Spring 2015
For: teachers of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM); guidance and careers advice; and senior management team. Dear colleague, As STEMNET contract holders for the North East of Scotland we can offer many new ways to support you to deliver Curriculum for Excellence, and provide inspiring, relevant and topical opportunities through:
helping to identify and access STEM activities and resources providing STEM Ambassadors (a free resource of enthusiastic volunteers) who can inspire and educate learners about STEM subjects and careers providing links with local businesses supporting STEM Clubs
STEM Ambassadors are volunteers from STEM backgrounds (industry scientists and engineers, academic researchers, students and more) who volunteer as inspiring role models for young people, free of charge. STEM Ambassadors volunteer specifically to support you and your pupils, and can contribute to both regular lessons and activities such as STEM Clubs, careers events, and by arranging work experience placements or class visits to their workplace. So, whether you would like someone to talk about their STEM career, help run a practical activity, give some insight into their working life, or help provide in-depth knowledge of a topic, STEM Ambassadors are here to support with their passion and expertise. STEM Ambassadors give their time voluntarily, and the scheme is FREE to schools. To request a STEM Ambassador, contact ambassadors@dundeesciencecentre.org.uk or call 01382 868610. STEM Ambassadors Requests As you may be aware, STEMNET have made some recent changes to the way teachers can request the support of STEM Ambassadors. We appreciate that time is precious commodity, and with this in mind, we have streamlined the process by providing a single request form for teacher’s and STEM providers across the region. We hope this will save time and make the process more efficient for you by enabling teachers to post requests directly onto the database at any time of day. Subsequently, STEM Ambassadors will be able to login to the STEMNET website and visibly see one definitive list of all live requests in their region that they can get involved with. You will find a guide on the next page and we will still be happy to take requests by phone or e-mail if you would find that easier.
Education Scotland STEM e-bulletin To receive regular updates of STEM opportunities, remember to sign up to Education Scotland’ e-bulletin here
Spring 2015 STEM Ambassador Case Study: Heart Dissection at Forfar Academy, (Stuart Sweeny, Biology Teacher) Stuart Sweeney is a Biology Teacher at Forfar Academy and got in touch with the STEM Learning Team at Dundee Science Centre, to request a STEM Ambassador to come along and support his Advanced Higher Biology class with a heart dissection. Having met a Vascular Specialist only a couple of months before at a STEM Ambassador induction, we knew just the person for the job. Rhoda McKenzie volunteered to visit Stuart, travelling from Aberdeen to Forfar to deliver a heart dissection and Anatomy class. We caught up with Stuart to find out about his experience inviting a STEM Ambassador into the classroom. What made you request the support of a STEM Ambassador in the classroom? “I visited Dundee Science Centre last year and Rebecca MacLennan (STEM Learning Manager) discussed the possibilities of STEM Ambassadors in school and I thought a Heart Specialist could really bring the dissection to life for the Advanced Higher Biology pupils.” How do you feel the STEM Ambassador enhanced learning of the topic? “She was able to bring real-life stories of patients she had actually operated on as a Vascular Surgeon. She was very knowledgeable about lifestyle effects on the cardiovascular system.” Do you feel bringing a STEM Ambassador into the classroom made any impact on the pupils and their engagement with STEM subjects? “The pupils were 100% engaged in the lesson. They were fascinated by Rhoda's stories of surgery and her discussion about her career path into vascular surgery. They have referred to the lesson many times since and were all round very grateful for the access to the STEM Ambassador.” Would you recommend the STEM Ambassador Programme to other teachers of STEM subjects? “Absolutely! I also plan to use them more frequently in the coming year, as the pupils gain a great deal in terms of science in a career context.” Get in touch Over the coming term we will be in touch directly with schools across the region to see how we can support you. We will also provide these e-updates regularly to keep you informed about opportunities available to you. You can contact us at any time to request a STEM Ambassador, and see how we can support you, by e-mailing; ambassadors@dundeesciencecentre.org.uk Additionally, our STEM Learning Team at Dundee Science Centre provide a range of professional learning sessions for 3-18 practitioners, and workshops for all levels. More information can be found on our website, and you can contact learning@dundeesciencecentre.org.uk at any time to discuss our offerings. If you have received this email in error, or would like to be removed from our database, or if you would like us to add new colleagues to our list, please let us know. We look forward to hearing from you and supporting the work you do. Kind regards, Rebecca Rebecca MacLennan STEM Learning Manager, on behalf of the STEM Learning Team Dundee Science Centre Greenmarket, Dundee DD1 4QB Direct line: 01382 868610
