STEM Blog

January 31, 2012
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STEM club inspires pupils @St. David’s RC High School

Since the STEM club was started in June of last year the CDT department has been a hub of activity with up to twenty pupils coming along to the department for 30 minutes every lunch time.

It began with a group of S1 pupils who took part in the STEM Challenges as part of the build up for the Olympic Games in London. For their first challenge they were tasked with designing an app to improve the accessibility of London 2012 to those who visit.

Since November the size of the club increased further with the addition of S4 Craft and Design pupils working on their practical projects, and will be added to further with a group of ten S2 pupils who will be participating in the Young SET Ambassadors programme.

The aim of the club is to inspire the pupils and to encourage them towards a career in engineering – and to have fun of course!

The popularity of the club makes for busy but thoroughly enjoyable lunchtimes.

January 31, 2012
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STEM Central and STEM Careers

With announcements like those below indicating the health of Scotland’s renewables future, what better time to explore the contexts in STEM Central for use with learners?

This Interactive Map of Renewable and Alternative Energy projects in the UK would make a good starting point for discussion.

Osborne unveils £103m renewables funding for Scotland

Renewables growth ‘to continue’ in Scotland during 2012

Samsung wind turbine project to create 500 jobs in Fife

January 27, 2012
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Hand of the Future

Last night I was lucky enough to win tickets to the Tells They Tell presentation at the  26 Treasures Exhibition at the National Museums Scotland in Edinburgh. 

For this exhibition, the museum selected 26 objects from their Scotland galleries, which together trace Scotland’s history from its ancient geological roots to its technological future. Some are iconic, others less well-known, but all have a story to tell. The 26 writers from poets and novelists to screenwriters, journalists and academics. The writers were paired up with objects at random, and set the intriguing challenge of responding to their object in exactly 62 words.

Object number 26 was a Bionic Hand which relates to our up and coming STEM Context of Bioengineering. (Watch this space for more information on this context being released).

To read the poem Hand of the Future click here.

January 25, 2012
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Go4SET

Go4SET links teams of six  S2  learners with companies and universities to offer a 10 week science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) experience. By providing a STEM project, Go4SET aims to raise learners’ awareness, and highlight the exciting future career opportunities in STEM.

Work-related learning within an industry and enterprise context is at the core of the Go4SET experience. Learners are offered personal development education enhancing their powers of creativity and innovation.

The UK needs to increase the number of learners pursuing careers in Science, Engineering and Technology. Support from Industry and business is sought for this initiative and can help to make an important contribution to the future of Science, Technology , Engineering and Maths through inspiring the learners to become involved at this key stage in their education.

Go4SET aims to empower young people to make informed decisions about their future, particularly with regard to STEM subjects and courses.

Go4SET info sheet for schools

Go4SET poster

Go4SET schools leaflet

Visit the EDT website for more information.

January 24, 2012
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The Great Climate Change Debate – Join us on Glow

A series of interactive and lively Glow meets

In November this year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change launched a report warning that climate change is likely to lead to more extreme weather. Within weeks of this launch, Scotland was battered by severe flooding and hurricane-force winds which brought much of the country to a standstill. Is our climate already changing? What will climate change mean for Scotland? How can we respond positively and adapt to the changes ahead?

We’re inviting your school to join the great climate change debate. We’ll be bringing together a panel of scientists and experts to answer questions, spark debate and discussion and help learners navigate their way through climate fact, fiction and controversy.

Each Glow meet will take place from 2pm to 3:00pm. These events will be aimed at learners in secondary schools but classes in upper primary will be welcome to participate.

Please see links below for further details about each event:

GLOW MEET 1 Our changing weather and climate 23Jan12 – Click here to watch the Glow Meet Recording

GLOW MEET 2 Climate science evidence vs controversy 30Jan12

GLOW MEET 3 Adapting to climate change 6Feb12

For resources and videos on climate change visit Weather and Climate Change, Exploring Climate Change and Climate Change on Glow.

January 24, 2012
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Young talent on course to solve real engineering problems

On 11th January I was invited along to the Engineering Education Scheme Residential at Strathclyde University.

