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Tag: STEM
Kayla receives Edinburgh College Development Trust STEM scholarship
An Edinburgh College HND Engineering Systems student has been awarded a scholarship which will see her working alongside College staff to inspire thousands of pupils to consider STEM careers.
Kayla Ho, who studies at the College’s Midlothian Campus, has been named the David Doig Foundation STEM scholar for 2020 following a successful interview. Kayla’s role is to help deliver the College’s STEM Inspiration Experience programme to P7, S1 and S2 pupils for the remainder of term 2019/20.
The Edinburgh College Development Trust originally received funding from the David Doig Foundation to run the scholarship in 2018. Kayla is the second scholar and will use the opportunity to boost her CV and gain work experience in working as part of a team and with young people from across the region.
Nineteen-year-old Kayla will work with College staff each week to deliver STEM Inspiration Days where pupils take part in a range of activities such as:
- Exploring gravity and g-force. Students launch eggs attached to parachutes from height to see which ones survive. This uses everyday objects to make the science tangible, accessible, interactive and fun.
- The Bloodhound Rocket Car Challenge. This is part of the national engagement project around the Bloodhound land-speed record attempt, giving pupils the opportunity to design, build and race their own rocket cars. They learn about physics, aerodynamics, design and the mechanisms of speed.
- Bridge building where pupils design and build a two-foot cardboard bridge and test it using a heavy car model.
Embedded within each of these sessions is the importance of Maths and its application in Engineering and Science.
Gillian Doig, who founded the David Doig Foundation in memory of her late husband who was an alumnus of Telford College, said: “Congratulations to Kayla on becoming our second STEM scholar.
“We’re very proud to fund this project which will bring benefits to Kayla in terms of work experience but also to so many young people across Edinburgh and Lothians.
“My late husband was a champion of, engineering, education and social responsibility and this scholarship represents this brilliantly. We look forward to hearing how Kayla progresses through her scholarship, as well as her future career.”
Kayla, who is from Edinburgh, said: “It’s brilliant to be this year’s STEM scholar. I’ve had previous experience with working with young people, but the opportunity to teach them STEM and Engineering-related disciplines is new and exciting, and will be great for my CV.”
Looking to the future, Kayla is hoping to progress to Edinburgh Napier University where she will go into the third year of an Energy and Environmental Engineering course and hopes to secure work in the fast-growing Scottish renewables sector.
She said: “With Scotland, and the world, moving to renewable energy sources, it made sense to pursue this career path. I want to be able to discover new ground-breaking ways of working and make the world a better place.”
Careers Hive: Engineers, ears and inspiring careers
How Edinburgh Science Learning gets pupils into STEM with Careers Hive
- Careers Hive is a free careers education event from Edinburgh Science Learning aimed at S1-S3 pupils which takes place at the National Museum of Scotland from 24th to 29th February 2020 with Saturday 29th being a general public Open Day.
- Through a series of hands-on activities and discussions with young STEM professionals, Careers Hive provides students with new ways of thinking about their future careers.
- This year’s programme includes discussions with the founder and director of Fodilicious, the UK’s first certified convenience foods that help those with IBS. Joining them is the founder of Seawater Solutions, whose idea of growing food with seawater addresses the degradation of land and the loss of biodiversity.
- Over 3500 pupils from 40 schools around Scotland will take part in Careers Hive in 2020.
- To further encourage teachers to engage with their students about STEM subjects, Careers Hive offers a free Teacher Afternoon on Friday 28 February.
Careers Hive is an annual, week-long free event run by Edinburgh Science Learning, the education arm of Edinburgh Science Foundation and one of the UK’s leaders in science education.
The organisation delivers projects to and for teachers and schools throughout the year which have reached more than a million pupils around Scotland over the past three decades.
Initially developed in 2016, Careers Hive inspires S1-S3 pupils to pursue a STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and maths) career through hands-on activities, workshops and discussions STEM professionals who are early in their careers. The event is designed to help young people realise what skills they possess that might be useful in a STEM career through fun and engaging workshops and activities,
This year the event takes place between 24 and 29 February at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and will welcome over 3500 pupils from 40 schools all around Scotland. The event is now fully booked with school visits but audiences are encouraged to visit the Museum on Saturday 29 February between 11am and 4pm which is the Careers Hive Open Day.
Joan Davidson, Head of Learning at Edinburgh Science, said: “We are so excited to be welcoming over 3500 of Scotland’s young people to the National Museum of Scotland for Careers Hive this February.