Spring 2015
How to request the support of a STEM Ambassador
Logon to www.db.stemnet.org.uk/login using your teacher login details – you can register as a first time user if this is the first time you’ve used the site
Under “Ambassadors” on the left hand side of the page click on “Add STEM Ambassador request”
At this stage, teachers can add all necessary (detailed in red) and optional information regarding your request, including:
Activity title
Activity details
Keywords – Optional (N.B. Ambassadors can login and search requests in their area by keywords so it is a good idea to utilise this facility and add as many buzzwords as possible at this stage e.g. location, topic, primary/secondary)
Activity date – Optional
Number of Ambassadors required
Number of pupils – Optional
Pupil age group – Optional
Contract Holder – insert Dundee Science Centre
Click save
A notification will inform you that your request is “Waiting to be reviewed”. At this stage, a member of the STEM Learning Team at Dundee Science Centre will review and approve your request for a STEM Ambassador. (N.B Stem Ambassadors will not be able to view your request until it has been approved by us)
Once confirmed and made public by a member of our team, a “1” notification sign will appear on the top right hand corner of your screen
Click on your notification and you will see that “Your Activity Request” is confirmed
At this stage, our team at Dundee Science Centre will be notified as and when any Ambassadors express an interest in a teacher’s request. We will liaise with them, ensure they have all necessary information and once they decide they would like to sign up to an activity, we will provide the STEM Ambassador with the teacher contact details.
Spring 2015
Events Young Engineers and Science Clubs National celebration
Google Science Fair
Fuselab Go Tour Bootcamp
Dundee Science Festival
Clubs across Scotland are invited join SCDI’s annual Celebration of Engineering and Science. There is a jam-packed programme lined up and a brilliant chance to show off all your wonderful STEM projects and compete for a range of great prizes including National Club of the Year (£750), Heather's Hut, Junior Saltire as well as the national finals of the Watt's Watt challenge. Sing up now on the website or contact Rebecca MacLennan, Regional Coordinator, for more information; rebecca.maclennan@scdi.org.uk Google Science Fair 2015 will be the fifth annual Google Science Fair in partnership with LEGO, National Geographic, Scientific American and Virgin Galactic. This is an international competition trying to encourage more students to question the world around them through science and technology. If past projects are any indication (ending world hunger, solving the energy crisis, helping Alzheimer’s patients, what these 13-18 year olds come up with just might change the world. They are currently open for submissions until Monday May 18th 2015! Fuselab are looking for participants for the 2015 Fuselab Go tour, a free out-of-this-world experience where you’ll help plan the future of an as yet uninhabited world! if you’re aged 15–18, this is your chance to learn about innovation and creativity and build the skills, networks and confidence that will help you thrive in a fast moving future. Fuselab is an innovation and creativity bootcamp run by Edinburgh International Science Festival. Now looking to recruit the next group of pioneers, so if you’re aged 15-18 this is your chance to get involved! Boot camps take place in: Edinburgh – 6, 7, 8, 9 & 11, 12 June, Greenock – 15,16 June, Inverness – 18,19 June, Aberdeen – 22, 23, 25, 26 June, Dundee – 29, 30 June, Glasgow – 4, 5 , 6 , 7 July 2015 The two week programme, taking place from Saturday 31October to Sunday 15 November 2015, brings events such as workshops, presentations, exhibitions, free family fun days, brewing masterclasses and a schools programme to Dundee.
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20 Society of Biology Scotland Annual Teachers’ Conference
Registration is now open for exhibitors at the Society of Biology Scotland annual biology teachers’ meeting on Thursday 28 May 2015 at Surgeons’ Hall in Edinburgh – email events@intel-events.co.uk to book your place!
Food & Science progression pathway twilight session
This event on the Tuesday 12 May 2015 aims to explore and demonstrate to practitioners how to use food and drink as a context for delivering STEM subjects. In light of the publication of Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce, the event also aims to highlight progression pathways and qualifications available to young people interested in a career in food and drink.
