Dear Teachers,

Welcome to the latest STEM newsletter for Primary Schools and in Wales from your local STEM Ambassador Delivery Partner.  

STEM Learning  are also delighted to let you know that we have entered into an exciting new chapter for the STEM Ambassadors programme, following continued funding by UK Research and Innovation.

From October, the STEM Ambassadors network across the country will look a little different. The Hubs will be replaced by STEM Ambassador Partners who will have a slightly different role, so if you have any questions or need help, please contact STEM Learning at stem-ambassadors@stem.org.uk or contact your STEM Ambassadors Partner which was your STEM Ambassador Hub. Don't worry, See Science will still be available to help you with your requests for support from our Ambassadors.

From October, STEM Learning will be hosting a range of support sessions helping you to understand how our volunteers can enrich the STEM curriculum and support careers education. Find out how to access support from our 28,000 volunteers, you can engage with them in many ways, either create a request for support, browse the activities they offer or look our for our nationally coordinated STEM Ambassador engagement activities. 

STEM Learning are delighted to be creating new opportunities for young people to engage with localised high-impact and STEM research and innovation initiatives by connecting with relatable role models. Please look out for updates in our newsletters and the STEM Ambassadors Community.

In the meantime, we have hundreds of existing offers of local support from our volunteers you can access now from your dashboard on our website. Just sign into your account and browse 'offers' on the menu on the left-hand side.

On a more local level if anybody needs any help or support  then please get in touch hayley.pincott@see-science.co.uk.

See Science  have a facebook page where we will also be sharing lots of new ideas regularly - please like or follow the page.

Please don't hesitate to contact us if we can support the teaching of STEM subjects.


Best wishes
The STEM Ambassador Partner Wales
@See Science 

Latest STEM news and updates

First Lego League 2023-2024

The 2023-24 FIRST LEGO League MASTERPIECE season has officially begun! This season is all about putting the Art in to ‘STEAM’, with teams imagining and innovating new ways to create and communicate art across the globe. We are really excited to see all of the amazing and creative ideas that we know will be produced this season.

We will be  holding  4 regional events across Wales - 
Pembrokeshire
Merthyr Tudful
Ebbw Vale
Cardiff/hybrid (Welsh Medium)

To register with First Lego League click here
To find out more about the competitions please contact cerian.angharad@see-science.co.uk

Read more here

Welsh Physics Teachers Conference in Brecon 

With a  total attendance of over 200 teachers, technicians and colleagues the  Brecon Welsh Physics Teachers Conference Conference  was as sucessful as ever. There were presentations on ‘The Stars in the Milky Way’ ‘Semiconductors now and the future’ as well as a choice of six technician and ten teacher workshops to choose from.
 

Meanwhile on Super Science  Saturday families and teachers were entertained and educated by Sir Isaac Newton (reincarnated for the day by Professor Mike Edmunds, President of the Royal Astronomical Society as well as a performance from south west Wales based physics teacher Ed Male, who once again morphed into ‘Harry Potter’ with some amazing and theatrical practical demos. The previous day he had shared his secrets with teacher-colleagues so expect an outbreak of Hogwarts-related practical work later this term!
 
The day finished with Bristol teacher David Williams showing us the effects of liquid nitrogen, including the amazing sight of liquid oxygen, being paramagnetic, held in place between some powerful neodymium magnets.
 
Quote of the day? Griff, aged 6, telling his mum “I want to do Physics when I grow up, can I have some books about it for my birthday?” I think we’ve recruited at least one more future scientist!

Events in Wales 
STEM into Christmas
STEM Into Christmas. Monday 20 November 4pm. Online

Looking for some STEM ideals to share with your learners in the lead up to Christmas. Seen some suggestions on social media but unsure where to find the kit.

Join the team from See Science as we demonstrate a variety of fun STEM activities with a Christmassy twist suitable for the primary classroom or a secondary STEM Club. You can also receive a recording of the event to share with colleagues. Share the magic of Christmas in your school!



To book a place please register below 
 
Book here

Outdoor Learning Live

22 November 2023 Online - Magical Micro Worlds

Escape the classroom and take your lessons outdoors with Eco-Schools Wales’s live and interactive pupil workshop.

Join us this term as we investigate micro worlds! We’ll look at the fantastic fungi, mosses, and lichens around our school grounds while learning how they can help to save the planet.

This session will also empower educators to take learning outside as officers will share enriching outdoor lesson activities to further the class’s understanding of our magical micro world.

Learning outside has proven to enhance engagement, improve creativity, and benefit mental health. Register today to unlock the full potential of outdoor learning for your class.
Register here

Read more

Live Screening-Royal Institution Christmas Lecture
The truth behind AI- Merthyr College - 12 December 
The College Merthyr Tydfil  Ynysfach, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, CF48 1AR
12 December 2023 5.30pm
 

We’re delighted to announce See Science are the only livestream hosts  in Wales for this year’s CHRISTMAS LECTURES from the Royal Institution. Running for almost 200 years, the CHRISTMAS LECTURES were started by Michael Faraday to inspire and engage young people with science, and this year Professor Mike Wooldridge will be exploring the truth behind Artificial Intelligence (AI), the most rapidly evolving field of science.

