A STEM Ambassador's involvement can engage and enthuse both students and teachers. If you are interested in asking a STEM Ambassador to assist you can make your request here. We’ve created brief guides to encourage both STEM Ambassadors and educators to use the self-service. 
 

See Science were proud to host 3 regional finals of the FIRST^® LEGO^® League Challenge over the past few weeks, one in Pembrokeshire, one in Ebbw Vale and the other for Welsh medium schools in Cardiff.

FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge is a global STEM programme for teams of young people, to encourage an interest in real world themes and develop key skills that are crucial for their future careers. Young people work together to explore a given topic and to design, build and program an autonomous LEGO® robot to solve a series of missions. This year’s topic is Energy.

Over the three regional finals, 40 schools competed and had a lot of fun on the day. Huge congratulations to the three Regional Champions and POB LWC as they go on to represent their regions at the FIRST^® LEGO^® League National Finals in Harrogate later this month!

• Pembrokeshire Champions: Golden Grove School
• South East Wales Champions: Ysgol Derwendeg
• Cardiff Welsh Medium Champions: Ysgol Bro Edern

Thank you to Ysgol Harri Tudur, Willowtown Primary School and Cardiff Commitment for their hospitality and cooperation before and during the events.
 

See Science are thrilled to announce that from September 2023 we will be delivering IET Faraday® Challenge Days in secondary schools across Wales!

The IET Faraday® Challenge Days are cross-curricular STEM activity days designed for Year 8 students.

IET Faraday® Challenge Days are held at Schools, Organisations and Universities around the UK and give teams of students the opportunity to research, design and make prototype solutions to real-world engineering challenges. 
 

The winners of each IET Faraday® Challenge Day will win a trophy for their school and gain a place on the national league table. The top teams from across the UK will be invited to the National Final at the end of the season to compete for a cash prize of up to £1,000 for their school to spend on STEM activities. 
 

Through its charitable arm, as well as external supporters, the IET provides the IET Faraday® Challenge Days at no charge to UK schools.
 

Schools can apply NOW for visits from September onwards, via the IET website. Applications close on May 26th 2023.

Details here.

Great Science Share for Schools. Tuesday 13 June

The Great Science Share for Schools, GSSfS, is an award-winning, annual campaign to inspire 5-14 year olds to ask, investigate and share their scientific questions with new audiences.

GSSfS raises the profile of science in schools and their communities, encouraging young people to be inspired into science and engineering.

An inclusive, non-competitive and collaborative experience for all.

Get involved! All you need to know, including some great resources here.

On Wednesday 19 April, 3.45-4.45pm, Grace Marson, GSSfS Campaign Co-ordinator, will be hosting an online Information and Q&A drop in session, ideal for those new to GSSfS or anyone who would like a refresh!

Book here.

RSC: Welsh chemistry teacher network – Exams preparation. Tuesday 18 April, 4–5pm. Online.

Come and join our supportive network which provides an opportunity to talk to other teachers about what is happening in Wales, whether it’s curriculum change or sharing ideas and resources.

In this meeting Jonathan Owen (Subject Officer – Chemistry WJEC) will be joining us to answer your questions and to offer advice on the upcoming examination season. It will also give you a chance to share your favourite revision tips so that we can compile a top ten revision tips.

Details and booking here.

STEM Ambassadors: This Is Me. Wednesday 10 May 3.45-4.30pm. Online

This Is Me sessions are an opportunity for teachers to see the benefits of bringing a STEM Ambassador into the classroom.

Teachers will have the opportunity to meet a few STEM Ambassadors and find out about the types of activities they can bring into the classroom. It will offer a chance for teachers to discuss the benefits of bringing STEM Ambassadors into the classroom to support topics and projects that could be covered in the new curriculum for Wales.

*If you are unable to attend this live event but have registered, then a recording of the session will be made available to you.

Book here.

RSC: Embedding careers into your science lessons. Tuesday 6 June, 4–5pm. Online

Would you like some ideas about how to bring chemical science careers into your teaching? Come along and explore some of our resources and discuss different ideas about how to use them and make chemistry careers relevant.

