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STEM Opportunities 10.2

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STEM Opportunities Newsletter
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STEM Opportunities is our monthly newsletter for teachers which details upcoming events and information that may be of interest.

Check out our most recent issue below and subscribe here to receive future issues!


Institute of Physics Lecture Series - The Rise and Rise of Data Science
Free

Wednesday 23 October 2019 - 7pm - 8pm
University of Leeds, Michael Sadler Building, Rupert Beckett Lecture Theatre

Discover more about the ever-rising field of data science at a talk delivered by Mike Ries. This event is free to attend and no advanced booking is required.

Multi-storey car park at the University of Leeds is open to the general public after 5pm.  Up to two hours costs £2. http://carparking.leeds.ac.uk/directions-to-campus/


Physics Tater Day
Key Stage 5
Free

Wednesday 6 November 2019 - 10am-2:30pm at University of Leeds
School of Physics and Astronomy
Target audience:  Year 12 or 13 and studying both Physics and Maths at A-level.

The next Physics Taster Days will occur on Wednesday 6 November 2019 and Tuesday 31 March 2020. Applications for the November event are now open to both individual and group bookings.

How to apply:

Booking for the taster day are now open. The deadline to apply is Sunday 27 October.

Apply online:
https://xforms.leeds.ac.uk/forms/form/1281/en/physics_taster_day

Further information:
Please visit - //www.stem.leeds.ac.uk/physics/tasterday  or contact Ms Erin McNeill, Physics Outreach Officer, at e.mcneill@leeds.ac.uk to find out more.


Junior Robot Fighting League
Year 12 & 13 Engineering Study Programme
Free

Session one: Wednesday 13 November 2019 - 9:15am- 3pm at University of Leeds
Session two: Wednesday 12 February 2020 - 3:30pm-7pm at University of Leeds
Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences
Target Audience: For year 12 & 13 students studying Maths and or Computing & Physics or another Science at A Level 0r equivalent. Teachers to book and select students (max 20) to attend. Students can also apply individually.

Are you interested in studying Engineering at University? Do want to build your own robot and compete in the Junior Robot Fighting League? Whether you want to study robotics at HE or learn more about types of engineering available with an interest in robotics, this programme is for you.

Take part in a two day programme where you will work with academics and post graduates from The University of Leeds robotics departments to explore engineering and robotics. You will be invited to design and manufacture your own robot before competing in the Junior Robot Fighting League (delivered by undergraduate students from Shocksoc, the Electrical & Electronics society at Leeds).

This programme will invite you explore types of engineering courses available at Higher Education and share top tips on writing personal statements and student finance.

All work will be completed at the University during the two sessions.

How to apply:

Places are offered first come first served basis with consideration for subjects being studied at Post 16. Please note you must commit to attending both dates above.

Deadline for applications 12pm, Monday 21 October 2019

Apply online:
https://xforms.leeds.ac.uk/forms/form/1600/en/junior_robot_fighting_league-teacher_and_individual_booking_form

Further information:
To find out more please visit -  https://www.stem.leeds.ac.uk/junior-robot-fighting-league/ or contact Natalie Duffield-Moore, STEM Lead Officer.

n.duffield-moore@leeds.ac.uk / 0113 343 1062


The Bolton Lecture in Astrophysics: New Worlds in Our Galaxy
Free

Wednesday 13 Nov 2019 - 5:30pm-6:30pm at University of Leeds
Auditorium 1, The Conference Auditorium

Join the school of Physics and Astronomy for this years Bolton Lecture in Astrophysics. This years lecture will focus on exoplanets and the mission to discover more about their nature and formation.

Further information:
For more information and to register your place please visit - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-worlds-in-our-galaxy-the-2019-bolton-lecture-in-astrophysics-tickets-73943148949


Biological Sciences Taster Day
Key stage 5
Free

Wednesday 27 November 2019 - 9:30- 3pm at University of Leeds
Faculty of Biological Sciences
Target audience: For year 12 & 13 students studying Biology at Post 16. Teachers to book and select students (max 15) to attend . Students can also apply individually.

Are you currently in year 12 with an interest in studying Biological Sciences at the next level? Join us for a taster day where you will experience life as an undergraduate by carrying out practical experiments in our teaching labs, discovering new subjects, exploring the campus and speaking to current staff and students in the Faculty of Biological Sciences.

This event is free of charge to attend and lunch is provided.

How to apply:

Deadline for applications Sunday 3 November 2019.

