STEM Enhancement and Enrichment

Welcome to the STEM Enhancement and Enrichment activities page. Each section has been separated into 3 categories Primary & Nursery: Secondary & Further Education Colleges and Community.

Other useful sources of information on national activities and initiatives are The Shape the Future Directory (download) and The Learning Grid. Hard copies of each document can be obtained from TechFest-SetPoint. Recently STEMNET has published the STEMNET Directories which can be obtained at http://www.stemdirectories.org.uk/order.asp

Awards

Primary & Nursery

CREST * Investigators - An awards scheme that enables children to solve scientific problems through piratical investigations.

Secondary & FE Colleges

CREST Awards - CREativity in Science and Technology, is a project-based award scheme for school students, which aims to recognise and accredit their achievements in science, engineering and technology.

Community

Challenges & Competitions

Primary & Nursery

ROV competition - The MATE Center coordinates an international student ROV competition and a network of 17 regional ROV contests that take place across U.S. and in Canada, Hong Kong, and Scotland. Student teams from middle schools, high schools, home schools, community colleges and universities participate in the events, which consist of different “classes” that vary depending on the sophistication of the ROVs and the mission requirements.

TechFest-SetPoint Schools Engineering Challenge - The aim of the Engineering Challenge is for pupils, competing in teams of 4, to undertake a design and construction experiment demonstrating many of the principals of engineering.

Young Engineer's K'NEX Challenge - This challenge aims to provide primary school pupils (P4-P6) with an exciting introduction to the world of Engineering and Technology by inviting them to produce a specific design solution for a problem and then build it using K’Nex.

Rolls-Royce Science Prize - The Rolls-Royce Science Prize is an annual awards programme. There are huge prizes up for grabs from £15,000 for the winner down to 50 special commendation prizes of £1,000. The competition is open to all teachers of science for projects for 3-19 year olds.

Secondary & FE Colleges

GO4SET - Go4SET links teams of six S2 pupils with companies to offer a 10-12 week Science, Engineering and Technology experience.

Shell-Greenpower Challenge - The programme involves students in the practical applications of engineering as they design, construct and race an electric car.

Rotary Young Chef 2009 - Filippo Berio has teamed up with Rotary to scour all secondary schools in Great Britain and Ireland in search of the Rotary Young Chef 2009. The competition, which officially starts in September, looks to promote healthy eating amongst young people by encouraging students to show off their creative culinary talents by preparing a healthy three-course meal for two. The competition is free to enter and the closing date for contacting your local rotary club is 30th September 2008.

Community

Festivals

Primary & Nursery

Caithness Science Festival - A fun packed science and technology programme for primary schools in Caithness with lectures and workshops promising a fun and informative time for all.

March Into Science - An annual mini-science festival for primary 7 pupils in Angus.

National Science and Engineering Week - National Science and Engineering Week (formerly National Science Week) is an opportunity for people of all ages, areas and organisations to take part in science, engineering and technology activities.

Science in September - An annual mini-science festival for primary 5 and 6 pupils in Dundee.

Spring Into Science - Is an annual mini-science festival for primary 2 and 3 pupils held in various host schools and out and about across Dundee.

TechFest In September - Is Aberdeen and the North East of Scotland’s annual festival of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) organised by TechFest-SetPoint. We aim to promote the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, both to young people and the wider community, through an accessible and entertaining festival programme.

LTS Scottish Learning Festival - The Learning Festival, run by Learning and Teaching Scotland, hosts a combination of keynote presentations, spotlight sessions, seminars and an exhibition area, providing delegates with opportunities for professional development, sharing skills and knowledge, and investigating and experimenting with new technologies.

The Word Festival - The Word festival takes place annually in May in the grounds of the University of Aberdeen and at some of the major arts venues throughout the city. Each year the packed programme includes book readings, music, art exhibitions, and film screenings from around 50 authors, poets and artists. In addition the Schools and Children’s festivals provide an opportunity for young people to meet their favourite authors & be inspired at a host of storytelling sessions, activity sessions and workshops.

