The colours of Autumn have inspired painters and poets for centuries, but they should inspire us too for science investigations!

Nature offers amazing opportunities to make science relevant - cholorophyll breaking down reveals carotenoid pigments, this can be investigated as a simple and affordable activity by any Ambassador. To find out more read page 20 and 21 of Gopher Science

The sensational flames of Autumn leaves in Wales are just one example of bringing science to life with any audience.

CONTENTS

News

Tredegar School ventures into Black Holes!

St Illtyd’s School success - Greenpower racing at Castle Combe

The Curiosity Club – STEM and Archaeology

STEM Ambassador opportunities

Online opportunties all Wales

South and West Wales

North and mid Wales

LATEST STEM NEWS

STEM Ambassadors: make sure to record your activities on your STEM Ambassador profile or send me details to assist you. Your impact is increasingly important on schools, young people and the educational challenge they faced over the past year

Tredegar School ventures into Black Holes!

Teacher Sophie Dodds hosted an exciting STEM Ambassador session at Tredegar School delivered by Professor Chris Jeynes.

Chris is a Professorial Research Fellow at University of Surrey, but based in Wales and keen to support his local community schools.

Sophie is a great supporter of the STEM Ambassador programme
“we are very appreciative of any input from STEM Ambassadors as it helps to enrich our curriculum”

Their topic was Space, a topic with plenty of scope for yr 9 - 11 pupils.
Chris proposed a session on Black Holes and with Covid safety regulations in place, he was able to attend the school in person.
The session began with a Q&A on his career, and what the pupils already knew about Black Holes.
Many thanks to Professor Chris Jeynes a STEM Ambassador who gave a mind blowing talk about Black Holes to a range of pupils yesterday. It really was an enriching experience for our pupils @YGTredegarCS

Sophie Dodds

Section title

St Illtyd’s School success - Greenpower racing at Castle Combe

St Illtyd’s School celebrated their first entry into the Greenpower racing F24 competition. They achieved the finals in Castle Combe with their team’s electric kit car!
The project is one of the most impactful STEM activities offered to Primary and Secondary schools.

The St Illtyd's team had a brilliant day at our first ever race event at Castle Combe last Sunday. This was the culmination of a brilliant two year #STEM project. The team were delighted to win the "Best Newcomer" award. Well done to everyone involved!

STEM Ambassador Ciara Doyle is the South Wales Greenpower Trust Coordinator. Ciara met the team at the finals – their enthusiasm was evident

“St. Illtyd’s loved their first day there – I’ve attached picture of team with car. They are so keen they are already looking at ways of getting a second car”

STEM and Archaeology: The Curiosity Club

STEM Ambassador Poppy Hodkinson graduated in Archaeology from Cardiff University.
After graduating Poppy founded Curiosity Club

Curiosity Club is funded by Children in Need, it brings together the talents of STEM Ambassador team skills from Archaeology, Literature, Research and History. As part of the Caer Ely Heritage project they work specifically with primary and local secondary schools in the community of Ely.

The team develop their own STEM resources aligned with the new curriculum for Wales. Covering primary and secondary for raising attainment in literacy and attainment.
https://twitter.com/curiosityclub2

"Curiosity Club gives young people in Caerau and Ely the opportunity to explore their local heritage through the lens of STEM. Our sessions are youth-led and aim to provide young people with a safe space where they can develop confidence through informal science learning, and strengthen their relationships with the local community. We explore young people's questions about the past through their interests (e.g. arts and crafts, food, Minecraft), to provide novel access points to STEM education. We are also supported by Children in Need." Poppy Hodkinson

As a STEM Ambassador you too can support the Club events next term

Brightside Mentoring - January Mentor Sign ups!

Brightside Mentoring for the January cohort is now open for STEM Ambassadors!

The deadline to sign up to be a mentor is 10am on the 10th January 2022 and the sign up link is here.

Mentoring will start 24th January for six weeks to ten weeks.