Glasgow Science Festival
This family-friendly festival includes amazing science shows, arts/crafts stations, workshops, film screenings, and exhibits, plus lots, lots more for schools. Check out the organiser’s website for a full programme of events and list of participating venues - Thursday 4 – Sunday 14 June 2015, Glasgow
Polymer Study Tours – Science & Technology CPD
The Polymer Study Tours are free four day residential courses for secondary teachers of science and design technology designed to improve your knowledge and understanding of the aspects of the curriculum related to polymers.
Salter’s Chemistry Camps
Planning has already begun for the Salters' Chemistry Camps 2015. Schools can nominate up to four students from S3, and bursaries may be available.
STEMettes
STEMettes aims to inspire the next generation of females into STEM fields by showing them the amazing women already in STEM via a series of panel events, hackathons and exhibitions.
Spring 2015
HeadStart Summer Schools
National Women in Engineering Day
Prestige Event Raspberry Pi from concept to creative platform
Do you have S5 students who love STEM subjects? Are they thinking about what they might like to study at university, but find it difficult to make up their mind? Headstart has been established for more than 16 years as a charitable trust providing hands-on STEM activities and engineering taster courses to encourage young people into technology-based careers. They are particularly keen to receive applications from students in Scotland. Applications are currently open for courses taking place in 2015. National Women in Engineering Day was set up by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) to celebrate its 95th anniversary. The aim is to celebrate the work that women do in engineering, and to showcase the great engineering careers that are available for girls. WES are calling on all groups (Governmental, educational, corporate, Professional Engineering Institutions, individuals and other organisations) to organise their own events in support of the day, and link them together for maximum impact through the use of the NWED logo, corresponding website, supporting resources and twitter @nwed2015 #nwed Friday 23 June 2015 Raspberry Pi: an affordable credit card sized computer; a modest collaboration between Cambridge University and Norcott Technologies which, in three years, has sold over 5 million units. This lecture will follow the development of the Raspberry Pi discussing some of the engineering and commercial challenges faced. Thursday 11 June 2015 Aberdeen Business School, RGU Garthdee Campus www.theiet.org/events
Activities Apps for Good
Apps for Good is an education programme where students learn to build and pitch their own apps - helping students to become real-life entrepreneurs and digital creators. Sign up to become an Education Partner for free now.
Jaguar Cars Maths in Motion Challenge
This software based project relies on students working together in small teams, applying a range of maths, engineering and science skills to set up a ‘virtual’ Grand Prix racing car. This car then competes in a race with ‘cars’ set up by their colleagues. Add work involving aerodynamics, gears, suspension and engine tuning, and then use of these, and you will have one very exciting project on your hand. Students involved in the challenge are eligible for the CREST Bronze Award.
Rotary International Technology Tournament
Rotary is a worldwide network translating passions into relevant social causes, to change lives in communities. As part of the RIBI Technology Tournament teams of four design and technology students with an interest in Engineering and Science subjects are invited to apply to compete in a full day out of school event to devise and build a solution to an unseen technical task. Working against the clock the team will need to have good communication skills, be well organised and able to show the development of their solutions. Completion of the tournament will achieve the CREST Discovery Award.
CITB CREST Award Challenges
CITB has recently developed some new Bronze level CREST Award in conjunction with construction employers and the British Science Association. There are two CREST challenges available: “Sustainable Communities” and “Building Bridges.”
Spring 2015
Competitions Longitude Prize
Curious about copper poster competition
An ongoing competition to solve the problem of global antibiotic resistance. Organised by Innovate UK, the first assessment deadline is on Sunday 31 May 2015. Following this there will be regular competition reviews and the first team to meet the competition criteria will win the prize fund of £10 million. See the website to find other groups to collaborate with or see their ideas. Calling the UK’s young scientists! Design an A3 poster exploring the properties of copper to win a first prize of £100 (and £500 for your school) or a runner up prize of £50 (and £250 for your school).The competition is open to all UK students (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) and All entries must be received on or before Friday May 29 2015!
Out of this World competition!
Send your students’ computer code into space with British ESA astronaut Tim Peake Leading UK space organisations have joined forces with Raspberry Pi to offer primary and secondary school students a chance to devise and code their own apps or experiments to run in space. Two Raspberry Pi computers are planned to be flown to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Tim's 6 month mission and both will be connected to a new "Astro Pi" board, loaded with a host of sensors and gadgets. Full details of the competition and a suite of education resources are available on the website.