Apply online:
https://xforms.leeds.ac.uk/forms/form/1543/en/year_12_biological_sciences_study_day-27_november_2019

Further information:
To find out more please visit - https://www.stem.leeds.ac.uk/biologicalsciences/tasterday or contact Mike Billingham – m.billingham@leeds.ac.uk


Medicine - Not Just About Medics
Key stage 4
Free

Monday 16 December 2019 - 9:45am – 3:15pm at University of Leeds
Faculty of Biological Sciences
Target Audience: For high attaining students in Year 10 and Year 11. This event is open to groups of up to 10 students accompanied by a teacher.

Do you currently teach high attaining Year 10 and Year 11 students? Many students are interested in medicine but not all will become doctors.  Join us for our Medicine – Not just about medics event where your students will participate in three different practical activities from subjects across STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), exploring other medically related research areas and degree programmes at the University of Leeds

This event is free of charge, however attendees will need to bring their own packed lunches.

How to apply:

Deadline for applications Sunday 3 November.

Apply online:
https://xforms.leeds.ac.uk/forms/form/1573/en/medicine__not_just_about_medics-16_december_2019

Further information:
To find out more please contact Mike Billingham - m.billingham@leeds.ac.uk


Connect Physics Day

Wednesday 18 December 2019 - 10:30am-14:30pm at University of Leeds
Target audience: Year 8 and 9 students
Booking information: Schools can book either 15 or 30 students per school (accompanied by a teacher or member of staff).

This will be a fun day for Year 8 and/or 9 students where they’ll learn that:

  • Anyone can do physics.
  • Physics is exciting, relevant & important; it goes beyond the classroom.
  • Studying physics further broadens career possibilities.

This event is free of charge to attend but lunch will not be provided.

How to apply:

Apply online:
https://xforms.leeds.ac.uk/forms/form/1594/en/connect_physics_day-wednesday_18_december_2019

Further information:
Please visit - //www.stem.leeds.ac.uk/physics/connectphysics/ to learn more about the activities.

Please contact Ms Erin McNeill, Physics Outreach Officer, at e.mcneill@leeds.ac.uk for more information.


Connect Physics Workshops in Schools

Target audience: Key stage 3 students of all science abilities.

A series of three workshops delivered in schools that encourage students to think of the bigger picture through connecting different ideas, such as topics from KS3 science, the latest physics research or their everyday lives.

These workshops are suitable for KS3 pupils. Up to 30 pupils per session. Three sessions delivered in series over the academic year.

Further information:
Please visit -  https://www.stem.leeds.ac.uk/physics/connectphysics/ to learn more and to book.


Leeds Loves STEM talks

Target Audience: KS4 or KS5
Duration: 1 hour (includes two student talks)

Our student ambassadors will give a presentation and answer questions about their degree subjects, career paths and their experiences of studying at the University of Leeds.

These talks are a chance for your pupils to find out more about specific STEM subjects and opportunities in higher education. They allow pupils to explore some of the options available for further study and would be ideal for pupils making decisions about which subjects to study at a higher level.

For more information and to request a Leeds Loves STEM talk

Online courses

The University of Leeds provides FREE quality online courses to help students make the transition to university.  These courses can be used as a classroom enrichment resource or independently by students to discover exciting subject areas presented by leading academics.

The latest one is on Ecology and Wildlife Conservation and consists of five short online courses that look at the relationships between people and nature, and the challenging and difficult decisions we face when managing natural resources.

How to apply:

To sign up please visit - https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/ecology-and-wildlife-conservation

Further information:
Other online courses available, please visit - https://www.stem.leeds.ac.uk/onlinecourses/ and choose a course that suits you.


Spinal Angles, Statistics and Scoliosis

Curriculum Area: Geometry and Statistics – KS3 Mathematics
Target Audience: Mid-attaining KS3 pupils in Year 8/9

This session is a great way to show students that the maths skills they are developing are used in the real world in various professions.

The students will find out what the "Cobb angle" is and explore how to determine and measure it to understand scoliotic curve severity from spinal x-rays and analysing results for orthopaedic healthcare applications/professionals.

Limited availability Monday to Thursday in West Yorkshire.

Contact stem@leeds.ac.uk to request a session.


Online survey for all institutions offering post-16 (Level 3) maths provision

To all institutions offering post-16 (Level 3) maths provision

You are invited to participate in an online survey which is part of a three-year project looking at how Core Maths provision is developing in schools and colleges across the country, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, and carried out by a research team at the University of Leeds. The link to the survey is https://leeds.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/core-maths

We are interested in teacher and manager views on Core Maths (whether or not individuals or institutions are teaching it).

We would be grateful if you could share this link with teachers and managers within your own maths networks, and encourage participation via social media as appropriate.

The survey should only take 10-15 minutes to fill in, and there is a prize of £250 to encourage participation.