“Our aim over the course of the week is to open their eyes to the incredible opportunities available to them through their lives if they continue to study science, technologies and maths at school.
“We hope that by taking part in our massive range of engaging, hands-on activities and by chatting to professionals from the science, tech, engineering and maths industries that are early in their careers, they will think about some of the fascinating jobs that can be open to them in the future and the different education and career paths that lead there.”
EXPERIENCE STEM
Students get hands-on with STEM careers in the Grand Gallery with four themed zones. Throughout each zone students engage with professionals about their jobs, and experience tasks and activities related to different fields.
One of them is Hannah Costello, a British Heart Foundation-funded researcher at the University of Edinburgh, currently in the third year of a four-year PhD with the charity. High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for heart and circulatory disease in Scotland and Hannah’s research investigates the effects of stress and salt on blood pressure.
The zones and some of the activities are:
- Build and Connect looks at our connections through the internet, keeping transport systems running smoothly, designing homes for a growing population and creating happy communities. This includes an activity showing how machines can run a production line efficiently, and engines that participants can take apart to see their inner workings.
- Design and Play illustrates how good design can make a complicated task simple, how to turn an idea into reality, creating and manipulating our digital environments and how coding is changing the world; this includes a special appearance from Robotical’s Marty the Robot, a programmable robot with character.
- Energy and Environment focuses on finding the right mix of energy sources from the environment, smarter ways to distribute energy and technologies that help create clean and green energy; and an augmented reality mapping activity to show how windfarm sites are developed and an activity measuring the infra-red radiation escaping from models to show how we can reduce the carbon footprint of our buildings.
- Heal and Feed examines technology in health and wellbeing and the challenges around getting water where it is needed, feeding a growing population and dealing with disease and epidemics. As part of this, pupils will perform knee, head or abdomen surgery using real-life surgical equipment in E.R. Scottish Water will also be presenting a new activity showing how water gets to our taps and how to deal with waste.
At the centre of the exhibition the Think Tank, supported by Wheatley Foundation, hosts a ‘speed meet-up’ careers activity where students get face-to-face with those in the early stages of a STEM career, giving them the chance to hear about experiences and ask questions.
LIFE AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL supported by Royal Bank of Scotland
Students partake in a panel discussion with young STEM professionals to learn about their jobs, break stigmas and have their own say on important issues in the industry today.
Among others, this year’s line-up includes:
- Yanik Nyberg, founder of Seawater Solutions. After seeing the destructive impacts of conventional agriculture and the threat of rising sea-levels in Scotland, Africa and Asia, Yanik came up with the idea of growing food with seawater to address the degradation of land and the loss of biodiversity. This system of farming creates wetland ecosystems on which food can be grown, while carbon is captured at a rate of up to 40 times higher than the same area of rainforest, and profits are over eight times more profitable than the average potato field.
- Pooja Jain came to Scotland in 2011 to do a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, followed by a master’s degree in Neuroscience by Research at the University of Edinburgh. Her research interests focused on “cognitive characteristics and interventions for neurological disorders”, including lab-based research into various aspects of Alzheimer’s disease. This interest now drives her business, Edinburgh-based CogniHealth, which is developing a “digital companion” called CogniCare for helping people with dementia and their carers.
- Lauren Leisk is the founder and director of award-winning food start up Fodilicious Ltd. The young entrepreneur and Business Management graduate has valuable experience in the food industry. After suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) for many years, Lauren started Fodilicious to bring the UK’s first certified convenience foods to market helping those with IBS and gut health to find products for their diet that are also delicious and healthy for anyone to enjoy, thus fulfilling a huge gap in the UK free from food industry.
- Michael Harkins, the Founder of Turtle Pack, an award-winning swimming aid for children 2+. Having graduated from Heriot-Watt University and worked as a swimming instructor for over a decade, Michael started Turtle Pack in 2015. “Swimming isn’t just a sport – it’s a life skill. I’ve always been passionate about teaching children to swim, whether that’s in lessons or by using Turtle Pack. The tools out there for parents and swimming instructors haven’t really changed in decades, but we understand so much more now about how children best learn new skills.”
An important goal of Careers Hive is to raise awareness amongst young people that there is not a set education or career path they have to follow to work within STEM industries. Many STEM professionals may have a background in something completely different, but they can still use those skills towards a successful science, tech, engineering or maths career.
There will be several speakers from Royal Bank of Scotland at the event, some of whom have not entered their current roles in tech through traditional career paths.
