New STEM Challenges and London 2012
New STEM Challenges encourage students to use science and engineering skills to tackle London 2012 challenges.
A new initiative to inspire the next generation of British scientists and engineers was launched today (Monday 12 October) on the Olympic Park in London. All secondary schools in the UK are being urged to take part in a series of ten STEM Challenges which encourage pupils to explore the challenges involved in delivering the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and tackle them using science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills. The STEM Challenge programme is the first to be launched in the practical learning arm of Get Set, the London 2012 education programme.
Matthew Tosh, STEMNET’s STEM Clubs Network Manager, said: “The STEM Challenges can be completed either in the classroom or as part of an after-school STEM Club. They will get students thinking about the real-life issues that the STEM professionals behind the scenes of the 2012 Games face on a daily basis and also give young people across the country a chance to connect with the Olympic and Paralympic Games between now and 2012.
“The aim is for students to experience STEM skills in practice and understand that science and technology doesn’t just happen in the classroom but is a hugely important and enthralling sector to be involved in. STEMNET hopes that initiatives like the STEM Challenges will help to inspire the next generation of great British STEM professionals.”
The STEM Challenges are open to any school or college in England to enter and the first challenge is open for entries from today. All schools in the UK can register for access to the resources and take part. Schools can find out more about the challenges by visiting www.stemchallenges.net for more information.
The closing date for schools to submit their entries for the first STEM Challenge is 11 December. Each school will then be judged when a STEM Ambassador visits their school between 5 and 15 January. Once the judging process is complete, the regional finalists will be announced on 19 January and then a winner for each region will be chosen through an online vote held between 1-5 February. The national final of the nine regional finalists will be held at The Big Bang Fair on 11-13 March, at which the overall winning team will win a tour of the Olympic Park and a trip to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.