STEM Ambassador opportunities

Online opportunties all Wales

Upskill as a Mock Interviewer!
Monday 6^th December 4pm – 5pm
Online

Have you taken part in Mock Interviews or would like to try but a bit unsure?
Gareth from Careers Wales is an expert schools advisor, he will lead the session to help you develop techniques and skills as an Interviewer

What type of students could you meet?
How to adjust to different student levels and personalities
How to make the experience enjoyable and productive
Dealing with tricky situations

Digital Skills brought to life: Lego EV3 workshops for KS2 /3
Thursday 9^th December 4pm – 5pm
Online webinar

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/digital-skills-brought-to-life-lego-ev3-workshops-for-ks2-3-tickets-216375644377

Introducing Teachers and STEM Ambassadors to a fun engaging practical activity.
Digital Competency; critical thinking; creativity and connections to the real world are all covered in this curriculum linked workshop.

British Computer Society Ambassadors will present this session suitable for adapting to KS2 / 3 pupils and family audiences.

A good STEM read – your favourite book
Online by Zoom

December – February
lunch or late afternoon dates as offered

Seeking STEM Ambassadors to offer a 15 minute session selecting a favourite book on any STEM topic to share with teachers and fellow STEM Ambassadors.
The book could be on any topic and not necessarily a formal Science or Maths book. The idea is to illustrate how any topic can be used to connect pupils with both literacy and STEM.
This can be used as an activity for teachers and Ambassadors

Wales Valleys Engineering project: meeting the Engineer STEM Ambassadors
Flexible dates to February

Anita Shaw is leading the WVEP project connecting primary and secondary schools in the Valley local authorities with Engineering careers.

Anita is seeking young engineers from a range of disciplines and backgrounds to engage with 3 easy activities:

Meet with Anita on Zoom to get an idea of your background
Make a 3 min video explaining what you do, what you like about their job, why you would recommend it etc
Attend a Zoom session with 5 other engineers (each of whom will have produced a video) and an audience of about seventy 16-year olds who are studying engineering or STEM A levels at Coleg Gwent and Merthyr College.

L3 BTEC Individual Project support - online
Merthyr College

Tutor Alex Strong is seeking Ambassadors to help mentor a project online
The role will be to advise or guide L3 BTEC students with their individual project.

Project titles include:

sports/exercise scientist
biochemist
microbiologist
Ecologist/Botanist

Have a go: Delivering Engineering and Green Energy workshops
January 4^th 4pm – 5pm
Webinar

Have a Go: Engineering workshops were developed for yr 8 & 9 secondary pupils across Wales by Inspiring Skills Excellence

The training session offers a live online experience of the practical activities involved in the sessions.

Schools take part online or at school, both forms of engagement will be discussed.

Welsh Medium
Make you Look, Make you Think! , Make you "Talk"
January 25^th 3.45pm – 4.45pm

Seeking a Welsh speaking Ambassador to attend and support discussion with teachers.

This workshop will be based on the book Make you Look, Make you Think!, Make you "Talk". Every school that attends the workshop will receive a free copy of Gaynor Weavers' book. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about CREST, the STEM Ambassador Program and Explorify during the workshop.

The workshop will be conducted through the medium of Welsh
To book go to https://dewchisiarad.eventbrite.co.uk

South and West Wales

James Webb Telescope celebrations at Techniquest
Stuart St
Cardiff
CF10 5BW

11^th, 12^th, 18^th and 19^th December
Any times between 11am – 4pm
Lunch and refreshments at Coffee Mania

Science Communicator James Paine is running workshops in the Techniquest Learning hub around the James Webb Space Telescope.

He would welcome Ambassador support with the activities – no need to be an Astronomer or Space Expert! All are family friendly and a great chance to learn from a Science Communication professional

Chemical Analysis in the Environment
Support talk / interview for local STEM teachers
Newport / Croesyceiliog locality
Date to suit Ambassador

Curriculum Partner Andras Lucas is seeking a STEM Ambassador working in environmental analysis: eg Water; Soil assessments
STEM Ambassador will offer a talk on their work and how environmental assessment is carried out.

The new Curriculum for Wales asks teachers to link topics to their locality.
A STEM Ambassador will enhance a lesson on Chemical Analysis of environmental investigations in the Croesyceiliog area when the new hospital was built.