For example, one speaker, Michaela, originally graduated with a degree in Classical Music but after spending time working in university recruitment and admissions, she decided to begin to study towards a Computing and IT degree with the Open University in her spare time. She now works in the bank’s Digital A.I. team as a technical analyst.
SKILLS GATEWAY
The skills gateway workshop will see students explore how the strengths, skills and interests they have and will develop at school will help them tackle challenges in their future workplaces, and get them to think about how to relate the jobs of the future to the challenges of the years to come.
The informal environment simulates a fun and innovative workplace, where people with different strengths and skills work collaboratively and creatively to share ideas and solve challenges.
To encourage teachers to work with their students on STEM subjects, Careers Hive is hosting a Teachers Afternoon on Friday 28 February between 1.30pm and 3.30pm at the National Museum of Scotland.
The afternoon is open to all teachers, with different sessions for primary and secondary educators.
#CareersHive
Baillie Gifford becomes Edinburgh Science Learning headline sponsor
Edinburgh-based investment management firm Baillie Gifford has become headline sponsor of Edinburgh Science Learning, the education arm of educational charity Edinburgh Science who also produces the world’s first and Europe’s biggest science festival.
To mark the occasion, Samantha Pattman, Sponsorship Manager at Baillie Gifford joined Joan Davidson, Head of Learning at Edinburgh Science at Victoria Primary School in Edinburgh where P2 pupils took part in a special preview of Generation Science workshop Bricks and Blocks: a hands-on introduction to programming.
Using laptops and simple drag-and-drop coding, pupils learn about robotics, coding and problem solving.
Joan Davidson, Head of Learning at Edinburgh Science said: “We are extremely pleased to be continuing to work with Baillie Gifford who now become the headline sponsor of Edinburgh Science Learning.
“Their invaluable support will go towards our flagship education projects, Generation Science and Careers Hive, as well as enabling more primary school children to access the Edinburgh Science Festival at City Art Centre Open Days.
“It will also help us deliver our science education projects in the local community.
“Our vision is a world where the value of STEM is recognised and celebrated, in order to achieve a brighter and more sustainable future. With 30 years of experience delivering high-quality engaging shows and workshops, we are a leader in our field, and we are thrilled to have Baillie Gifford supporting us in this ambition.”
Samantha Pattman, Baillie Gifford’s Sponsorship Manager said: “Baillie Gifford is delighted to be headline sponsor for Edinburgh Science Learning. Headquartered in Edinburgh, the firm is proud to play an active role in its community by supporting a diverse variety of projects across festivals and the arts, education and social inclusion.
“As science, technology, engineering and maths roles struggle to be filled and the breadth of STEM-related prospects grow, inspiring young people in science has never been more important.”
Edinburgh Science Learning is one of the UK’s leading science outreach providers and delivers shows, workshops and interactive activities to schools throughout the year. Generation Science is the largest primary science touring programme and over the past three decades it has reached over 1 million pupils around Scotland.
Baillie Gifford’s support of Edinburgh Science Learning will go towards:
1. Generation Science – a programme that brings unique and inspiring science lessons directly to classrooms all over Scotland with highly interactive shows and hands-on workshops. The tour visits schools across Scotland from February to June each year. This year’s offer includes 10 shows and workshops, e.g. brand-new Creative Coding which sees pupils coding their very own dancing robot or Body Builders where students are taken on a journey through our bodily systems with colourful props and hands-on demonstrations.
The spring tour of Generation Science starts on 17 February and will see trained science communicators create interactive and fun environments in nurseries and P1-P7 classrooms and gym halls all over the country. Generation Science is a vital part of the Scottish Government’s STEM strategy for its support of students’ and teachers’ science education in the local authorities.
2. Careers Hive – an immersive careers education event designed to give students in S1-S3 a new way to think about their futures. It highlights the opportunities available to those who study STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) through participatory activities, discussions with early careers STEM professionals and skills workshops. Careers Hive 2020 runs from 24–29 February at the National Museum of Scotland with a public open day on Saturday 29 February.
3. City Art Centre Open Days – on 1 and 2 April, hundreds of pupils from several Edinburgh schools will experience an exclusive preview of the Edinburgh Science Festival’s flagship family venue ahead of its opening to Festival audiences on 4 April.
With five floors to explore, this unique science playground offers several bookable workshops as well as drop-in activities, including ER where children perform a knee, abdomen or brain surgery, Ocean Constructors where they build an exploratory underwater craft or Buzz about bees, teaching all about the importance of bees to the environment and human existence.
