Congratulations to Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School from Ashbourne which has won the most recent STEM Challenge! The competition asked students from across the UK to work in teams to design a wetsuit for Jimmy Goddard, one of Great Britain’s leading paratriathletes. The team competed against seven other finalist teams from around the country in a Dragon’s Den-style interview on Saturday 12^th March at the Big Bang Fair in London. The team impressed Head Judge Jimmy Goddard with their talent and enthusiasm for the Challenge: “It was fantastic to see such a young group of people, aged only 11 to 12, use their skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths to produce such an outstanding design for the competition.” Full story here.

Castle College has announced significant new provision in Science and Engineering which will start in September 2011. The School of Science and Academic Progression will be introducing HNC and HND in Applied Science with routes in Biology and Chemistry.  It will also continue to develop its provision in Applied Science at levels 1 to 3 with specialist routes in Medical and Forensic Science as well as Access programmes in Science and Nursing.  GCE ‘A’ Level provision will focus on the College’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) expertise with programmes including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths and Further Maths.

Engineering will also be extending its range of courses with the introduction of an HNC in Automotive Engineering which will allow people already employed in the motor industry or students progressing from Level 3 to study part-time for two years and will incorporate the latest technologies involved in 21st century automotive engineering including hybrid and renewable technology.

From September 2011 students will also be able to enrol on one of two full-time Motorcycle Maintenance courses based at the Highfields Centre.  The Level 1 course will cover all the basic principles of motorcycle design, construction and operation of main components whilst the Level 2 option will explore the technical needs for today’s motorcycle industry and provide essential knowledge for service technicians working on motorcycles in all types of garages and dealerships. 

 Finally, the College will be entering the automotive heavyweight division with the introduction of Level 2 and Level 3 Heavy Goods Vehicle Repair courses.

 For more details about the new provision in Science and Engineering call 0845 845 0500 now.

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.

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.

Courtesy of GKN, Sophie Jones, an engineering student at Loughborough Uni, and an Ignition* Creative Spark, is investigating green manufacturing and CSR in Brazil
(that's corporate social responsibility of course, not comprehensive spending review)

her blog is here

http://sophieignitesherfuture.wordpress.com/

The STEM Clubs Network in partnership with the Science Learning Centre East Midlands invites STEM Clubs leaders and their technicians to attend this exciting new session at 4.30pm to 6.30pm on Wednesday 19^th January 2011 at the University of Leicester. The session will provide a number of hands-on fireworks related activities suitable for use in an after-school club setting and will have a strong focus on safety. The session will be led by Matthew Tosh, STEM Clubs Network manager and professional pyrotechnician in his spare time. The session is FREE for STEM Clubs Network affiliated schools and places will be allocated on a first come-first served basis. Affiliation is easy and totally free at www.stemclubs.net.  To book your place call the Science Learning Centre East Midlands on 0116 252 3771. Details at STEM Clubs East Midlands events page.

This year Nottingham's young people get the chance to support their City in becoming a world class leader in science and innovation at the Science City Youth Parliament  events in November. As part of the European 2Way project, which aims to help citizens have their say about science related issues, The Youth Parliament events will enable the young people to create a formal resolution which will be taken to the special European Youth Science Conference in Brussels in December. The Youth Parliament will be made up of up to 60 young people aged 16-19 from across the city and county. Over two days the Youth Parliament will hear evidence from scientists and professionals about four of the life - science issues that currently affect the world we live in: stem cell research, use of genetic test results, genes and aggressive behaviour, personalised medicine. They will then plan their arguments, present their cases and debate all the issues before agreeing on a resolution. Two members of the Youth Parliament will then get the opportunity to represent Nottingham at the Brussels conference. 

In October the parliament delegates will also get a chance to visit a working laboratory, test their science skills and prepare for the discussions which will be held on the 4^th and 5^th November.