Mock Interviews online With yr 13 pupils

YGG Plasmawr (Fairwater, Cardiff)
Monday 22^nd November - Friday 26^th November
(am or pm by choice)

YG Garth Olwg (Church Village, RCT)
Tuesday 7^th December to Friday 10^th December
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. each day

Careers Carousel 9^th December 9am – 11am
Coleg Cymoedd Y Dderwen
Ynysawdre,
Bridgend,
CF32 9EG

A small careers carousel for Yr 10 pupils is being held in the morning
STEM Ambassadors are invited to offer 3 X 40 minute presentations on their work or employer

Great Inventors Project
Waunfawr Primary
Crosskeys
NP11 7PG

Teacher Cara’s autumn first half term project is "Who am I?"- around great inventors in the past and present, the skills and tools needed, and what and how they design and build.

Mock Interviews
Thursday 16^th December
Birchgrove School
Swansea

8^th or 9^th or 10^th March
Bishopston School
Swansea

STEM Ambassadors act as Interviewers to equip young people with valuable information, hints and experience of how to conduct themselves during an interview situation.
Times usually 9am – 2pm but hours can be offered as you are available

'Amazing Inventors' 4^th, 6^th or 7^th January
Online with Teams or in school!
Ysgol Cymraeg Cae Gurwen
Ammanford
SA18 1UN

Teachers Rhian and Rhys are seeking Ambassadors to start the schools Amazing Inventors week
Topics could cover anything or give examples of Amazing Inventions

Examples:

Energy inventions
Architectural / Engineering
Mechanical
Waste Inventions
Agricultural
Green inventions

Monmouth Comprehensive Careers Fair
Monmouth
NP25 3YT
12^th January 6pm – 8pm

Pupils and parents will be visiting the Fair
Ambassadors will be welcome to an allocated stand to discuss career options or showcase their work

School Covid policy should be available for Ambassadors who attend

Coding with Robots
St Julians Primary Newport
January dates: flexible for Ambassadors

Teacher Louise is seeking Ambassador support to help teach coding robots for KS2 pupils
They can be held as online classrooms or providing assistance and tuition for teachers

Maths Inspiration Roadshow: STEM Ambassador host role
1^st February 2022
Sherman Theatre Cardiff

Maths Inspiration is returning to Cardiff, at the Sherman Theatre on 1^st Feb. As usual the show is aimed at Year 11/12s (Y10s will also enjoy).
Lead organiser Rob Easterway is seeking a STEM Ambassador to help as part of the host welcome team. The Team will meet, greet and chaperone school groups.
You also get to enjoy the show free of charge!

Details of the show are here: https://mathsinspiration.com/events/?id=145

Techniquest Science Weekends
12^th / 13^th or 19^th/20^th March 2022

Stuart St
Cardiff
CF10 5BW

Techniquest have a full programme for the public and schools to celebrate Science Week
They are keen to host STEM Ambassadors to support the celebration.
STEM Ambassadors will be offered either a stand or show a mobile activity walking on the exhibition floor engaging with the public.

Themes will be:

Environment
Plant Biology
Medical Sciences

Primary School KS2 STEM topics
Flexible dates online or in school
Llangorse Primary
Brecon
LD3 7UB

Teacher Meg has outlined a curriculum timetable for yrs 3 – 6 pupils next year.
She would greatly appreciate STEM Ambassador sessions for any of the topics below.

Spring:
Third Rock from the Sun. Yrs 3 & 4
Living and non-living. Natural and manmade. Rocks and soils.

Energy: Light and Sound Yr 5
Light and sound (transparent and opaque)

Summer: Our Sustainable World Yrs 3 & 4
Helping the world to be a better place. Impact of litter on environment. Recycling. Biodegrading. Eco-friendly lunchboxes. Sustainability of water.

Material Changes Yr 5
Dissolving. Solubility. Changes of state. Dissolving. Burning.

EGNI Eco Clubs: Pembrokeshire Conference event with primary and secondary schools
March (venue/ date to be confirmed)

EGNI Awel Cooperative was established and registered in 2013 by Awel Aman Tawe
STEM Ambassadors are invited to support this event with either workshops, talks, stands or presentations.
The theme is sustainability: eg energy, environment, construction, flood management, etc

EGNI – Awel Conference Swansea
April (venue / date to be confirmed)
The theme is sustainability in any form: energy, environment, construction, flood management, etc

3 Secondary and 2 Primary Schools
STEM Ambassadors are invited to support this event with either Q&A panel, workshops, talks, stands or presentations.

