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. 

FIRST® LEGO® League

Team members, coaches, and volunteers all agree – FIRST^® LEGO^® League events are some of the most amazing, inspiring experiences they’ve ever had. Where else can you make new friends, share ideas, solve problems on the fly, and get pumped up over technology all while having the time of your life?

At FIRST LEGO League events, young people realise more than ever that FIRST is all about teamwork, sharing, helping others, and respect
now is the time to get  your team together and think about the ways we can engage a team of students with the  programme. All the resources have been adapted in order to adapt to the online competition and there are also video tutorials for pupils to follow along with during their session time.

Due to a variety of factors around COVID-19, the decision has been made that all regional tournaments will be held remotely (digitally). 
 
Funding is available  to all education groups, including schools. Further information, along with the application form, can be found here. The deadline is 12noon on 26^th November 2020.
 See Science is hoping to host 3 competitions this year in 
SE Wales - 23 April 2021
Pembrokeshire - 16 April 2021
North West Wales  - Welsh medium  - 19 March 2021
If you are interested in attending any of the competitions or would like further information contact cerian.angharad@see-science.co.uk
Registration is now open for 2020-2021 FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge season.
Get your team together and think about the ways we can get people moving!  Details here.

Swansea Science Festival Online

Swansea Science Festival is Wales’s largest science festival and for the past 3 years has attracted thousands of visitors to the National Waterfront Museum over October half term. COIVD-19 meant that all that had to change this year and Swansea University put together a fantastic online festival instead. There were over 30 different events in 5 different zones, ranging from the Main Stage to the Fringe Festival.
Impressively, there were many familiar names amongst those presenting sessions: from Steve Backshall who kicked off the festival with “Expedition: Voyages to undiscovered places”, to Konnie Huq’s session entitled “Science, Scribbles and Stories”, to “Grace’s Garage” with Grace Webb of CBeebies. However, the biggest draw of the festival was a session on Sunday evening with Brian Cox discussing “Into the future: The Universe and the next 100 years”, with CERN’s Lyn Evans – one of Swansea University’s most notable alumni. The session proved so popular that it sold out on Eventbrite and was livestreamed on Facebook to ensure everyone had a chance to watch. If you missed the festival last week, you can still watch some of the pre-recorded sessions here:

https://www.swansea.ac.uk/research/in-the-community/swansea-science-festival/family-zone/.

Start planning now for British Science Week 2021!

The British Science Association (BSA) have issued their popular 'sneak peek' packsfor British Science Week 2021 - from the 5^thto the 14^thof March - with the full versions due in January. There are 3 separate packs with one each for Early Years, Primary and Secondary. The theme for the British Science Week 2021 activity packs and poster competition is ‘Innovating for the future’ and they are full of tips to help you organise events and activities for British Science Week.

The BSA say, “In developing this pack, we have looked for activities which break down the stereotypes surrounding science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and promote cross-curricular learning. We encourage you to use British Science Week as an opportunity to link STEM to other curriculum subjects and to your pupils’ own backgrounds, lives and interests.” Perfect for the Curriculum for Wales!

The packs also give suggestions on how to engage remotely with STEM Ambassadors and other volunteers who can really bring your Science Week to life. 

Many of the activities are CREST accredited, so why not think about running a CREST Awardduring British Science Week? CREST Awards give students real-life experience of being a scientist while getting introduced to STEM project work. They are nationally accredited and are a fun, yet educational way to get your children involved in STEM subjects. And Discovery, Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards are all free in Wales!

It’s not too late to apply for a British Science Week Kick Start grant for schools in challenging circumstances. Closing date is November 9^th. 

Apply now to become a CyberFirst School or College

The National Cyber Security Centre is a part of GCHQ and is charged by the UK Government for making the UK the safest place to live and work online. In an increasingly digitised world, the
NCSC has recognised the importance of equipping our young people with the skills and knowledge to exploit technology safely and securely. As part of this, the NCSC runs the CyberFirst Programme on behalf of the UK Government, which offers a range of activities helping young people explore their passion for technology and computing by introducing them to the world of Cyber Security. It comprises of free courses, university bursaries, degree apprenticeships, exciting competitions, and a
school/college recognition scheme..

The CyberFirst Schools initiative is open to secondary schools and colleges in specific areas of the UK and it is open to schools in Wales until December 11th. It recognises schools and colleges who are taking the lead in encouraging their students to undertake Computer Science and computing related qualifications, providing learning on Cyber Security concepts and encouraging them to pursue career paths into the Cyber Security profession. Schools and Colleges apply for recognition and can be awarded by the NCSC either at Bronze, Silver or Gold level, depending upon their level of attainment.
The CyberFirst programme has a wide range of organisations drawn from industry,

• Support to school/college cyber clubs/talks/workshops - Companies and their staff inspire students by sharing real world IT/cyber problems and provide virtual or face-to-face support through activities and workshops
• Student technology and cyber work placements - Companies and their staff provide GCSE, A-Level and BTEC students with work experience placements, showcasing their organisation’s field of work.
• Mentoring for school/college students - Companies and their staff provide virtual or face-to-face mentoring to support students both with computer science questions and their personal development

To find out more visit: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberfirst/cyberfirst-schools
 

Spotlight on STEM

ASE - Chartered Science Teacher Workshop. Monday 9 November 4.30 - 5.30pm Online

Chartered Science Teacher (CSciTeach) is a chartered mark recognising excellence in science teaching and learning. Gaining CSciTeach demonstrates your commitment to your profession and can help you to advance your career.