Thanks to the support from Baillie Gifford, the Open Days initiative was introduced in 2019 and saw over 400 pupils from 8 Edinburgh schools enjoying the City Art Centre on 3 and 4 April last year.
4. Community Engagement – Edinburgh Science Learning’s projects also include bespoke workshops and activities for various age groups which are developed in close partnership with community partners across Edinburgh.
Preparing teachers for life in the classroom
John Swinney meets the first intake of students on ground-breaking STEM programme
DEPUTY First Minister John Swinney today heard an end-of-term report from students on a newly-launched teacher training programme. Continue reading Preparing teachers for life in the classroom
Housebuilder Supports STEM Curriculum at Pirniehall
Award-winning housebuilder Urban Union is fostering STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) talent among primary pupils in north Edinburgh by running a competition designed to test innovation and creativity.
The competition with Pirniehall Primary, which is located less than a mile from Urban Union and the city council’s Pennywell Living development, saw primary 4 – 7 pupils create house models from scratch using woodwork skills.
24 Pupils picked up awards for their efforts in architectural design, property layout and execution of the marketing brochure.
Ross Neilson, STEM coordinator at Pirniehall Primary School said: “Working with Urban Union on this competition has been a fantastic way to bring the lessons the children have learnt in class to life.
“Through building the wooden models of their house designs, the pupils have learned how to safely cut with saws, measure accurately and glue their structures together. They also learned how to sell these designs, creating architectural drawings and marketing materials for brochures.
“The team at Urban Union came in to give a presentation and provide further insight into the construction industry, demonstrating to pupils how the skills they are learning in class translate into working life.”
STEM is a curriculum which groups subjects science, technology, engineering and maths together, teaching them in an interdisciplinary and applied approach rather than as four separate subjects.
Lauren Jenkins, Architect at Barton Willmore said: “It has been a great experience working with the pupils of Pirniehall Primary School – the work that the children put in was incredible and some of the designs were really incredible.
“It was a particularly special activity for me to support – while at primary school I took part in a similar workshop and the experience and learnings I took from it inspired me to go on to train to become an architect. I hope that we’ve managed to inspire future generations of architects from the work we’ve carried out at Pirniehall.”
Neil McKay, Managing Director at Urban Union said: “At Urban Union we are always looking for ways to engage with the schools, be that through sponsorships, donations or with a more hands on approach like this competition.
“It has been rewarding to see the amazing designs of the pupils at Pirniehall Primary. Working with the school to help give context to its STEM curriculum has been a remarkable experience and one that we hope to replicate.
“Huge congratulations to all of the winners today. We have seen some amazing talent and there is certainly a bright future ahead for the pupils at Pirniehall Primary.”
Pennywell living is part of a housing-led regeneration programme being delivered through a partnership between the City of Edinburgh Council and Urban Union. It is located only two miles from Edinburgh City Centre and is in the catchment area of a number of great local primary and secondary schools.
The development is in prime position to make the most of the many shops, bars and restaurants the capital has to offer and has a wealth of useful amenities in the area, making it perfect for young professionals and families.
To find out more about the houses on offer at Pennywell Living, visit: www.urbanunionltd.co.uk/pennywell-living
Utopia: Trinity’s Bright Idea rewarded in national competiton
A team of Trinity Academy students has returned from the UK final of the Bright Ideas Challenge with their heads held high – the local team of five S3 students won through to the grand final of the nationwide competition and picked up a prize of a further £1000 for their school. Continue reading Utopia: Trinity’s Bright Idea rewarded in national competiton
Trinity students win Scotland title in national schools science competition
A team of five S3 students from Trinity Academy in Edinburgh has fought off tough competition from hundreds of schools across Great Britain to win the Scotland prize in Shell’s national schools’ competition, The Bright Ideas Challenge. Continue reading Trinity students win Scotland title in national schools science competition
The sky’s the limit for City space firm
Lord Provost, Frank Ross has paid tribute to Skyrora as one of the leading lights of the city’s business world during a visit to space firm’s offices.
He visited the Princes Street offices of the rocket developer to meet its team and learn more about its future launch plans. Continue reading The sky’s the limit for City space firm
Putting down roots: the importance of STEM subjects to be explored
The importance of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects in the early years of Scottish education is to be explored by the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee. Continue reading Putting down roots: the importance of STEM subjects to be explored