North and mid Wales

Primary School KS2 STEM topics
Flexible dates online or in school
Llangorse Primary
Brecon
LD3 7UB

Teacher Meg has outlined a curriculum timetable for yrs 3 – 6 pupils next year.
She would greatly appreciate STEM Ambassador sessions for any of the topics below.
The school is happy to arrange a Covid safety regulated visit at the school or online session as preferred

Spring:
Third Rock from the Sun. Yrs 3 & 4
Living and non-living. Natural and manmade. Rocks and soils.

Energy: Light and Sound Yr 5
Light and sound (transparent and opaque)

Summer: Our Sustainable World Yrs 3 & 4
Helping the world to be a better place. Impact of litter on environment. Recycling. Biodegrading. Eco-friendly lunchboxes. Sustainability of water.

Material Changes Yr 5
Dissolving. Solubility. Changes of state. Dissolving. Burning.

Xplore Space event 3^rd December 5.30pm – 7pm
Henblas St
Wrexham
LL13 8AE

Xplore are running an evening event for schools.
STEM Ambassadors are invited to attend with stands or support with an activity. Any Space related content would be ideal, but all offers welcome.
Schools will be showcasing their ‘Our Space’ projects at the event

Renewable Energy and Sustainability in our locality
Spring term - any Wednesday afternoon
Ysgol Felinwnda,
Caernarfon,
LL54 5UG

Online or in school

Teacher Neil is seeking local STEM Ambassadors to support KS2 pupil activities related to renewables, sustainable environments and support themes with STEM.

Please let me know if you can offer a video call event or school visit (subject to Covid safety regulations)

Wrexham
Mock Interviews and Interview Skills
Selected dates:

Interview Skills workshops:
2^nd December from 9.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. The Maelor School Wrexham
13^th December from 9.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Ysgol Clywedog

Mock Interviews

13^th January St Josephs School
26^th January Ysgol Grango
27^th January Ysgol Grango
28^th January Ysgol Grango
28^th January Ysgol Clwedog (online interviews)
17^th February The Maelor School
17^th March Ysgol Grango (year 9)

STEM Ambassadors act as Interviewers to equip young people with valuable information, hints and experience of how to conduct themselves during an interview situation.

Choose your future’ Careers Fair 2^nd February
Beaufort Park Hotel,
Mold

The aim of the event is to increase and enhance pupil awareness of the different opportunities and vocational career routes available to them.
The format is relaxed and informal where volunteer ambassadors from different sectors talk young people and parents them an insight into their careers and opportunities in their industry sector.

Apprenticeships talks Ysgol Grango Wrexham
LL14 1EL
Selected dates from:

10^th February from 1.30 to 2.20 p.m.
11^th February am or pm
14^th February from 9.10 a.m. to 10.00

Employer presentation on ‘Understanding Apprenticeships involving a current apprentice.
The sessions will form part of a unit on future learning pathways. Pupils will have done some initial research into apprenticeships and will have prepared some questions.
The school intend to look at the data when this year group is in year 11 to see how many students apply for apprenticeships at 16.

Women in Science event
11^th February 9.30am – 11.30am
M-SParc
Menai Science Park,
Gaerwen
LL60 6AG

STEM Ambassadors are keenly sought to support this event, the aim is to inspire girls with a wide range of opportunities through diverse career routes in STEM.
A small group of girls from Yr 9 – 10 pupils from Ysgol Bodedern will attend (about 20 pupils)
The organisers would welcome female Ambassadors to take part and offer a 15 min slot with an interesting talk or activity related to their career
The girls are not high achievers but would benefit greatly from inspiration to succeed in a STEM career

An audience with ….. employer speed networking Ysgol Y Grango
17 March 2022

Ysgol Y Grango
Wrexham
LL14 1EL

In this workshop, small groups of students will ask each of our guest mentors a range of questions about their life and work as a series of anecdotes and stories. 　