Funding Institute of Civil Engineers Grant
The ICE are offering three awards of £5000 per year for young people aged between 18-25 years living in Scotland who are enrolled in a Civil Engineering Course at a Scottish College/University from September/October 2015. Applications are open to schools leavers throughout Scotland.
Dundee Science Festival – Public engagement Grants
If you are proposing an event for Dundee Science Festival, we have identified public engagement grants that may be suited to support the delivery of your event. Deadline Monday 8 June 2015
Society of Biology Grants
Thanks to generous support from the Biochemical Society the Society of Biology is able to offer grants which will enable up to 60 schools across the UK to host either a Gopher Science Lab day at their school or, a Gopher Science Lab day followed by hosting and leading a training session for surrounding schools. More information is available on the Society of Biology website and the deadline for applications is Monday 25 May 2015.
Institute of Physics Grant Scheme Royal Society of Chemistry
The Science and Technology Facilities Council, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the Institute of Physics run a small grants scheme designed specifically for schools and colleges. The scheme provides schools with grants of up to £500 for projects or events linked to the teaching or promotion of physics or engineering. Awards are made three times a year. RSC Small outreach grants of up to £2000 for projects that raise awareness of the place of chemistry in people’s everyday lives, especially those not already interested in chemistry, and/or raise the science communication skills of those who are already highly trained in chemistry. Applications close in early April.
Spring 2015
British Ecological Society
The British Ecological Society offers outreach grants of up to £2,000 to its members and others, including schools, to promote ecological science to a wide audience.
British Science Association Kick Start Grants
The British Science Association offer School Activity grants of up to £300, or ‘Our School Community’ grants of up to £700 to run activities during British Science Week.
Royal Society Partnership Grants Scheme
The Royal Society’s Partnership Grants scheme provides grants of up to £3,000 for science projects run at a school in partnership with a practising scientist or engineer. Awards made twice a year.
Society of General Microbiology
Grants of up to £1,000 to support microbiology teaching initiatives and events are available to School Corporate or School Representative Members of the Society.
Young Engineers and Science Clubs Scotland
For schools based in Scotland the Scottish Council for Development and Industry offers small grants to registered Young Engineers and Science Clubs.
Grant opportunity for Gamified Virtual Laboratory Simulations
Award-winning Danish virtual laboratory simulation education group Labster has an exciting grant co-financing opportunity for universities and schools interested in utilising the next generation of immersive gamified virtual laboratories in their classroom teaching. The grants are aimed at those interested in tailor made virtual labs for specific courses they teach. Details of the Labster Grant are available on their website and there is a deadline of 15th each month for allocation of grant co-financing.
Resources STEM Challenges
MARSBalloon – free STEM space outreach project
The Chemical structure of DNA – free infographic
My World of Work ICT
Born to Build
STEMNET have produced challenges for STEM Clubs, or use as part of your curriculum. Several topics including Developing an App, Materials and many sports themed science activities. MARSBalloon is a free project open to all UK schools that launches student Mars science experiments on high altitude balloons 30km up into Earth’s atmosphere. Teachers can register now for our next flight where we plan to launch up to 100 student experiments; each of which should fit into a kinder egg toy capsule. After the flight the experiment capsules will be returned to the schools for analysis by the students. There is no cost to take part in the project other than that of experiment materials and postage. Teachers can find out more and register their class or club for free on the website. This infographic into the realm of biochemistry, with a look at the chemical structure of DNA, and its role in creating proteins in our cells. Of course, it’s not just in humans that DNA is found – it’s present in the cells of every multicellular life form on Earth. This graphic provides an overview of its common structure across these life forms, and a brief explanation of how it allows proteins to be generated. A new careers resource with a specific focus on ICT and digital technologies has been added to the My Word of Work website, alongside information and advice about a variety of other fields. A careers resource targeted at young people aged 14-19. It provides information about opportunities within the construction industry and shows examples of current young people working within this field.
TechFuture Girls
Free to all schools, this resource is an after-school club designed for girls to encourage them to engage in IT.
Siemens Solid Edge Software
Free software available for Secondary schools, to support the teaching of product design and STEM. See their website for more information and tutorials for using the software.
