September 2015 Newsletter for STEM Ambassadors

Winchester Science Centre Newsletter View Online

September 2015 Newsletter for STEM

Ambassadors

Dear STEM Ambassadors,

Welcome to the latest newsletter for STEM ambassadors in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. June and July were exceptionally busy months, with events ranging from National Women in Engineering Day to Big Bang Fairs held across the region. Thank you for all your contributions that helped to make these such a success.

Latest figures show that 98% of local state secondary schools now use STEM Ambassadors to enrich their STEM curriculum. Huge thanks for your enthusiasm and hard work in achieving this level of support for local schools. Of course the aim is to achieve 100% in the coming months.

I very much look forward to working with you all to enrich STEM provision within Hampshire and Isle of Wight, in my new role as the STEM Resources Manager as part of the STEM Team at Winchester Science Centre.

Kind regards, Emily Thorpe-Smith STEM Resources Manager

STEM News

The start of the new academic year is a good time to plan activities for the coming months. Network meetings are taking place around the region to offer teachers practical ways that STEM Ambassadors can support and enrich their curricula in the coming months. This is an excellent forum for both new and experienced STEM Ambassadors. The Southampton event took place last week and was well attended with over 30 teachers and STEM Ambassadors meeting to discuss recent activities and new opportunities. Read more about STEM Forums.

A farewell message from Sarah Newman; Dear STEM Teachers and fellow STEM Ambassadors, I apologise for leaving so suddenly in July! And sorry if I haven’t answered one of your emails. My elder son fell ill at the end of July, has been diagnosed with leukaemia and we have spent most of the time since then in hospital. I have just started my new job at the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council in Swindon, which is lovely but I do miss the STEM community of Hampshire very much! I also hope to see you from time to time at Hampshire STEM events (I am a STEM Ambassador after all!) Kindest regards, Sarah

Highlights of Upcoming Events

* Portsmouth STEM Forum, Wednesday 30 September. The Portsmouth STEM Forum will be held at Highbury College. The aim of this event is to hear about new opportunities, recent activities and make plans for the coming year! If you would like to attend this great event please book you place via the Eventbrite link;https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/portsmouth-stem-forum- tickets-17862577450

* International Men’s Day: Gadgets and Gizmos Event for Male Students, Thursday 19 November. As part of International Men’s Day, Winchester Science Centre are inviting schools to take part in a STEM Challenge, mentored by male STEM Ambassadors from a wide range of STEM backgrounds. There will also be a great careers speed-networking session, where students can meet even more Ambassadors to discuss the world of work. If you would like to help at this event please contact Emily at [email protected]

The STEM Team Please get in touch if you would like support with planning STEM events or contacting schools. Emily Thorpe-Smith - STEM Resources Manager Carol Smith - STEM Administrator Jane Chuhan - STEM Schools Support Officer

Recent feedback from teachers, students and STEM Ambassadors: “There is great value in having adults other than teachers support an event. The STEM Ambassadors blended well and where appropriate, led the activity. Great support to the teachers.” “The information students learnt and covered with our Ambassadors gave many of them a greater understanding” “I really want to be an engineer! This showed me that women can also be engineers!" “Today has emphasised my positive feelings towards STEM. My favourite part was listening to scientists and how they got to where they are and their jobs.” “Overall I thought this was an excellent day. The students were very enthusiastic and enjoyed taking part in the activity. They also came up with some very good ideas! I was also very impressed with the school and the teachers, who were very keen to get the students involved in STEM subjects and demonstrate to them the types of careers these subjects can lead to.”

Please continue to send feedback on STEM activities After each STEM Activity, STEM Ambassadors are sent an online survey to ask for their views of the event. (The survey has recently been revamped and is now much simpler and quicker to complete.) Online feedback via this link is greatly appreciated and used to improve future events. Please visit http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Hampshire to give feedback on a recent STEM activity.

STEM News

Twitter The STEM team at Winchester Science Centre are now spreading the STEM word on Twitter, please follow us @STEMHants . If you are promoting a STEM activity via Twitter, please use #STEMHants to help

publicise your event.

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Become a STEM Ambassador Do you know someone who would like to become a STEM Ambassador? The STEM Ambassadors Programme enables anyone with science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills to inspire young people and demonstrate the possibilities of STEM subjects and careers. Anyone who uses STEM skills, and is willing and able to encourage young people to pursue STEM subjects, can apply to become a STEM Ambassador at https://db.stemnet.org.uk/register/ambassador . Female applicants are especially welcome, as women are still underrepresented on this scheme.

