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Secondary STEM Update
Welcome to the December edition of Secondary STEM Update. In this edition, you'll find information about: workshops for students from the Natural History Museum and Linnean Learning; competitions for clothing design, featuring wearable technology, conservation and research, and the British Biology Olympiad; the teaser pack for British Science Week; awards, prizes and grants from Rolls-Royce and the Royal Society; and a CPD opportunity.

We wish you all a restful and enjoyable Christmas and New Year.

Investigate for secondary
Investigate is the Natural History Museum's free, hands-on science centre where students can take charge of their own learning. Investigate for secondary workshops focus specifically on using scientific skills. Students conduct their own investigation, choosing from hundreds of real, hands-on specimens. They are encouraged to make detailed observations to generate interesting hypotheses and, crucially, present evidence from their observations to support their ideas. The Natural History Museum's team of science educators facilitate the sessions.

To book a free workshop, visit the Natural History Museum website.

Linnean Learning's Biomedia Meltdown Competition 2019-20
If you're a Greater London teacher working with pupils aged 10-14, the BioMedia Meltdown Competition is an opportunity to offer free, integrated art/science workshops. These STEAM workshops bring natural history to life through cross-curricular learning, using the latest technology alongside traditional and new media techniques.

The work that is produced at the workshops is entered into the Competition, with finalists and their families invited to Burlington House for a celebration event where contestants are eligible for a range of prizes. It is also possible to enter individual entries to the Competition.

The deadline for submissions is 15 March 2020. For more information about the Competition and to book a workshop, email the Linnean Society.

Where Science Meets Art video series
The video above from Linnean Learning is part of a series which explores the overlapping worlds of art and science. Katrina van Grouw, a self-taught scientist with a passion for evolutionary biology and its history, uses her illustrations of bird skeletons as a tool to understand evolution. The beautiful environments featured in the videos were created using artwork produced by London students during the Biomedia Meltdown Competition 2018-19 workshops.

To watch the other videos in the series, visit the Linnean Society website.

Wool4School Design Competition 2020
Wool4School is an annual student design competition open to all UK school students aged from 14 to 19. This year, they are inviting students to design a garment or outfit that embraces the use of wearable technology to enhance garment performance or function. Examples might include wool footwear that tracks your run or a credit card chip in a jacket for ease of purchasing. The closing date for entries is 28 February 2020.

For more information, visit the Wool4School website.

'Big BeeWalk Data' research competition
The Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s ‘Big BeeWalk Data’ research competition gives students aged 11-19 an insight into conservation and research. Students have the opportunity to access scientific data collected through the Trust’s BeeWalk citizen science project and produce their own unique research project that will contribute to our understanding of bumblebees.

Starting on 5 November 2019, the competition runs until 7 February 2020. For full details, including terms and conditions and research guidelines, click here.

British Biology Olympiad 2020
The British Biology Olympiad (BBO) is open to students around the world. The 2020 competition will take place between 31 January and 7 February 2020 and is open to students in post-16 education studying at school or college.

The BBO challenges students with an interest in biology to expand and extend it. It enables them to demonstrate their knowledge and be rewarded with certificates and medals. The competition consists of two, 45-minute multiple choice papers to be taken online under staff-supervised exam conditions. Top scoring students are offered the opportunity to attend an award ceremony in London.

The BBO is also the first stage in selecting a team to represent the UK at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) that seeks to challenge by both theory and practical tests some of the top pre-university biology students in the world, with over sixty countries taking part.

Teachers can register students for the competition now.
British Science Week short teaser pack of activities and ideas available
Preview packs to help you prepare for British Science Week are now available to download. They contains two activities, poster competition information and an array of resources and ideas you can use for the Week. The full pack with even more activities will be published in January 2020.
Do you know a teacher who is inspiring young engineers?
The David Clark Prize seeks to reward exceptional teachers who have gone the extra mile in inspiring young people to consider engineering as a profession and career. There are two prizes, one for teachers working in primary schools and another for teachers in secondary schools, colleges or UTCs. Each prize includes a £3,000 personal award for the prize winner (with no restrictions on use) and a further £5,000 for the school to be used to further promote engineering within the school. It is envisaged that the prize winner will help determine how the funds should be spent. The prize winner will also become a fellow of the ERA Foundation.

If you know a teacher who has gone above and beyond what is required in the teaching syllabus, with a strong track record of showcasing real-world engineering to students such as running a STEM Club using CREST Awards, take a look at the assessment criteria.

To nominate a teacher, download the application form, complete it and email it to STEM Learning. The deadline for nominations is 5pm on the 24 January 2020.

Funding for CREST Awards for underrepresented audiences
If you are interested in using CREST Awards to enrich your STEM curriculum, work with pupils who are underrepresented in STEM careers, but struggle with resources, the British Science Association's second round of CREST Awards funding for underrepresented audiences is now open.

For more information, visit the CREST Awards website.
Rolls-Royce Schools Prize for Science & Technology
The Rolls-Royce Schools Prize for Science & Technology is an annual awards programme that helps teachers increase science, mathematics, and technology engagement in their schools and colleges. It is open to all schools and colleges in the UK.

To enter, submit an application outlining an idea for a sustainable science, mathematics or technology initiative, specific to your school, that you would deliver between September 2020 and June 2021. Each year up to 50 schools are awarded a £1,000 Special Merit Award for STEM teaching in school. Special Merit Award winners are automatically entered into the finalist short-list and get a chance to win the coveted Rolls-Royce Schools Prize for Science & Technology.

Judging for Special Merit Awards is done on a half termly basis, so submit your application as soon as you’re ready. The final deadline for entries is 11 April 2020.

For more information, visit the STEM Learning website.

The Royal Society's Partnership Grants
This scheme offers schools up to £3,000 to run an investigative project and the next round of funding will open in February 2020, so now is a great time to start thinking about your ideas and finding a STEM partner.

If you are interested in applying, why not read their blog about the next round which provides some valuable advice on things you need to consider in developing your project.
South London Triple Science Network
All science teachers are invited to join this free triple science network. Their final event of the year is at Kingston University 4-5.30pm on 10 December where there is a packed agenda including items from inspiring speakers, local schools, STEM ambassador co-ordinators, Imperial College and Kingston University.  The network is not just for triple science teachers but is also suitable for trainees, NQTs, science leaders and STEM leads. It aims to allow teachers to network and discuss curriculum issues, introduce local STEM facilities and provide updates on local events and CPD opportunities.

To book, visit the STEM Learning website.
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