Tomorrow’s Engineers Week provides a unique opportunity for engineers, employers, universities and schools to help inspire the next generation of engineers.
Download toolkits of ideas on how to take part.
This year’s plans include the first Tomorrow’s Engineers Week Big Assembly; offering schools across the UK the chance to take part in the same assembly at the same time.
The PSTT Children’s Conference at PSEC is an exciting and unique opportunity for schools to participate in a dedicated primary science conference. The event will take place on Friday 7th June 2019 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre as part of the international Primary Science Education 
Conference (PSEC).
The theme of the conference is Climate Change, Sustainable Living and Environmental Science. Schools will be encouraged to develop their own projects focused on finding a local issue and developing solutions for it and then share their work: either by attending the Conference or submitting a poster/film of their activity.
Schools can register their Interest at https://www.primaryscienceconference.org/childrens-conference and download the free Climate Change Teachers’ Project Pack. The pack has ideas for projects in ten different areas; as well as advice on developing partnerships, planning projects and a Climate Change Special Topical Science Update.
Look out for more information in late 2018 when schools will be able to apply to present their projects at the PSTT Children’s Conference at PSEC in June 2019.
Keep up to date with what’s going on:
Follow @pstt_whyhow on Twitter
#PSECchildrensconf
Join our ‘PSTT Children’s Conference at PSEC’ Facebook group
In the wake of the growing interest in Marine Renewable Energy (MRE), an EU funded project looked to make education about these energy sources and technologies more accessible.
The Aquatic Renewable Energy Technologies (Aqua-RET) E-learning Tool Project created resources for multiple demographics who need to know how aquatic renewable energy technologies work, and in some cases in order to make informed decisions. These demographics include: teachers of primary and secondary school; those who provide additional educational material; a range of stakeholders in the energy sector, including the public, planners, energy advisors, developers, and people working in ancillary sectors.
The AquaRET Project created a series of posters related to marine energy, along with other educational resources. These are focused on Offshore Wind, Wave, Tidal Stream, Tidal Range and Run-of River energy. These resources can be accessed and downloaded at: http://www.aquaret.com/,
Resources
Competence Mapping Tool (CMT):
The CMT is a tool in which interested parties can view the available jobs with MRE industries, and within these positions see what skills sets are necessary. This can help guide those wishing to enter the industry to understand the steps they should take to do so effectively.
Technology Posters:
Technology specific posters are available for download and free to use for educational purposes. These posters provide an introductory level understanding to the different methods of deriving power from the marine environment.
http://www.aquaret.com/indexeb79.html?option=com_content&view=article&id=200&Itemid=341&lang=en
Technology Selection:
The Technology Selection goes into more detail in regards to each technology type. This includes a look at the history of its development, locations of the energy source, environmental and economic considerations, future potential for the technologies an case studies where this has already begin development. This would complement those wishing for a more in-depth understanding of the MRE sectors.
http://www.aquaret.com/index265c.html?option=com_content&view=article&id=224&Itemid=394&lang=en
Manuals/Text Books:
The link below will provide access to downloaded in-depth chapters on each of the sectors found within the overarching MRE sector.
http://www.aquaret.com/index4ad9.html?option=com_content&view=article&id=199&Itemid=340&lang=en
Download Images and Illustrations:
All of the content on the website is available for download for any interested organisation to use.
Making Scotland a STEM Nation
STEM Education and Training Strategy for Scotland has now been published
A STEM (Sciences Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics) Education and Training Strategy was launched in the Scottish Parliament last week by Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science. The strategy, together with a STEM Evidence Base Report, is now available to download from: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/10/1386/downloads
The strategy sets out the vision for STEM Education and Training for the next five years around the themes of Excellence, Equity, Inspiration and Connection. The ambitious actions for early learning and childcare, schools, colleges, universities and community learning and development (CLD) sectors have been developed through an extensive process of engagement and consultation.
Key commitments within the strategy include:
A central focus on the strategy is to enable everyone to develop STEM skills for learning, for life and for work. Also included are commitments to expand Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprenticeship Programmes to enable many to pursue jobs and careers in STEM through these pathways. This strong focus on skills and careers will further enhance national efforts to Develop the Young Workforce (DYW) and embed employment and career management skills in the curriculum through the Career Education Standard.
Education Scotland would like to take this opportunity to thank the many practitioners, authority staff and partners who helped to shape this strategy by participating in on-line surveys or by taking part in consultation and engagement events. We are very much looking forward to working with key partners to realise the bold ambitions within the strategy and to improving outcomes for learners, of all ages, across Scotland through STEM.
We would be grateful for any help you can give in disseminating the strategy to your colleagues and networks. Please remember too to share your ideas, practice and approaches in relation to STEM through Twitter @EdscotSciences #ScotSTEM and through our national STEM Yammer Group: http://glo.li/2A7gCgr.
You can also receive key monthly updates and news by subscribing to Education Scotland’s STEM ebulletin.
