Welcome to the fortnightly STEM planner. Keep reading to find out more about exciting STEM developments across Scotland. Please feel free to share this planner with colleagues and school partners.
STEM Nation Award programme update
The STEM Nation Award Programme is open for ELC settings, schools and CLD Settings. The STEM Nation Award Programme provides a focus for colleagues across a setting to work collegiately to identify, celebrate, promote and develop excellent STEM learning
Registrations:
- 14 organisations have registered as official STEM Nation Award Supporters (Support Page).
- Since January, 33 new settings have registered for the Programme.
Sessions:
- Since September 2022, we have hosted 18 STEM Nation Award information sessions for local authorities.
- Regular drop in sessions continue to be scheduled (Events Page)
Submissions:
- February window – 15 settings submitted evidence – all of which have been awarded at least one element.
- May window – 6 settings have submitted evidence.
- Braes High School (Falkirk) achieved the Full STEM Nation Award in early March.
There are a range of Online Resources, to support your registration and engagement in the programme.
Look out for our upcoming feature – Spotlight on STEM Nation Award recipients.
Share1thing – Secondary Sciences Network
Our campaign asks you to #Share1Thing you are doing that’s working well or one thing you’d like some advice on – all focused on the Broad General Education sciences. It was great to hear your ideas during a fantastic session of sharing at the recent BGE meet.
We are continuing this discussion at a time when you might be reviewing/looking for ideas. Please share any ideas you have, big, small, new or old! With over 800 members in the SSN network we hope this fantastic knowledge exchange can continue.
The folders currently are as follows (feel free to create your own if what you are sharing doesn’t fit!):
- Course Outlines and Planners
- Course Ideas and Activities
- Skills
- Approaches to P7 – S1 Transition
- Assessment – Strategies and Resources
- Topical Science
- DYW – BGE Science Resources
Many colleagues have already kindly shared their resources, even if you’re not quite ready to share, get logged in and take a look at all that’s currently available in the Secondary Sciences Network.
Click here:
BGE channel files section. Join Code: uh9sf32 (NB you will need to be logged into Glow to access this).
We appreciate your ongoing engagement and commitment to Secondary Sciences. Don’t forget to pass the join code (uh9sf32) on to any interested colleagues.
West Partnership STEM TeachMeet
The West Partnership will be hosting a STEM TeachMeet on Wednesday 7th June 6pm – 8.30pm.
If you would like to be part of this and share your practice or simply attend, please complete this form.
Creative Collaborations for Sustainability conference
We are delighted to bring you the news of a forthcoming event run by Creative Scotland and Education Scotland. The Creative Collaborations for Sustainability conference aims to explore the opportunities for developing Learning for Sustainability in, about and through the arts, investigating through a variety of discipline-specific and interdisciplinary workshops how people and communities value and engage with the natural environment. Creative Collaborations for Sustainability seeks to support teachers in developing confidence to use arts approaches in their practice around Learning for Sustainability.
- Tuesday 20 June for secondary practitioners
- Wednesday 21 June for primary practitioners
See the dedicated website for more details: Creative Collaborations for Sustainability – Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Sign up through the Eventbrite page: Creative Collaborations for Sustainability Tickets, Glasgow
Fife STEM Futures Festival
Fife STEM Futures Festival will run from 12 to 16 June. During this week, lots of STEM partners will deliver an array of STEM workshops in Fife schools. The virtual site (under construction with open access) is set to be launched at the end of May and will include further news, links, challenges and resources which learners, families, practitioners and partners can engage with to celebrate STEM in Fife.
DYW – Scientific Technologies Foundation Apprenticeship – Iona’s Story
The Scientific Technologies Foundation Apprenticeship can have an impact both in engaging girls in STEM and also by addressing workforce development and regional skills requirements.
Scientific Technologies Foundation Apprenticeship – Iona’s Story
The DYW Senior Phase Curriculum in action:
Views of young people short videos:
IT FA Benefits & Skills Development Pathways
Food & Drink Technology Foundation Apprenticeship: Lily-Anna’s experience
Creative & Digital Media FA Benefits
Parity of esteem & the work based curriculum – the development of the technical and professional qualifications:
Thistle Seafoods interview: Manager’s perspective – YouTube
Science Tech Employer – Bringing new talent into organisation
Science Tech Employer – Bringing new talent into organisation2
Science Tech Employer – Bringing new talent into organisation3
Engineering FA – An Employer’s Perspective
Engineering FA – Work Placement Activities
Food & Drink Technologies FA Placement Activities
Creative & Digital Media FA Placement Activities
Scientific Technologies Aberdeenshire Council Foundation Apprenticeship: Placement Activities
Engineering FA – Work Placement Activities
Merck Modern Apprentice opportunities
Modern Apprentice opportunities at Merck for school/college students – start with Merck in July for the induction and to be settled into the workplace just before starting college. Partnered with Glasgow Clyde College and Forth Valley College as the supplier of the academic study.
Merck are looking for two Modern Apprentices for Engineering.
Apply to this email address:
engineeringmanager@merckgroup.com
There are also opportunities for two lab MA positions which will be shared very soon – one position in Molecular and one in Microbiology.
All the MA positions will be based in Glasgow.
Opportunity for pupils to investigate their classroom air quality!
SAMHE is now official launched and are inviting UK schools to register. Schools will receive a free air quality monitor linked to an interactive Web App where teachers and pupils can view the data in a range of formats and use it in in-app curriculum-linked activities. SAMHE (pronounced ‘Sammy’!) stands for Schools’ Air quality Monitoring for Health and Education. It is a new DfE supported research project which brings together scientists, pupils and teachers to help understand indoor air quality in UK schools. SAMHE was designed in partnership with schools to ensure it meets their needs and is fun and engaging for pupils. Teachers say that it’s “powerful to see the live feed of the data” and the “range of options allows us to use this system across the STEM subjects”. Learn more and sign up on the SAMHE website.
European Hyperloop Week – 17 – 23 July
July 23 – Main Public Day Exhibition event to be held in Edinburgh city centre (free)
July 17 to 22 – Kings Building Campus, University of Edinburgh, EH9 3FB – Public Ticket events £3.50 per person
- Exhibition, talks, “ask the engineers”, presentations – Kings Buildings Campus
- Demonstration Day – Testing on tracks of the Hyperloop vehicles – July 22nd Kings Buildings Campus
Edinburgh is hosting the European Hyperloop Week 2023. Young engineering teams from across Europe will be presenting and showcasing their Hyperloop transport engineering & technologies.
A great chance for kids and families to engage and see the ‘transport of the future’ – linking technology, engineering, science, design and maths.
Some useful links below:
- What is Hyperloop? – Short 2 minute animation video
- What does European Hyperloop Week look like? – last year’s video
- Where people can book to attend or find out further information?
MVV Environment Baldovie
MVV Environment Baldovie will be opening its gates to the community. This outside event is set to inspire you to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. On the day you can enjoy some street food, get involved with challenges, games, and sign up for a tour of our Energy from Waste Facility. Children are welcome.
To secure your tickets please click the link below:
MVV Environment Baldovie tickets
Dates for your diary
West Partnership STEM TeachMeet 7th June
Fife STEM Futures Festival 12 – 16 June
Creative Collaborations for Sustainability conference 20 & 21 June
International Women in Engineering Day 23 June
