The National STEM Centre’s e-Library resource bank is now live, with an extremely impressive collection of resources aimed at teachers of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.  The key focus of the e-Library is resources rather than activities or person-support. It complements the existing STEM Directories STEM Directories  which comprise a collection of schemes and activities provided by organisations from across the UK that aim to enhance and enrich the curriculum.

During July the Space Academy ran two ‘Roadshow’ events with schools from Derby City and Wellingborough in Northamptonshire.  The three day event saw students participate in a physics masterclass where they learnt how physics is applied and used in space science, including rocket launch velocities and the effect of gravity.  The culmination of the masterclass is the construction of a comet nucleus using a number of ingredients including dry ice and water which helps to illustrate the threat comets may have when impacting a planet or that they may have been responsible for bring life to planets.

The second day allowed students to explore the National Space Centre galleries, experience ‘We Are Astronomers’, a full dome planetarium show and take part in a Challenger Mission.  A Challenger Mission is a simulated space mission where students take the role of mission controllers and astronauts on a space craft to complete a mission to launch a probe to a moon of Mars.  The mission was made more challenging through the introduction of various emergencies, from high humidity levels to a failing oxygen supply.  The students needed to response to these emergencies finding solution and showing immense team work and communication skills to ensure that the primary mission objectives were completed.On the final day the students got to experience indoor skydiving at the Airkix vertical wind tunnel.  This a real challenge which all students leapt at (some literally!) and successfully completed by understanding basic aerodynamics.  A Roadshow participant said “there is nothing I did not like about the trip, everything was cool and I need to do something similar again”

In July I attended the East Midlands Regional Big Bang at Loughborough University. This was one of a series of regional Big Bangs that feed into the national Big Bang in March next year. Young people from primary, secondary and post-16 attended. Students entered fantastic projects in the CREST and Young Engineers for Britain competitions, schools showcased their STEM Club activities and primary pupils competed in the regional K’Nex Challenge. Outside the judging the event featured a whole host of fun and engaging hands-on activities and workshops.  These included a chance to measure the speed of your kick using high tech cameras and a pit stop tyre change challenge with the University’s Formula Student team.  Congratulations to all the prize winners and to the following schools which will be representing the East Midlands at the National Big Bang in 2011: Redmoor High SchoolKing Edward VII School Stamford SchoolWelland Park Community CollegeOakham SchoolEastwood Comprehensive School For more information see: Loughborough University’s press release, LEBC’s press release and the Big Bang.

‘The Travel Challenge’ is launched on 6^th September as the fourth of the series of ten STEM Challenges brought to you by STEMNET. The challenge is: ‘Can you help to reduce the carbon footprint of spectators travelling to London 2012?‘ BP - the official oil and gas partner of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games – is challenging Key Stage 3 (or equivalent) students to make proposals for sustainable travel options at Games time.  The deadline for team registration is Monday 1^st November 2010 and then teams prepare entries for the judging which takes place in schools between 1^st and 8^th December 2010. The challenge final will be held at ASE Conference, Reading, Thursday 6^th January 2011. Further information, resources and teacher guides can be found by visiting www.stemchallenges.net.

Budding inventors from six schools across the East Midlands took part in the Invent! competition at Snibston Discovery Park in Coalville. In the morning, six hands-on creative STEM workshops took place and students were building brains, designing plants of the future and making their own films. Young people aged between 4 and 14 showcased their inventions to a panel of judges headed up by Gareth Jones. There were some fantastic inventions in categories such as ‘Pop a balloon with a flick, ‘A Problem Solved’ and ‘Recycled Orchestra’. The judges then faced some tricky deliberations, and the air of anticipation was building. Finally the results were in, and first of all last year’s winners from Keyworth Primary School awarded their own special prize for the invention they liked the best, and this went to Burbage Primary School in Buxton for their problem solving solutions for Africa. Next to be announced was the runners-up prize and this went to Keyworth Primary School who had designed a very impressive ‘Pop A Balloon with a Flick’ incorporating a windmill and mini cut outs of their teachers attached to dominoes! Then, the winners were announced... Ivanhoe Community College had wowed everyone with their ingenious chain reaction machine, incorporating a match, balloons, marbles, pendulums to name but a few! The winners will now be treated to a ‘Grand Engineering Day Out’ in the Autumn.

The East Midlands STEM Partnership is pleased to announce that preparations for the 7th Forum Event, ‘STEM Careers – Shaping the Future’ are currently underway. The event will be taking place on 12 October 2010 (9.00am - 12.00pm) at East Midlands Development Agency, Nottingham.

Ever wondered what its like to be involved in a career in Engineering?  

Well this inspiring video insight looks at the work of STEM Engineer Sara Ridley who is the Assembly and Test Manager for Caterpillar Remanufacturing.

Her role looks at the reconditioning of automotive engines turning them back into a fully functioning product.

The STEM Partnership Support Team has once again commissioned the help of Brady Haran from the BBC to produce a series of short ‘Day in the Life’ videos of real life STEM professionals in the region. We hope you enjoy!

The STEM Student Journalist competition is now in its third year, and each year we receive more fantastic reports which showcase the talent of students from across the region. We are looking for STEM related reports in either a written, audio or film format. Full details of the competition can be found in the student section of our website.

The competition closing date is 4pm Wednesday 6 October 2010.  For full competition terms and conditions click here.

This year there are 2 competition categories:

Category 1: Audio & Film 

Best Under 16 Years Reporter

First Prize: iPod Touch

Runner up Prize: iPod Nano

Best Over 16 Years Reporter

First Prize: iPod Touch

Runner up Prize: iPod Nano

Category 2: Written 

Best Under 16 Years Reporter

First Prize: iPod Touch

Runner up Prize: iPod Nano

Best Over 16 Years Reporter

First Prize: iPod Touch

Runner up Prize: iPod Nano

To find out about reporting opportunities near you and to submit reports, please contact Alison Harrold alison.harrold@themarketingdivision.co.uk or call the office on 0115 984 7021

On Wednesday 17th March the East Midlands STEM Partnership hosted an event as part of National Science and Engineering Week. Students spent the afternoon at the National Space Centre and saw ‘Bridget’, the multi-million pound robot, part of the EXOMars project that will touch down on Mars in 2016 to study the biological environment. Students from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire participated in some of the 150 interactive master classes held at the National Space Centre

Prior to visiting the National Space Centre, the day began at Crown Hills Community College in Leicester, where students demonstrated inspiring creative science activities; including Lab 13, a dedicated science space in the school, managed by pupils, for the pupils. Students also experienced Kit in a Kase taking part in some fun, contextual science. The morning concluded with a Come Alive with Science demonstration. Students had the opportunity to design and make their own t-shirts using photochromic paints and LED lights.

The event supported National Science and Engineering Week (12-21 March) and this video was produced to promote some of the fantastic STEM activities taking place across the East Midlands, many of which are funded by the East Midlands Development Agency.