Secondary & FE Colleges

TechFest In September Outreach Programme - Is Aberdeen and the North East of Scotland’s annual festival of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) organised by TechFest-SetPoint. We aim to promote the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, both to young people and the wider community, through an accessible and entertaining outreach programme.

Community

Moray Science Festival - A day for all the family run by Moray College filled with fun, exciting and thought provoking scientific workshops, lectures and demonstrations.

Further STEM Opportunities

Primary &Nursery

Curious about Chemistry - Curious about Chemistry is an event for Primary 7 pupils in Tayside. TechFest-SetPoint is proud to organise this popular event which is sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry and this year, as in previous years, it is supported by Dundee College who are kindly providing their Graham Street Campus to host the event. Other Curious about Chemistry events are held UK wide.

Secondary & FE Colleges

Chemistry at Work - A 4 day event held within the University of Aberdeen's Department of Chemistry and sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry. This event offers S3 pupils the opportunity to appreciate the place of chemistry in everyday life and the world of work, with particular emphasis on what is happening in the local area. Other Chemistry at Work events are held UK wide.

Researchers in Residence - This scheme places PhD and postdoctoral researchers in secondary schools across the UK to develop a programme of activities with teachers. The aim is to make school Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths more relevant and exciting for young people.

Maths Masterclasses - A series, of 6 - 8 lectures, for S2 pupils. Led by speakers from universities and industry, selected for their skills as mathematicians and also for their ability to communicate with this age group. The topics covered introduce the pupils to new areas of mathematics that are not normally covered in the school curriculum by this age group.

Nuffield Science Bursaries - Nuffield Science Bursaries offer up to 1000 funded places (to post-16 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Students) each year, so that they can get an insight into the world of scientific research and development, including areas of technology, engineering and maths.

Smallpiece Trust Residential Courses - The Smallpiece Trust is an independent charity providing exciting programmes to promote engineering careers to young people. Residential courses at universities take students' interests in engineering a step further by exploring specific areas such as Aerospace or Supercomputing in Engineering, placing them alongside real engineers, professional and technical specialists.

Community

Workshops & Clubs

Primary & Nursery

Children's University Young Investigator Clubs - The Young Investigators' Clubs giveP6 pupils the opportunity to interact with presenters from a wide variety of subject areas. P7 pupils are given the opportunity to build a kit car with the help of some real-life engineers! Over a 6 week period the pupils build a working car, from the assembly of the chassis to wiring the motor to the battery.

Cosmic Dome - TechFest-SetPoint's mobile planetarium, can bring astronomy and colour shows to you. Shows are presenter-led, curriculum-based and can be tailored to your needs.

Reading Bus - The Aberdeen City Reading Bus is driving to promote reading as a source of life long pleasure, raise attainment and achievement of children at risk of early failure, encourage family learning in a non-school environment and involve and empower parents in their children's learning.

TechFest-SetPoint Primary School Outreach Programme - a range of outreach shows and workshops suitable for primary schools. These activities provide an excellent opportunity for pupils to engage in enjoyable and challenging activities linked to the curriculum.

Secondary & FE Colleges

IMA Christmas Lecture - Every year the Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications provides an exciting mathematics based lecture for S5 and S6 pupils.

Lab in a Lorry - Lab in a Lorry is a mobile lab that gives young people the chance to explore science through hands-on experiments. The programme is guided by volunteers who want to share their passion for science and their curiosity about the world we live in.

Maths in the Pipeline - A full day of mathematical workshops and challenge for 15 year olds based on the applications of mathematics in the oil and gas industry. The workshops are based on real data from the Captain Field in the Moray Firth.

STEM in the Pipeline - A 3-part oil and gas industry project for teams of S6 pupils. The project, organised by TechFest-SetPoint and designed with industry professionals, enables students to apply their knowledge of physics, maths, chemistry and geology, illustrating how these subjects integrate when applied to an industry problem.

TechFest-SetPoint Secondary School All Year Outreach Programme - Contains presentations suitable for all stages from S1 to S6 and of interest in several subject areas. Most presentations will take place within the school.