Training

CREST awards - www.britishscienceassociation.org/crest-awards - are an excellent way of encouraging students to show creativity and dedication with STEM projects. More local schools are registering their students for these awards and CREST assessors are in demand! If you are interested in talking to students about their project work and deciding whether they have achieved the required standard, please register your interest by emailing [email protected]

Upcoming Requests from Schools

All events can be found http://www.winchestersciencecentre.org/stemnet/upcoming- stem-activities-events/ . To find local schools, please click on your preferred area. Portsmouth Southampton Central Hampshire North Hampshire Isle of Wight

Recording STEM Ambassador Activity on the STEMNET Database Please click http://www.winchestersciencecentre.org/stemnet/stem-ambassadors/how-to- log-a-stem-ambassador-activity/#.VVtBbI5VhBc for a quick guide.

Each time a STEM Ambassador records a STEM activity on the STEMNET database, their name is entered into a prize draw. Congratulations to the STEM Ambassadors who won the prizes for June, July and August respectively. They were able to choose either a good bottle of wine or a bouquet of flowers.

Events at Winchester Science Centre

Corporate Hire Did you know that you can use the Science Centre and Planetarium as a venue for events? From the use of individual meeting rooms and the IT suite, to the hire of the whole Centre or the Planetarium, why not bring your colleagues or guests to the Science Centre's iconic building, conveniently located just outside Winchester. Contact Paul Cook, Corporate Services Manager, to discuss your requirements: [email protected].

Singles Events Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium is pleased to be hosting a series of Singles Events with the aim to allow local single people to meet one another and to make new friends. Each event will be held in the unique setting of Winchester Science Centre. Guests have the chance to enjoy canapés, a welcome drink, a planetarium show and a range of activities. The cost of a ticket also includes a curry (including vegetarian option) cooked in the onsite cafe. There will be a range of fun introductory games and time to mingle with others. No science knowledge required! Pre-booking is essential. Tickets are £20 per person. http://www.winchestersciencecentre.org/visitor-information/whats-on/singles- night/

After Dark Visit the planetarium, play about in the exhibition after the kids have gone home and enjoy a meal at the cafe. Activities run throughout the evening so don't worry if you can't arrive for 6pm or need to leave early. http://www.winchestersciencecentre.org/visitor-information/whats-on/after-dark/

Sponsor the Science Centre Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium now welcomes over 150,000 visitors annually. If you know of a business that might be interested in partnering with the charity then please contact the director of the Science Centre, Verena Cornwall: [email protected].

Portsmouth Events

REQ 357: Exhibitors Stands Needed for an Opportunities Fair at Portsmouth Guildhall - Saturday 10 October - 10.00am to 3.00pm. Portsmouth Guildhall. EBP South are organising an Opportunities Fair at Portsmouth Guildhall, to showcase local industry. They would like ambassadors to bring an exhibitors stand, with an interactive hands-on activity that would demonstration STEM skills. They would love ambassadors to share their career pathway and experiences, to give the students and their families an insight into the STEM industry.

REQ 358: Hands-On Workshops Needed for an Inspiring Futures Day at Park Community School, Havant - Wednesday 21st October 2015 - 8.30am to 2.30pm. Park Community School. EBP South are running an Inspiring Futures Day at Park Community School, to demonstrate different careers and sectors of business. They would like STEM Ambassadors to deliver an hour long workshop that will be repeated 5 times throughout the day. Each session should start with a presentation and then involved an interactive hand-on activity to showcase your career.

REQ 359: STEM Exhibitors Stands Needed for a Careers Fair at Fareham Academy - Wednesday 25 November - 8.00am to 3.00pm. Fareham Academy, Fareham. EBP South is running a Careers Fair for students at Fareham Academy, Aged 11 to 16. The EBP team would like STEM Ambassadors to bring an exhibitors stand for students to visit throughout the day and discuss the careers possibilities and progression pathways with your company, organisation or sector.

REQ 374: School Assembly Panel, Exhibitors Stands and Interactive Workshops Wanted for a STEM Careers Day at Havant Academy- Tuesday 8th December 2015 - 8.30am to 3.00pm. The Career Department at Havant Academy is planning a STEM Careers Day to explore the variety of employment opportunities with many STEM sectors. The morning assembly will be dedicated to introducing the variety of STEM careers available for students. The school would like STEM Ambassadors to form a Q & A panel for students to interact with throughout the assembly. The science department would like ambassadors to deliver a hands-on interactive workshop, for students to engage with and further discuss STEM careers The careers department would also love ambassadors to support this event by bringing along an exhibitors stand for students visit during break and lunch. This will aid informal careers talks with students from all year groups.

