schools across the East Midlands will be offered support, enabling the development of Creative Science Games through collaborations between primary and secondary students, artists, teachers and scientists. 

For further details of how to get involved, please contact: Sarah Walley, Programme Manager, Ignition* on . 

Ignition* is being delivered by Ignite! in collaboration with Creative Partnerships, and funded by the East Midlands Development Agency. http://www.ignitefutures.org.uk/ignite-projects/creative-science/

This free resource has recently been published to provide information for teachers on schemes and activities provided by organisations from across the UK that aim to enhance and enrich the curriculum. Each activity is linked to the curriculum and is usually based around events or experiences that cannot be delivered with standard school contacts and resources.

The STEM Directories are delivered in three distinct volumes: Science, Engineering and Technology, and Mathematics. They feature national and regional activities and include a number of East Midlands’ STEM opportunities such as Space Academy, Lab in a Lorry, bioKnex, Kit in a Kase from CELS and the British Geological Survey’s ‘Seconds from Catastrophe? Living with a volcano’’.  

Schools will be contacted in October to offer them copies of the Directories. 

Following the publication of the printed directories this month, the STEM Directories consortium is conducting a consultation programme with teachers and STEM scheme providers. This process will review initial reactions and build constructive feedback into the second phase of the project, which is likely to be an online resource launched in 2009. 

You can find out more about the STEM Directories by visiting http://www.stemdirectories.org.uk/order.asp