Science: Unlocking potential

News and chat from the frontline of science and technology at PACA

It’s getting warmer. And with that we have started to dig the outside raised beds ready to plant a whole array of things for our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) Cosmetic Beauty Range project. Thank you to Duncan from Jigsaw Gardening for donating the tools. Also we have been taking our kite flying outside, rather than racing them down the science corridor. I am very grateful to Philip Avery, Associate Headteacher at Bohunt Academy, for giving me the various STEM initiatives and especially this one of constructing kites and flying them. It really is a fantastic topic to get the pupils engaged with.

Sharing good practice in STEM projects is essential for ensuring that educational funds are invested effectively and provide maximum benefit to Britain’s school children – thanks also to Scott Atkinson from Midhurst Rother College for providing the ‘hovercraft kits’ and the ‘microbot football challenge’ kits.

The Da Vinci 3D printer we have purchased has caused quite a stir throughout the department; “cool” is the word I hear the most. Staff have been putting in requests: can you print a heart, an enzyme, the world? The first model we build though, was “the death star”. Yes, it is educational since we have so many pupils recognising it … and then we fill their heads with the science!

“Cool” is the word I hear the most …

The STEM coding club is also buzzing thanks to the input of Dr Kate Howland’s MSc students – Anthony Troy, Joel and Melenie. We are awaiting to hear whether we have won the Royal Partnership Grant to fund an ambitious Raspberry Pi/Arduino project (fingers crossed).
I do love my job, and think every school should have a STEM centre. Since the STEM centre is run through the science department it ensures that students are getting a taster of applied science, technology and engineering delivered all at the same time.