REQ 369: Exhibitors Stands Wanted for a NHS Careers Day at Havant Academy - Thursday 14th January 2016 - 8.30am to 1.10pm. Havant Academy. The Career Department at Havant Academy is planning a NHS Careers Day to explore the variety of employment opportunities with the NHS and medical sciences sector. The school would like STEM Ambassadors form a Q & A panel for students to interact with throughout the assembly. The schools would also love ambassadors to support this event by bringing along an exhibitors stand for students visit during break and lunch.

REQ 368: Activity Mentors Wanted to Support Bridge Building in STEM Lessons at Priory School, Portsmouth - Various dates from 18th January to 12th February, during lesson time. Priory School, Portsmouth.Priory School are launching their new STEM lesson from September 2015 and would love the support of STEM Ambassadors. They are running a four week project investigating the possibilities and downfalls of building model bridges. The school would like ambassadors to support these lesson by mentoring the students throughout the project process.

Southampton Events

REQ 363: Careers Speed-Networking at Crestwood College - Tuesday 10 November- 9.00am to 10.15am. Crestwood College, Eastleigh. The Science Department at Crestwood College is planning to hold a careers speed-networking session for their students to find out about a variety of STEM careers. The school are particularly keen to have biology and maths related jobs represented, along with any ambassadors who are currently post or under graduates. Speed-networking events involve talking to small groups of students about your career. The focus will be on the nature of your job, pathways and qualifications needed to access it and what you love about it.

REQ 364: Careers Speed-Networking at Crestwood College – Thursday 12 November- 10.150am to 11.30am. Crestwood College, Eastleigh. The Science Department at Crestwood College is planning to hold a careers speed-networking session for their students to find out about a variety of STEM careers. The school are particularly keen to have biology and maths related jobs represented, along with any ambassadors who are currently post or under graduates. Speed-networking events involve talking to small groups of students about your career. The focus will be on the nature of your job, pathways and qualifications needed to access it and what you love about it.

Hands On Activities and Interactive Talks Needed for a STEM Club at Bitterne Park School - Wednesday Term Time - 3.00pm to 4.00pm - The science department at Bitterne Park School are revitalising there much loved STEM Club and would like the support of STEM Ambassadors. The club will be open to students aged 11 to 13 and they will be taking part in a variety of STEM activities and investigations. The science department would like STEM Ambassadors to visit the STEM club to either deliver hands-on activity or give a short interactive talk on careers or even a project you have been working on. Your support could be a one off visit or more depending on your availability.

Central Hampshire Events

REQ 363: Careers Speed-Networking at Crestwood College - Tuesday 10 November- 9.00am to 10.15am. Crestwood College, Eastleigh. The Science Department at Crestwood College is planning to hold a careers speed-networking session for their students to find out about a variety of STEM careers. The school are particularly keen to have biology and maths related jobs represented, along with any ambassadors who are currently post or under graduates. Speed- networking events involve talking to small groups of students about your career. The focus will be on the nature of your job, pathways and qualifications needed to access it and what you love about it.

North Hampshire Events

REQ 376: Employability Workshop Mentors Needed to Support The Clere School, Newbury - Thursday 22nd October - 09.00am to 12.45pm - The Clere School and EBP West Berkshire are running a special enrichment day dedicated to exploring employability. They are looking for STEM Ambassadors to support the running of two separate workshops; Financial Awareness Workshop and Interview Preparation Workshop.STEM Ambassadors are needed to mentor the students throughout the morning, to guide students through each task and deploy your business acumen.

REQ 366: Inspiring Assembly Launch to start Science Week at Velmead Junior School, Fleet - Monday 19th October. Velmead Junior School, Fleet. Velmead Junior School are running a Science Week for there students and would like a STEM Ambassador to support the launch assembly. The focus of the week is working scientifically with lots of hands on practical activities culminating in a science fair. They would like an ambassador to highlight the impact and importance of scientific investigation on their everyday lives or to completely 'wow' them with some fascinating experiments! Any possibility for some focused workshops during the week would also be welcome.

Isle of Wight Events

Coming Soon...

Isle of Wight STEM Challenge. For more information or to be involved in this challenge please contact Emily Thorpe Smith at emilythorpe- [email protected]

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