Spring 2015
Girl Friendly Physics
A free resource aimed at helping teachers and careers advisers with how to encourage girls to enjoy physics.
Women’s Engineering Society
Have a look at this fantastic free poster from the society, celebrating 100 years of women in engineering.
Free Microscope Activity Kit
The Royal Microscopical Society has produced a free kit that can be delivered to your school containing everything you need to reveal the wonders of microscopy. Kits go quickly, so book now for Autumn Term!
Practical Action
A great website with many resources (including those listed above in Power for the World). They’ve put together a resource specifically aimed at highlighting the ways that their projects can be used to support the Scottish Curriculum, highlighting Global Learning and the benefits of integrating awareness and the role of technology in development.
I’m a scientist Debate Kits
I’m a Scientist Get me out of here! has produced a series of science debate kits containing a detailed lesson plan and online resources. They are simple and ready to use educational resources that are good for small groups or a whole class. The latest debate kit looks at Vaccinations and gives students the change to consider the best public health policies to protect the public while balancing individual freedoms. All kits are available for teachers to download for free from the website.
Energy and the MDG’s
Access to energy in developing countries is to achieve the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. This resource comprises of a series of short activities to help students develop their understanding of how the two are linked then looks forward at the Sustainable Development Goals which will come into play post 2015. The website contains a Lesson plan, Powerpoint presentation to guide your pupils through the activities and lots of other free downloadable resources.
Free membership for RSC
Free membership of the Royal Society of Chemistry for one nominated teacher or technician in each Scottish Secondary School. The free membership will provide the teacher/technician with membership benefits including RSC updates, discounts, information and copies of Education in Chemistry and the Mole.
Tomorrow’s Engineers Activities
Brand new in-school engineering activities - get a flavour of what will be happening at The Big Bang Fair with three new engineering challenges; Heat Exchange, Cargo Drop and Bath Fizzies were developed as part of National Science & Engineering Week. They introduce real-life engineering principles with curriculum links, and are lots of fun. Plus there are plenty more engineering related activities that you can download for free.
Chemnet
The Royal Society of Chemistry would like to introduce 14-18 year olds with a love for Chemistry to Chemnet where they can learn how the latest advances in chemistry could change their world, where chemistry could take them and how to get help with their studies. Membership benefits include: Events based all over UK, including hands on workshops, university visits, industry visits and much more. Exclusive member’s only events.
RSC Global Experiment 2015: Investigating Hydrogels
The Society of Biology
Be part of this year’s Global Experiment – investigate how much water hydrogels absorb, upload your data to the RSC website and compare your findings to schools all over the world. This activity is suitable for KS2 and KS3 students – further details and downloadable resources can be found online. The Society of Biology has produced free teaching resources to engage children with the eminent and sometimes unsung heroes of biology. A poster and teaching notes have been produced for lessons with 7-11 years olds and contains information on C B Williams, Beatrix Potter and Mary Anning. The teacher notes have further background information on these individuals, their areas of science and two CLEAPPS-approved practicals. The resources are available to download for free online and hard copies are available by emailing
Spring 2015
bcwschools@societyofbiology.org
Practical Action
Practical Action have released four new resources that help pupils make the link between science and poverty reduction. Each unit focuses on practical; enquiry based learning and has comprehensive teacher notes, pupil worksheets, PowerPoints and links to secondary sources of materials. Topics include global access to water, efficiency of fuels, flooding and drought cause by climate change and food preservation. Resources can be downloaded from the website.
Who’s most at risk?
Who's most at risk? is an exciting role play activity that enables pupils aged 11-18 years to understand some of the key factors that place people around the world at risk from the effects of natural hazards. This resource can be used flexibly with a whole class in a range of subjects, including; Geography - to explore how people are affected differently by natural disasters such as flooding. Resources including; Teacher’s Notes and Pupils Sheets, Character Profiles and Chance Cards are all available on the web site.
Lab in a Lorry Fat Body Slim
Lab in a Lorry is a mobile lab that gives young people the chance to explore science through hands on experiments. The programme is guided by volunteers who want to share their passion for science and their curiosity about the world we live in. Fat Body Slim exhibit are now ‘on the road’ and would like to visit your area to demonstrate the exhibit and get a chance to talk to people who are interested in obesity and its related illnesses.