During this interactive session we will highlight some of our career resources and present different approaches about how to bring careers into different topics within progression steps 4 and 5 in the Curriculum for Wales.  There will be an opportunity to discuss with other teachers what methods work and what other information or resources would be useful in the classroom.

Details and booking here.

Chemistry at Work - Thursday, 6 July at Swansea University

Professor Simon Bott and his team at Swansea University Chemistry Department will once again host a face to face Chemistry at Work Day for year 9.

Pupils will take part in 4 different hands-on workshops throughout the day where they have the opportunity to carry out practical chemistry activities in the department's state of the art labs.

Chemistry at Work days, funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry, aim to provide pupils with a better understanding and awareness of the importance of chemistry in our everyday lives and to highlight the variety of chemical science careers.

Travel bursaries of £75 are available to eligible schools.

To book or for more information contact llinos.misra@see-science.co.uk

Girls into Electronics Days

The UKESF, in collaboration with Apple, has announced its exciting ‘Girls into Electronics’ programme for 2023.

Girls into Electronics gives Year 11’s and sixth formers the unique opportunity to develop their interest in Electronics. At the heart of the programme is a one-day event at a leading UK university. None of the events are in Wales but some of the Universities are within reasonable travelling distance, such as Liverpool, Aston and Bristol.

During the day, participants will find out more about Electronics and studying the subject at university level, as well as hearing from female graduate engineers working in the Electronics sector. Making advances in Electronics and semiconductors is critical to providing technological solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing society, including climate change, improving healthcare and better connectivity and communications. 

Girls into Electronics will take place in June and July 2023.

Details here.

The Royal Society of Biology’s BioArtAttack Competition

The Royal Society of Biology’s BioArtAttack Competition (2D) 2023 (Formerly The Nancy Rothwell Award) is a children’s 2D art drawing and painting competition for 7 – 18 year olds to draw or paint their favourite animal, plant or fungi. The Nancy Rothwell Prize is now a sub-category for specimen drawings entered into this competition.

The competition is now open for submissions, and prizes include £50 for winning students. The deadline for entries is 29th July. 

Details here.

Royal Society of Biology Photography Competition 

‘Nature and Climate’ is the theme of this year’s Royal Society of Biology Photography Competition. Life on Earth is affected by the climate, weather and seasonal changes and this year we invite you to capture this.

Your photograph could depict and capture the story of life as it is affected by the climate, weather or seasonal changes, perhaps in an unexpected or changed environment, or showing how the natural world is affected by a changing climate (and weather patterns). We also welcome entries that explore this year’s theme at the molecular or cellular level, illustrating the affects or changes in nature and climate via processes only revealed to us with the aid of a microscope.

There are two categories in the competition, each with a cash prize:

• Photographer of the Year (18 and over) - £1,000 top prize
• Young Photographer of the Year (under 18) - £500 top prize

Closing date June 27. Details here.

Gopher Science Lab grants

The RSB is keen for some of these grants to go to Welsh schools!
The Royal Society of Biology is offering state-funded secondary schools in the UK an opportunity for two teachers to host a Gopher Science Lab, lab day with invited primary schools, in their school or held as a hybrid event, and supported by a small grant of £500.

This includes access to RSB’s Gopher Science Lab online training course to enable the school to train some of its students to deliver the lab day teaching with support from the two lead science teachers. Secondary school teachers working in UK based, state-funded, secondary schools can email Amanda Hardy to apply on behalf of their school for a small grant, which is intended to support schools and their students who  for financial reasons would not otherwise have the opportunity to run their own lab day. Details here.

Local School Nature Grants 

What do bird boxes, bee hotels,
and nature experts all have in common? They’re all available for free as part of our Local School Nature Grants programme, supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Open to schools and early years settings in England, Scotland, and Wales, this outdoor learning grant fund has two elements – £500 of outdoor equipment chosen from a catalogue of over 100 items, and an outdoor learning training course for your staff.

Details here.