Young talent from secondary schools across Scotland returned to the University of Strathclyde to take part in the Engineering Education Scheme (EES) workshop on the 10th & 11th January.   As a key part of the 6 month project, the EES workshop offers a unique opportunity for the whole team of students, teachers and mentor engineers to work together over the 2 day residential period to jointly solve complex engineering and technical problems. Working together the teams develop their knowledge on the practical application of theory learnt in school and gain an understanding of business and industry.

The learners have opportunities to develop key life and employability skills such as team work, project management, presentation skills, report writing and leadership.

The Faculty of Engineering at Strathclyde University hosted the event and supported the 16 teams by providing the workshop facilities and technicians on hand to assist with project development.

The organisations and academic institutions taking part in the EES programme this year are Aggreko Manufacturing, BOC Ltd, ClydeUnionPumps, Coherent Scotland, Doosan Power Systems, EDF Energy, Heriot-Watt University (Department of Chemical Engineering), Howden, Rolls-Royce. Selex Galileo, University of Edinburgh (Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering), and the University of Strathclyde (Departments of Design, Manufacture and Engineering Management (DMEM); Electronic & Electrical Engineering: Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering (NAME); and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering).

The teams will now work on testing and finalising their project and attend the celebration event at the University of Strathclyde on April 23rd. Learners will present the final outcome of their projects and a working prototype to panels of judges and guests from industry and compete for the best project award.

Visit the scheme’s website to find out more or contact EES Coordinator for Scotland George Foster (e-mail g.foster@etrust.org.uk)

January 21, 2012
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Braid Burn Flood Prevention Scheme

This news article could be used in relation to the STEM Central Water Context.

The City of Edinburgh has experienced flooding from the Braid Burn on several occasions, with the most severe event occurring in October 2002 resulting in flooding to a number of properties and substantial damages. The City of Edinburgh Council initiated a Flood Study to assess the risk of flooding and develop flood alleviation options leading to a preferred solution.

Read the rest of the article here.

January 21, 2012
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Comments Off on World’s first tidal-powered island

World’s first tidal-powered island

Partners, The Daily What News have shared with us support materials which could be used in conjunction with the STEM Central Renewables context for learning.

As a Scottish company is told it will get more than £2 million to develop tidal turbines, the Daily What News investigates the science behind the scheme.

Read the Daily What News article or find lesson ideas and activities.

January 20, 2012
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Electrical House

The following task could be used in conjunction with the STEM Central Energy Saving House Context for learning. It could relate to the Saving Energy Learning Journey.

With my Primary 4 class at Harrysmuir Primary, we investigated the electricity use  in different rooms in our homes. The class were divided into home teams and the learners used catalogues to find various appliances. This all came together at the end in the form of an ‘Electrical House’. This was then used to investigate how much energy we waste in our homes and how we can be more eco friendly.

January 20, 2012
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Headstart

Do you work with learners who love science, technology and maths (STEM) subjects and are in S5? Perhaps they are considering post school study, but are finding it difficult to make up their mind? A Headstart course might be of interest.

Headstart has been established for more than 16 years as a charitable trust providing hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) activities and engineering taster courses to encourage young people into technology-based careers.

Taking place at universities across the country, the Headstart courses offer opportunities to find out more about exciting careers in STEM. Our broad-based engineering courses give a flavour of many different aspects of engineering and our focus courses provide an insight into highly specialised fields.

Learners currently in S5, can be considered for a place on one of the exciting residential courses. This will give learners the chance to connect with professionals and technical specialists whilst developing essential skills like problem-solving and team work. The blend of learning and networking, whilst having fun, provides the perfect mix to understanding what type of STEM career might lie ahead and help learners make a more informed UCAS application. Young people have also used Headstart to contribute towards the residential part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (so please feel free to encourage learners to bring the DofE booklet for signature at the course).

Applications are now being accepted for 2012, and can be completed online.

Friday 10 February 2012 is the absolute closing date and offers will be sent out throughout March and April by email and/or post. Good luck!

View the brochure here.

Visit the EDT website to find out more information.

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