CREST CPD at Cardiff Metropolitan University

A very successful series of CPD days for Undergraduate Primary Teachers were held at Cardiff Met recently.  Students learnt about how STEM Ambassadors can help support Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in the classroom whilst supporting Careers and Work Related Experiences (CWRE) for the pupils.

Students carried out Habitats workshops suitable for inquisitive learners in Progression Steps 1-3.  In addition they saw how CREST Awards can be used as a scheme of work or as STEM Club activities.

Internatio

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science, celebrated on 11 February every year, is an opportunity to promote full access and equal participation for women and girls in science and related fields. Around the world, women and girls are contributing to the scientific and technological advancements that are rapidly impacting our lives. From medical breakthroughs to new space discoveries, from advanced quantum computing research to new scientific methods to understand the natural world around us, women and girls are shattering glass ceilings. Although science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields are regarded as critical to national economies, most countries have not achieved gender equality in STEM.

For this celebratory day we wanted to highlight and showcase a few of our female STEM Ambassadors, which make up a little under 50% of our cohort, so throughout the day we posted STEM Ambassador biopics on X & LinkedIn (@SeeScience) to reach a wide audience across the UK. Please take a look, as role models like these are available to visit school to inspire your students.

Free Egg-cellent Eastertastic Primary Chemistry session-online.

Thursday 20th March (online) : 4-5pm. Please join us for simple Primary Chemistry ideas for an Egg-citing, easy classroom practical.
If you are unable to attend the ‘live’ online session, please still book and a recording will be sent to you after the session. Book tickets here
Any queries please contact  kate.johnson@see-science.co.uk

World Book Day Primary Science Recording -Thursday 6th March

You can find our resources, events and webinars here
 

This year we are inviting everyone to Read Your Way. Our research shows that children feel reading is something they have to do, rather than something they choose to do.World Book Day Primary Science Recording -Thursday 6th March

The Welsh Valleys Engineering Project (WVEP) is an engineering education programme established by the Royal Academy of Engineering. It delivers STEM education support for students and teachers, and provides opportunities and career guidance beyond the classroom. The project plays an integral role in transforming local communities. It raises young peoples’ aspirations and improves social mobility in the Welsh Valleys, a region of socio-economic deprivation.

The Welsh Valleys have a long history of engineering and the Academy has built on the regions’ heritage. It supports the untapped engineering potential within students in this area and builds a skills base that will support many of the new engineering companies investing in South Wales.

The Royal Academy of Engineering's STEM learning and teaching resources are designed to inspire young learners and support educators with practical, hands-on activities. Each resource is thematically linked to curriculum topics in science, design/technology, mathematics and computing through real-world engineering challenges.

Their resources are designed to reflect the skills needed to tackle 21st-century global challenges. By integrating these into the classroom and extra-curricular clubs, educators can support students in developing problem-solving and teamwork skills, as well as fostering their curiosity to create outcomes and solutions that work, and then make
them work better. The resources can be found here 

Exploring Veterinary Careers: Caring for Animals Big and Small. 11 March 10am - 10.50am online

Following this year’s theme of adapt and change, you will hear how our vets and vet nurses adapt to different:Animals and conditionsPlaces of work – did you know that as well as working in local vet practices, vets and vet nurses work on farms, in airports, the army, zoos and in science labs?During the session hear from our student and recent graduate panel on:
What a typical day for vet nurses and vets looks like and different places of work
Skills and subjects useful for a career in veterinary
Pros and cons about the jobs
You will also have the opportunity to ask the panel questions!
Book here 

Engineering Storytime with Kate! Friday 14th March 10.00am - 10.30am  or 2.00pm --2.30pm

 A fun adventure for ages 3-7 (Nursery-Year 2) with a civil engineer! 

Come and join Kate, a civil engineer, for some storytime adventures to do with her favourite engineering thing – Bridges.

A short “This is Me” to help set the scene for all and then off on our first adventure to a Castle a long time ago. Where, OH NO, an old wobbly wooden bridge has disappeared, how will all the people in the Castle manage to leave! There are some silly material suggestions whilst someone tries to work up the courage to speak up about their brilliant idea.

Following this we can take a quick stop off to meet Orin the Troll – a retelling of the 3 billy goats gruff, only with a helpful if sometimes grumpy troll and A LOT more goats. Will those goats ever get to eat that green grass just over the bridge??

Will the troll and goats learn to listen to each other? Book your place here 

The British Science Week poster competition

 is back for 2025, and this year, as well as our usual challenge, we have an exciting new category for older children and young people!

The theme for 2025 is ‘Change and adapt, – there are loads of STEM topics to be explored. Pupils could create a poster showing how plants and animals adapt to changing seasons or surroundings, or how humans have adapted to changing technology. They could look at climate change and how we can adapt our behaviours to protect the environment, or their favourite science experiment and how it shows change. The more creative the interpretation of the theme, the better!

Each school, group or organisation can enter a maximum of five entries. We encourage you to run the competition with larger groups, so everyone has a chance to take part, but just submit your top five for judging. You can always award further prizes within your school or organisation if you wish! Submissions from individuals will also be accepted. Please see the competition rules below for more details about how to submit entries. More information here

This year, the competition will close for entries on Thursday 3 April 2025.

The Royal Society Partnership Grants

Do you have a great idea for bringing research alive in school?

Partnership Grants of up to £3,000 are available to schools to enable students, aged 5 – 18, to carry out science, technology, engineering, mathematics, computing or data science projects. Additionally, introduced in 2020, there is a new extension to the scheme called Tomorrow's climate scientists. This extension will fund schools to research specifically into climate change and biodiversity issues. The application process for Tomorrow's climate scientists is the same as for the main scheme.

Whilst the initial application must be started by the school partner so that they are the primary applicant, there needs to be two project partners on the same application form. The partnership needs to be established before starting the application. The two partners are: 

• School partner (the primary applicant): any teacher or support staff at the main school, such as a computing teacher or a science technician; and a
• STEM partner: an individual that is currently working in a STEM related profession, such as a researcher or analyst. 

The 2025 application round will open in February 2025 with three possible submission deadlines across the year. Details here.