Lord Smith of Kelvin Lecture 2017
Lord Smith of Kelvin Lecture is an annual lecture with a Scottish perspective on aviation and innovation topics delivered at the University of Strathclyde by noted Scots who have previously been the recipient of a Baird of Bute Society Scottish Award. It was established by the Society and the University to honour Lord Smith of Kelvin who is both Patron of the Society and Chancellor of the University.
Date: Thursday 7 September 2017
Venue: University of Strathclyde, McCance Building
Lecture 1: Scotland’s William Leitch: Space Rocket Scientist
Dr Eleanor Campbell FRSC FinstP FRSE FRS
Chair of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh
Lecture 2: Scotland’s Contribution to Aviation and Aerospace
Dr Iain Gray CBE FRSE FREng
Director Aerospace, Cranfield University
Vice President, Royal Society of Edinburgh
Programme
5.30pm Registration and Refreshments
6.00pm Presentations
7.15pm Networking Reception
8.00pm Event Close
Baird of Bute Society Trust recognises the achievements of Bute blacksmith, Andrew Blain Baird who, in 1910 recorded the “first attempted all Scottish heavier-than-air powered flight” in an aircraft of his own manufacture. The Society employs his example to inspire the youth of Scotland to aspire to achievement in their lives through awards and recognitions, school programmes, scholarships and the support of educational activities
Please register by Friday 1 September 2017: http://ewds.strath.ac.uk/expo/LordSmithofKelvinLecture.aspx
Enquiries to corporate-events@strath.ac.uk or 0141 548 2245
Free support and resources for primary 5, 6 and 7 science teachers from BBC Terrific Scientific
If you haven’t already, there’s still time to sign up for the BBC’s Terrific Scientific. Aimed at 9 – 11 year olds, there are free resources, lesson plans, classroom investigations and an online map to share your results with other schools around the UK. Terrific Scientific will continue until summer 2018 and you can sign up and take part at any time before then. Around 5,000 primary schools have registered already. They’ve enjoyed it so far.
“WOW”
“lovely resources”
“We were really inspired and think that science is fun”
“It makes science really exciting for everyone”
“fantastic time taking part”
“Can’t wait for the next one”
“our class absolutely LOVED this experiment”
Investigation 2: Water, is still running. It’s the biggest ever investigation into the state of the nation’s water hardness – and the UK’s primary school children are the frontline scientists testing it. So make sure you’re part of it.
You have until 19th March to do the investigation and upload your class data to our interactive map so your pupils can see how what they found compares to the rest of the UK. We need the results (whatever the findings were) for each class.
Coming up next, Investigation 3: Time. Investigation runs 22nd March – 13th April. Start planning now.
Want to get involved? Register here if your school hasn’t already. it’s easy and only takes a few minutes.
STEM Insight
The STEM Insight programme offers staff in schools and colleges a unique chance to experience STEM-related work in industrial settings.
You will be able to participate in a placement with an employer, be supported by face-to-face and online CPD from STEM Learning and SSERC, and learn more about diverse career paths and opportunities for your students.
If you are from a local authority school or college you will receive generous financial support to cover the cost of participating in the programme from Project ENTHUSE. The fee for participating in the STEM Insight programme is £283+VAT, with a £1450 bursary for a ten day placement and a £800 bursary for a five day placement.
For more information visit http://bit.ly/STEMINSIGHT or contact sts@sserc.org.uk
Professional development for secondary science probationers
The closing date for applications to attend SSERC’s 2-part residential course for Probationer teachers is Friday November 25th. Through this programme, with practical work at its core, we focus on enhancing the range of activities which participants will be able to use to support Curriculum for Excellence in their classrooms. More than half of the practical elements of the course will be devoted to subjects outside participants’ own area of expertise. More details available from the SSERC website.
Concept Cartoons – 6th February 2017
(17:00-18:30)
SSERC, Dunfermline
Stuart Naylor, one of the principal authors of Science Concept Cartoons Set 2, is due to deliver this ‘twilight’ professional development session. Aimed at learners in the age range 10-16, this new resource for Chemistry, Biology and Physics covers topics including earth and space, living things and their environments, physical and chemical changes.
Concept Cartoons are designed to introduce science concepts in everyday settings. Each character has a different opinion about science being discussed. All of the possible answers are plausible and highlight common learner misconceptions. Learners are invited to join in with the discussion happening in the science Concept Cartoon.
The book and CD of Science Concept Cartoons Set 2 both contain 156 Concept Cartoons covering the main areas of science. Background text, written in pupil-friendly language, is available for each Concept Cartoon. A blank speech bubble on each Science Concept Cartoon encourages learners to add additional ideas.
Fee: The fee for the course is £135 to include a copy of the book and CD of Science Concept Cartoons Set 2 as well as a site license meaning that all teachers can use the resource in their teaching. Light refreshments will be provided on arrival.
Applications: The closing date for applications is 25th January 2017.
SSERC Winter Bulletins
SSERC’s popular Primary Science & Technology Bulletin and SSERC Bulletin are available to download for all members from the SSERC website. All Local Authority school and college teachers and technicians are automatically members of SSERC. The majority of Independent schools are too.
If you’ve yet to register for membership or forgotten your login details contact STS@sserc.org.uk to create or reactivate your account.
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