You will be taken through the specific criteria for becoming a CSciTeach and look at how those criteria can be met. To be eligible to apply you must have:

We will share examples of successful past applications and help you see how your own situation can relate to them. We also look at the CPD requirements of maintaining your status as a CSiTeach and the many flexible approaches to this.

To benefit from this workshop you should ideally be ready, or nearly ready to start applying.  Details and booking here.

Saturday STEM Spectacular. Saturday 21 November 10am - 2pm Online

The Saturday STEM Spectacular (organised by the ASE and Wolverhampton University) is an event aimed at people of all ages. The event will showcase many exciting STEM based activities for the very young to older people. It runs from 10-2pm on Saturday 21st November 2020 and is an online event. A Zoom link will be sent out to you a couple of days before the event. The sessions will be streamed on You Tube.

The day will begin with activities aimed at the 5 year olds upwards but will include activities that will inspire pupils, students, teachers, parents, guardians and others.

There will be 5 of these sessions including, for example: foraging and finding out, awesome surfaces-the types of surfaces that you have never seen before. Each will offer a couple of hints and tips for teachers too.

Details and booking here.

The Great Science Share. Wednesday 11 November 4.30 - 5.30pm Online

Join us to discuss forthcoming plans for the Great Science Share 2021 - an annual campaign to inspire young people to share their scientific questions with new audiences.

The Great Science Share for Schools is the award-winning campaign that invites 3-14 year olds to share their own scientific questions and investigations, to raise the profile of science in schools and communities, and inspire young people into science and engineering.

This meeting is the first meeting for those who are interested in the GSS in Wales.

So much preparation is already underway to make 2021 even more successful. Keep up to date with what’s on when.  Register here.

Farmvention Competition - NFU Education

Farmvention (when farming meets invention) is a national STEM competition run by NFU Education and aimed at children aged 5 – 14 (school years 1 -9) in England and Wales.

This year, the challenge is all about the problems that climate change creates for British farmers and how they are fighting it to become Climate Superheroes.

There are four themed inspiration hubs to get you thinking and each one is full of investigations to complete at home or school, alongside some exciting tours of our climate superheroes’ farms to inspire you.

You can enter the competition individually or as part of a team or class and there is a host of amazing prizes for the winning schools. Winners will present their ideas at a prestigious event at the Houses of Parliament and win £1000 for their school to spend on STEM or Outdoor Learning equipment! All entrants will become certified ‘farmventors’ and receive a reward pack including a certificate and mini prize. 

Entries close on 31 May 2021.  Details here.

The UK Junior Water Prize

The UK Junior Water Prize is aimed at solving environmental challenges with a link to water, which we know is super important for our future! For the competition, you need to identify an issue and undertake some research and experiments to find a practical and innovative solution.

You are eligible to take part if:

• • You are going to be between 15 and 20 years of age for World Water Week in August 2021
  • You haven’t started University yet
  • You started your project whilst you were in a full-time education
  • Your school or college (including home schooling) is in the UK

You can take part on your own or in a pair, as long as both partners meet the eligibility criteria above. School assignments qualify for entry, but you need to specify your role in the project.

The winning entry will qualify for an all-expenses paid trip to represent the UK and their school at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize in Sweden with a chance to win the cash award of $15,000 USD! 

Competition is open until February 2021.   Details here.

BSA Kick Start scheme for British Science Week 2021

British Science Week is an annual celebration of science, technology, engineering, and maths that is coordinated by the British Science Association (BSA) and funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).  

Our purpose is to distribute grants of £150-£700 to schools in challenging circumstances to run events and activities during British Science Week 2021 (05 - 14 March).  

The fund is open to schools in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (including special schools, Early Years education providers and pupil referral units).  

The deadline for applications is 5pm, Monday 9 November 2020.

Details here.

BSA Community Grants for British Science Week 2021

The mission of the British Science Week Community Grant Scheme is to expand the audiences that engage with science and self-identify as having an interest in science by empowering and supporting community groups to run their own science activities during British Science Week (5-14 March 2021).

The scheme offers £500-£2,000 grants for community groups that work directly with audiences who are traditionally under-represented and currently not engaged in science activity.

Our definition of groups that are underrepresented in science includes:

• people from ethnic minorities
• people with low socio-economic status, including people disadvantaged in terms of education and income
• people with a physical or mental condition or impairment
• people living in a remote and rural location, defined as settlements of less than 10,000 people
• girls and women.

Community grants cannot be used for events or activities with school groups unless they are a special education needs (SEN) school. If you represent a school and meet the eligibility criteria, please apply for our Kick Start Grants instead (see above).