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STEM Opportunities 10.4

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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!

We'd like to wish you a Merry Christmas from the STEM team. Thanks to all the subject teachers and careers advisors for your support in coordinating activity at school and at the University over the past year. 


Leeds Festival of Science 2020

6 March - 25 March 2020

We look forward to welcoming you to Leeds Festival of Science 2020!

There are events across Leeds for you to enjoy between 6th and 25th March 2020.

We are looking forward to working with schools and colleges during a festival packed with activities for Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 5 and teachers involving science, maths, engineering and geography.

How to apply:

Apply online: Leeds Festival Of Science online booking form

Further information: To find out more about the Festival please visit our Leeds Festival of Science 2020 page

The 2020 Schools Programme for the Leeds Festival of Science is available here


Leeds Loves STEM talks

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

We have recently recruited a new batch of Leeds Loves Ambassadors who are ready to give talks in 2020. Our  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.

Please click the link below to request a talk for your school.

For more information and to request a Leeds Loves STEM talk

Connect Physics Day (Free)

Wednesday 18 December 2019 - 10:30am-14:30pm at University of Leeds
Target audience: Year 8 and 9 students

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: Connect Physics Day application form

Further information: To find out more about the day, please visit our Connect Physics Day page.

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

Booking information: Teachers can book either 15 or 30 students per school (accompanied by a teacher or member of staff).


Institute of Physics Yorkshire Day – Free CPD for All Teachers

Wednesday 8 January 2020 - 9:30am to 3:30pm at University of Leeds
School of Physics and Astronomy

This FREE day of CPD training is designed to inspire your teaching, upgrade and develop your practical physics skills and present new ideas and suggestions to incorporate into your teaching armoury.

Following the main programme there will be a coaching workshop for anyone who works with other teachers to develop their professional practice.

How to apply:

Book online via the Institute of Physics Yorkshire Day page.


KS4 STEM Day:

Wednesday 22 January 2020 - 915am - 2:45pm  at University of Leeds
Target audience: Year 10 and 11 students 

Experience STEM as you’ve never seen it before! This hands-on day is for students with the interest and ability to pursue science at the next level.

Students will be given a taste of where science is used in areas they may not have considered, and how it can help shape the future of the world they live in! We’ll be encouraging participants to consider how broad the field of science is and exposing them to just some of the vast career opportunities available. Practical sessions will focus on the environment, the food industry and plant science.

Students will have the opportunity to take part in a Q&A session with researchers and go on a tour of the campus to get a feel for what it’s really like to study at a university.

How to apply:

Deadline for applications Wednesday 8 January 2020

Book your place now by via this link: https://www.york.ac.uk/excellencehub/subject-taster-events/events/2019-20/stem-nottheusualsuspects/

Further information: 60 spaces are available for this event. Lunch is provided.


Biology Practical Assessment Days, Key Stage 5 (Free)

25 February 2020 – 1-3pm at University of Leeds
Faculty of Biological Sciences
Target audience: For year 12 students studying Biology at Post 16.

Students are invited to visit the Faculty of Biological Sciences at University of Leeds for an afternoon and take part in a Microbiology and Molecular Biology practical activity. Students will evaluate the effect of antibiotics on bacterial growth, and carry out gel electrophoresis for the separation of DNA or protein. This event is designed to align to the required practical activities specified by several A-level examination boards, and will be led/assessed by you, the teacher, and supported by Dr Chris Randall, lecturer in Microbiology at the University of Leeds.

Lunch is optional, please let us know in advance if you would like us to book a space for students to eat a packed lunch.

How to apply:

Deadline for applications 12pm, Wednesday 5 February 2020

Apply online: Biological Practical Assessment Days application form

Further information: For more information please contact STEM Outreach Lead Officer, Natalie Duffield-Moore – n.duffield-moore@leeds.ac.uk

Places are offered on a first come first served basis and students are required to be studying Biology at Post 16.

This event is open to teachers to book on behalf of school groups (min 15 students per school and max 45).


Biological Sciences Taster Day, Key Stage 5 (Free)

Monday 30 March 2020 - 9:30- 3pm at University of Leeds
Faculty of Biological Sciences
Target Audience: For year 12 & 13 students studying Biology at Post 16. 

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 8 March 2020

Apply online: Biological Sciences Sciences Taster Day Application form

Further information: For more information please contact Natalie Duffield-Moore – n.duffield-moore@leeds.ac.uk

Places are offered first come first served basis with consideration of Post 16 qualifications.

Teachers to book and select students (max 15) to attend/students to apply individually.


Key Stage 5 Maths Day

Wednesday 1 April 2020 at University of Leeds

Join us on campus for a free day of mathematics with your Year 12 students. In the morning choose from three interactive options:

A: Untangling knot theory

B: Hidden symmetries of nature

C: Hands-on mathematics and talk about studying mathematics at Leeds

Followed by the 2020 W. P. Milne Lecture delivered by Dr James Cranch.  We can’t wait!

How to apply:

Deadline for applications 31st January 2020

Apply online: Key Stage 5 Maths day booking form

Further information: To find out more please visit www.stem.leeds.ac.uk/KS5mathsday


Salters Festival of Chemistry

Thursday 21 May 2020 at University of Leeds
Target audience: Year 7 and or 8 students in England and Wales

A day of activities and challenges designed to inspire budding young scientists. Students will experience hands-on practical Chemistry challenges in university labs and carry out investigations ‘like a real Chemist’. Gain team working and independent problem solving skills and experience amazing chemical demonstrations. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 winning schools in each challenge, and fun prizes and certificates will be given to all participants.

How to apply:

Applications are now open at, www.saltersinstitute.co.uk/festivals/

Only £30 per team (non refundable)

Further information: If you have any questions regarding a student's specific needs, please do not hesitate to get in touch with The Salters' Institute - Festivals@salters.co.uk

Teachers: Come and meet your local RSC Education Coordinator, participate in interactive CPD opportunities and take ideas back to the classroom, whilst networking with like-minded colleagues.


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.

Further information: Please visit our Connect Physics page to learn more and book for you school.

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


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:
To see what other online courses are available please visit the Online Courses section of the website.


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.


Time travel with photography:

Thursday 5 December - 1pm-6pm
Open Source Arts 1A, Aire Place Mills, Kirkstall Rd, Leeds LS3 1JL

As part of the Royal Academy of Engineering project ‘The Art of a Sustainable Future’ led by James Mckay at the University of Leeds www.stem.leeds.ac.uk/sustainablefuture, photographer Jonathan Turner will create a digital composite photograph showing Leeds in the (not too distant!) future as a
POSITIVE, OPTIMISTIC, ZERO CARBON, SUSTAINABLE society!

Jonathan needs your help to populate the scene with people doing interesting sustainable/zero carbon activities - whatever you want to imagine! We are looking for volunteers of all types including climate change/sustainability activists and anyone else interested in participating in a photo-shoot, to represent the people of Leeds in the future!

Get Involved:

The photo-shoot will be a drop in session. Jonathan will photograph individuals and small groups of people against a green screen. These photos will then be cut out and assembled into a final composite digital image. Please turn up and wait your turn to be photographed, we will try to get through everyone as quickly as possible!

Refreshments will be available: tea/coffee/biscuits


New Holgate Session Leader

We are pleased to announce that Dr Richard Elwes has recently been appointed as a Holgate Session Leader by the London Mathematical Society – to find out more about Richard and the scheme please visit:

www.lms.ac.uk/events/lectures/holgate-lectures-and-workshops#RICHARD%20ELWES