Materials Science Award

School groups in year 7 - 9 are invited to design, test and create new materials enhancing their Science, Maths and Design & Technology knowledge while discovering their inner Engineer.

Programme & Activity

Programme Structure. All schools to complete stages 1 & 2 for students to receive a certificate at the Celebration Event at The University of Leeds on Friday 20 June 2025, 10 - 12pm

School groups will discover new materials across three topics with access to facilities in The Bragg Centre:

• Alternative Materials
• Sustainability
• Females in Engineering

• Stage 1: In- school workshops

Available October 2024- February 2025 (to select at least 1 workshop)

Delivered on your preferred date, these 1 hour/ 1.5 hour workshops involve designing and testing new materials while relating examples to everyday life.  Delivered by an Engineering Education Outreach Fellow, students will have the opportunity to ask questions about university and related  careers

All materials and resources are provided. 

Curriculum Topic	Name of Activity	Year Group
Plastics and Polymers	Ceramic Creations	7 to 9
Sustainable Design	Designing a sustainable music festival	7 to 9
Sustainable Design	Water Filtration Experiment	7 to 9
Product Design	Surgical Instruments	7 to 9

 

• Stage 2: On- campus events

Option 1: Alternative Materials - Wednesday 27 November 2024 (to attend 1 out of 2 campus events)

Students are invited onto campus to take part in a series of practical activities specialising in Chemical & Process Engineering, Medical Engineering and Physics.  In addition to meeting academics, students will receive a campus tour and meet current undergraduates studying Engineering.

Option 2: Sustainable World - Tuesday 11 February 2025 (to attend 1 out of 2 campus events)

Students are invited onto campus to take part in a series of practical activities specialising in 3D printing and recycled materials.  In addition to meeting academics, students will receive a campus tour and meet current undergraduates studying Engineering.

All materials and resources are provided.

 

• Stage 3: Celebration Event on Friday 20 June 2025, 10 - 12pm

All schools and students that took part in at least one in-school activity and one campus event will receive a certificate of achievement. Students are invited to the University of Leeds to collect their certificates from the STEM Team Manager, Steve Gleadall.

 

Background Information

The STEM Outreach team works closely with academics from The Bragg Centre for Materials Research, a centre for advanced materials and research innovation.

The University of Leeds is a founding partner in the Sir Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials and aims to be a world-leading centre for advanced materials research and commercialisation. The Institute's work at Leeds is based at the Bragg Centre.

The Institute’s remit is to support the UK manufacturing base and reduce the time to take new materials from invention to market.