The Weybridge and District STEM Team members are so appreciative of the positive welcome given at Cobham Free School in Surrey this week where there was a chance to help launch the British Science Week National Poster Competition during an assembly. It gave local soroptimists a chance to also advertise the #BSW insights and breadth and scope especially activities open to students and communities for ‘at home’ science learning during March and over the year to come.
Some 300 Year 7,8 and 9 pupils listened patiently to details of this year’s #BSW theme ‘TIME’. A soroptimist, herself a life scientist, gave a 10 minute overview of the opportunities prevailing during #BSW for students and families to learn have fun and take part. She followed an inspiring short presentation by a female 6th former who plans a career in motorsport engineering .
Our presentation highlighted not only the national poster competition but the Nature’s Calendar Project run by the Woodland Trust and the Greenpeace sponsored Big Plastic Count from 11-18th March. For older students facing GCSE selection the #smashingstereotypes ‘YouTube’ resources seemed very apt. After a brief introduction to soroptimist projects enabling girls and women to thrive and succeed, there was also a chance to share some information on the STEM workplace gender gap in Britain and the partnership which is being forged with local secondary schools to encourage and reward girls who keep options open and aspire to securing knowledge which allow access to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths based careers where skills shortages are profound.
Poster Competition
Pupils can work alone or with friends to investigate “The impact women have had in Science/Technology over time” or indeed ‘How TIME has impacted girls and women’s progress in these areas or might do so in future. The posters A4 or A3 in size must be original and depict the content clearly so they can be photographed for submission; the Head of Science needs to receive them by March 15th. The most impressive posters will be submitted to the National Competition a week later. There are Soroptimist STEMSTAR Reward Prizes for those teams or individuals whose posters are submitted and of course the opportunity to win the #BSW national prizes, acclaim and gain new experiences whilst having fun doing research and presenting ideas.
It was such a pleasure to see the cheerful pupils on the way to assembly, and to be part of the school science team enhancing opportunity for all pupils to learn about science given the huge demand there is for those skills in the workplace now and in future. Sincerest thanks to the staff and SLT who we have to thank for their keen support. Good luck to all the students during their Science Week competition events at school and the poster competition!
