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National Science and Engineering Competition Winners

Keith Alexander and Erik Bews from Kirkwall Grammar School in Orkney are winners in the Intermediate Age Category of Science and Maths Section of the National Science and Engineering Week (NSEW) Competition held at the Big Bang Fair in Manchester in March.

Keith and Erik's project was to determine how accurately a newly installed wave and current tank can produce a requested set of conditions. The project was 4-6 weeks of research for International Centre of Island Technology (ICIT) Herriot Watt University in Orkney as a Nuffield Bursary in conjuction with Scott Renewables. The boys also received the Best Physics Project in their age group from the Institute of Physics.

As well as a monetary prize the boys both received experience prizes.In August they will be visiting the Bracklands Motor Museum in Surrey as part of their NSEW Competition prize and the Diamond Diamond Light source and the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire as part of the IOP prize. A Crest Gold Award has also been awarded for this project as well.

The CREST Awards offer different levels of awards for 5 to 19 year old pupils involving science experiments and projects. Have a look at a case study from Orkney. Please download information in pdf format for primary and secondary schools. The local coordinator for the North of Scotland is Frances Chapman at TechFest-SetPoint in Aberdeen: 01224 274 348

Young Engineers in Showcase Event

Around 200 pupils, teachers and companies took part in SCDI’s Young Engineer and Science Clubs inaugural and Islands Showcase which was held on 25 March at the Centre for Health Science in Inverness supported by event partners STEM North of Scotland and the Scottish Government. In addition to showcasing their projects, the school clubs enjoyed exciting hands-on science and technology activities.

Schools also competed against one another in a series of technology challenges. Dallas Primary, Moray, was crowned the Primary School Champion and Kinlochleven High School scooped the Secondary School Award.The feedback from the day has been excellent and the students and teachers can't wait for next year's event.

To see more photos of this event please click here.

If your school is interested in joining the Young Engineers and Science Club Network email Carrie Joss. A start up grant of £100  is available.

Salters’ National Awards for Science Technicians 2011

In 2011 The Salters Institute is entering the eighth year of the Salters National Awards for Science Technicians which are now presented annually. 

The Awards are open to Science Technicians in schools and colleges catering for students to age 18, and who have a total of 5 or more years experience (either full-time or part-time).

 The aim of the Awards is to acknowledge publicly the immense contribution that Science Technicians make to the well-being and success of schools and colleges and, in particular, to Science Departments. The Awards are aimed at heightening the awareness of the importance of Science Technicians to education in this country.

 The closing date for nominations is 1 March 2011. If you know a technician who fits our criteria then please nominate them for an Award.

Further information and a nomination form can be obtained by visiting www.saltersinstitute.co.uk or by contacting the Publicity Co-ordinator on 020 7628 5962 ext. 260 or  publicity@salters.co.uk

The Leaders Award

The Leaders Award recognises and rewards those young people who have shown an interest in STEM. To enter as a team or individual, write a letter of application, followed by an interview with a person who works in the field of STEM - this could be one of our STEM Ambassadors.

Look at this page for more information and download guidance notes. There are three categories, have a look at some interviews that have been posted:5-11 (primary), 11-16 (secondary) and16-19 (advanced). There are now also special awards fromBloodhound SSC, WISE, IMechE, IChemE and the RAeSocwith special focus, prizes and deadlines.Glasgow Science Centre brings tours like Bodyworks (for P1-S2) and The Maths Factor (for P4-S2) to you.

Charges apply for the half or full day shows, but the good news is that in 2009/10 there are no extra travel charges, even if you live in the far north. One full day for 120 pupils and 4 hands-on workshops costs £375+VAT but no extra travel costs.

A new STEM Challenge starts on 6th September! Inspired by technical problems involved in the 2012 Olympics, students complete 6 to 8 week long challenges. When you register your school as a teacher, you gain access to the different challenges. Entries into the competitions are judged by STEM Ambassadors.

The lab in a lorry will tour the Highlands and Islands - have a look at the current timetable (including locations) and let us know if you are interested to help out (as Ambassador) or would like to visit (as a teacher) - just email stempoint@hient.co.uk

Three new Science Festivals started in 2010:

• The Hebridean SciTech Festival in Stornoway - 18th to 20th March
• The Festival of the Sea around Oban - 21st to 31st May
• Inverness Science Festival throughout June  

Further information on 2011 events to be released in due course.

Campaigns

Do something creative. Do science.  is a Scottish Government campaign.  Look at their website to find out about career paths like games developer and sportswear designer.  There are also games and stories about people who found their way into cool science careers!

Latest STEM news articles

Lab in a Lorry in Wick - Science is fun... but need for it is serious

Nathan Mackay from Watten wins Scotland Apprentice of the Year Award

Stornoway gets funds for SciTech Festival and Funding for Hebridean SciTech Festival and also on the BBC and the Parliament Business Bulletin

Rocket man in Elgin to spread the word

Laundry Day at Castletown and Reay Primary

STEM Ambassadors offer an insight into Science

Supporting Science in the North, Fortrose Academy, Saturday 6th November 2010

The Association for Science Education Scotland and the Institute of Physics are organising a series of events to support Primary Teachers plan and teach the Science components of the Curriculum for Excellence.

Supporting Science in the North takes place on Saturday 6 November from 10am - 3.15pm at Fortrose Academy. Deadline for bookings is 29 October.

Click here to book your place.

National Science & Engineering Week Information Session, Cowan House, Inverness, 4-6 pm, 29th September 2010

National Science & Engineering Week is the perfect opportunity to take science to the masses! With thousands of events up and down the country you can become part of a nationwide celebration of science, engineering and technology.

Come along to a National Science & Engineering Week info session and find out about:

• Funding hints and tips
• Hands-on activity ideas
• Details of the 2011 theme and mass participation activities
• Free resources for organisers
• Network and brainstorm ideas with other event organisers

Attendance is free but numbers are limited so pre-booking is required. Click here to reserve your place.

Science Festivals

Moray Science Festival: March 2011. For more information please email Samantha Bright.

 

Caithness Science Festival: March 2011. The festival is organised by the Committee Science03.

 

Hebridean SciTech Festival: March 2011. Contact Majella Fergus on majellafergus@btinternet.com for more details

 

Become a fan of the festival on facebook

 

Festival of the Sea: May 2011. The Marine Science Festival will take place in and around Oban. Phone Helen McNeil for more details on 01631 559430.

  

Inverness Science Festival: June 2011.

 

 

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