This event is perfect for Yr 5 and 6 primary school pupils. Children and people of all ages can come and watch the magic of the Lectures unfold in real time as they’re filmed in front of an audience in the Ri’s Theatre in London. They’ll have the chance to get involved with hands-on activities, and be the first to learn the truth about AI.
 

Not since the World-Wide Web emerged 30 years ago has a new technology promised to change our world so fundamentally and so swiftly as AI does. Today’s AI tools such as ChatGPT and AlphaGo are just a hint of what is to come. The future of AI is going to be quite a journey, and the 2023 CHRISTMAS LECTURES to be broadcast on BBC Four and iPlayer in late December, will give us a guided tour.

Across the series Michael will be joined by some major figures from the AI world, including scientists from the world’s leading AI companies. He will also introduce a range of robot friends, who will demonstrate what robots today can do – and what they can’t. Perhaps he may even surprise the audience with some Deep Fake guests who are not quite what they seem.
Tickets are limited. To register your interest in attending this event in Merthyr College with the STEM Ambassador Partner please go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/live-screening-royal-institution-christmas-lecture-the-truth-behind-ai-tickets-752393568417
 

National Events

Chemistry Week

5th -11th November
This annual celebration of the chemical sciences coordinated by the Royal Society of Chemistry has selected the theme of 'Chemistry making the world a better place' for 2023. It is an opportunity to introduce students to the critical challenges faced by the planet and how the chemical sciences can address these. Themes could include but are not limited to clean air and water, clean energies, sustainability or climate and environment.

The activities highlighted look at:

  • the impact of plastics on the planet and possible alternatives to plastics made from fossil fuels
  • how materials can be used in a more sustainable way
  • alternative energy stores
Read more

Green Careers Week

6th-11th November
Green Careers Week aims to promote any career that helps to protect and restore the planet.

Green Careers Week has been launched by National Careers Week, with  STEM Learning and the UK Space Agency to raise awareness of green careers in every industry.

The UK government aims to reach net zero in all sectors of the economy by 2050. Net zero means the amount of greenhouse gas we take out of the environment is the same as the amount we produce. You can read more about the Net Zero Strategy.

Many jobs can make a positive impact in different ways. Any career that helps the UK work towards net zero could be considered a green career. 
Read more

Wales Climate Week. 4-8 December


Wales Climate Week provides an annual opportunity to hold a national conversation on climate change and engage a wide range of stakeholders, as well as members of the public, in important discussions that can shape government policy and influence future climate change strategies, policies and solutions. The theme for this year’s Wales Climate Week is also one of the most important questions facing our society today: – How do we tackle climate change in a fair way?

The virtual conference will be held over 5 days between 4th – 8th December to coincide with COP28, bringing together a range of climate stakeholders to consider national Government policies and regional and local delivery solutions for tackling climate change in a fair way.
Read more
 

Competitions
Primary Engineer - what would you do?

Are you looking for a way of bringing engineering into the classroom, but don’t know where to start? This competitions is one of our flagship STEM programmes that invites pupils of all ages in both primary and secondary schools to imagine if they were an engineer, what problem would they most like to solve? They do this by interviewing professionals from the engineering field to help inspire them to create their own design of a solution to a real-world problem through an annotated illustration detailing their invention. As well as annotation, they will put their formal English writing skills into practice by creating their own letters of purpose, detailing and explaining their ideas, using persuasive techniques to appeal to our engineer judges – a thoroughly engaging and immersive experience for pupils, teachers and engineers alike

Even though engineering is all around us we often find it difficult to describe what it is let alone how to become an engineer! At its core is creative problem solving, looking for solutions to problems, even mending things that aren’t broken. By using this creative theme, we can encourage learners to develop their listening, literacy and observational skills, develop creative problem-solving approaches, illustration with annotation, and letter writing for a purpose. By providing an opportunity for learners to interview engineers the opportunity to learn and ask questions about careers and work environments becomes accessible.

Register to access the lesson plans, pupil log-books, guides, curriculum mappings and entry submission information. Resources are also available in Welsh. When you register you can access the live online engineer interview schedule to book.

Register and more information here

Grants
Kick Start Grants for British Science Week 2024

It’s that time of year, applications for Kick Start Grants for British Science Week are now open! If you work in a school in challenging circumstances, you can apply for a grant of up to £700 depending on the sort of events you want to host and who will run it.

The BSA is excited to fund events which involve children who wouldn’t normally choose to participate in STEM activities, or involve local communities, or challenge stereotypes about what science is and who it’s for. British Science Week is truly an opportunity to get everyone involved.

Find out whether you are eligible to apply, the types of events prioritised, and how to submit your grant request. 

The deadline is 11.59 pm on Monday 6 November 2023.

Details here.

Community Grants for British Science Week 2024

Is your community group keen to run an activity during British Science Week? Can you reach people who currently don’t engage with science? If so, we might be able to help!

The Community Grants scheme is all about helping you to engage your audiences with science in ways that are tailor-made for them. Supported by UK Research and Innovation, we’re thrilled to offer grants of £500 and £1000 each year to help community groups to run their own events and activities for British Science Week, expanding the number of people who enjoy and take part in science! 

The deadline for applications is 11.59pm on Monday 6 November.   Details here.
 

Your local STEM Ambassadors Partner