Science and engineering pioneers awarded for illuminating the way for next generation
Editor of New Scientist praises STEM Ambassadors for showing ‘the human face of science’Four young British men and women working in science and engineering were presented with awards at the House of Lords on 29 April 2009 in recognition of their work as STEM Ambassadors - inspiring young people about the possibilities of careers in science, technology, engineering and maths.
The STEM Ambassadors Programme, co-ordinated by STEMNET, is a network of 19,000 science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) people across the UK who work with local schools and colleges on a voluntary basis to run workshops, activities and experiments, give careers talks and mentor promising students. In the majority of cases these Ambassadors are supported by their employers. Over half of them are under 35 and 40% are women. Their day-jobs range from astro-physics to materials technology, web design to sustainability. STEMNET is aiming to recruit 8,000 more STEM Ambassadors by 2011.
In his keynote speech at the House of Lords event Roger Highfield, Editor of New Scientist, said: “It is a no brainer that our economy is going to be ever more dependent on STEM subjects but it is a matter of some angst just how we get young people animated by science and engineering. I love the STEM Ambassador idea. It sends out a signal that science, engineering, technology and maths are useful and relevant. It shows the human face of science (not the crazy, white-haired, old bloke). It gives teachers much needed support. There's no better way to turn kids on to STEM than to connect them with people who have a genuine passion for the subject.
“Enthusiasm is infectious”, he added, before calling on STEM Ambassadors to “keep on fanning those little embers of interest into flames.”
Yvonne Baker, Chief Executive of STEMNET, said: “The STEM Ambassadors programme has gone from strength to strength since its establishment in 2002. More and more employers and professionals in science, technology, engineering and maths are realising that for their pioneering work to have a future, a new generation of young people must be interested and excited enough to want to take over the baton. Their support for the STEM Ambassadors Programme, through making it part of their educational outreach, CSR or staff-development programmes can be shown to reap real and tangible rewards all round
“We are determined to ensure that the widest possible number of teachers get to know about the extra dimension that the programme can bring to their classrooms and how the real world insights of a STEM Ambassador, coupled with their own inspirational teaching, can spark a life-long love of science, engineering, technology or maths in a young person. We would like to thank all the employers and individuals who take part in the scheme and to congratulate the ‘leading lights’ who are being honoured today.”
Each year schools and colleges that work with who take part in the scheme are invited to nominate a STEM Ambassador for one of four categories; Best Activity, Most Dedicated, Inspiration, and Support and Development. This year’s awards went to:
• Geo-scientist Samme Brough from London for Most Dedicated Ambassador
• Christopher Cleaver, a graduate engineer in Cambridgeshire, for Best Activity
• Jim Nicholson, a scientist with QinetiQ in Dorchester, for Support & Development
• Northern Ireland-based engineer Paul McCauley for Inspiration
Astrium Ltd won the award for Most Dedicated Company – Astrium is part of EADS, Europe’s number one space company, and 55 of its employees currently work as STEM Ambassadors in schools and colleges across the UK.
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
STEMNET (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths Network) aims to ensure that more young people in the UK make a choice to enter science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) related careers at all levels, and future generations are properly informed about the science and technology that surrounds them. STEMNET supports schools and colleges through its national and regional networks along with partner organisations acting as local STEMPOINTS. www.stemnet.org.uk
STEMNET’s flagship is the STEM Ambassadors programme which gives young people the opportunity to meet real-life role models and to be inspired about the possibilities of careers in science, technology, engineering and maths. There are more than 19,000 volunteer STEM Ambassadors across the UK who, with the support of their employers, regularly visit schools and colleges to run activities, offer careers advice, support after-school clubs and mentor students.
Roger Highfield was born in Wales, raised in north London and became the first person to bounce a neutron off a soap bubble. He has written several books on science and was the science editor of The Daily Telegraph for two decades. He is currently the Editor of New Scientist, the world's leading science and technology weekly. www.rogerhighfield.com www.newscientist.com
The STEM Ambassadors appear as part of a portrait exhibition called Leading Lights which opens on 1 May at Manchester Museum of Science and Industry and then tours the country. www.stemnet.org.uk/leadinglights
Full list of awards and winners
Award: Most Dedicated Ambassador
Award presented by: Roger Highfield, Editor of the New Scientist
Winner: Samme Brough, a 24-year-old Geoscientist with Ikon Science
About Samme: Samme has been an outstanding STEM Ambassador since she joined the programme in September 2007. Her enthusiasm for Geoscience and communicating this passion to young people was palpable right from the beginning. She has committed time to working with teachers and careers advisers as well as students themselves in an effort to show how rewarding a career in science can be on a personal as well as professional level. Samme is an excellent role model and a very effective science communicator.
Commenting on her work as a STEM Ambassador Samme Brough said: “It’s fantastic! You literally see the young people switch on when they understand that what they are learning is a real thing. They ask questions that an adult would never think of and every time I go to a school it reminds me why I do, what I do.”
Award: Best Activity
Award presented by: Vivienne Parry
Winner: Christopher Cleaver
Nominated by: Charles Dalleywater, Specialist College Manager, Abbey College, Cambridgeshire
What the school said: “Chris, a young engineer, provided extraordinary support for our Year 9 Carbon Foot-printing days. These events are part of a genuine attempt to involve students in a sustainable future for the school. He did much of the behind the scenes research for the group and organised a day-long planning session at his old Cambridge College which included use of the library and lunch in the Master’s dining room. Altogether 260 Year 9 students experienced the Carbon Footprint days.”
Award: Support & Development
Award presented by: Baroness Morgan
Winner: Jim Nicholson, a scientist with defence company QinetiQ
Nominated by: Judith Wardlaw, the Thomas Hardye School, Dorchester
What the school said: “Jim first helped with our Science and Engineering Club for Year 8 students exploring the physics involved in bicycle engineering and use. Drawing on his experience as a scientist with QinetiQ, Jim was able to help with another club “the Excitement of Science 2008”. The students were challenged to adopt and track an Argo float in the Atlantic Ocean, to interpret data obtained, to make inferences about temperature and salinity applicable to the Gulf Stream and to understand circumstantial evidence of climate change.”
Award: Inspiration
Award presented by: Pat Langford, Director of Programmes at STEMNET
Winner: Paul McCauley
Nominator: Ciaran Kinney, St. Annes Primary School, Corkey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
What the school said: “Paul McCauley was the central figure in a six-man team that helped our school win the Rolls-Royce Science Prize 2008. This is one of the most prestigious science prizes in the U.K. His input at an early stage and constant contact and cooperation, encouragement and enthusiasm during the two years of implementing the project far exceeded what was required of him. When he enters the room Paul energises and enthuses the students, who all look forward to seeing him. Paul has shown the students of a small remote primary school in an area with high levels of unemployment and low levels of education, a range of career options and opportunities in science that they had previously never heard of. He has made an indelible impact on the life chances of the students in my class and I have no doubt many will go on to tertiary education and careers in science as a result.”
Award: Most Dedicated Company
Award presented by: Lord Sainsbury
Winner: Astrium Ltd is the UK arm of EADS Astrium, Europe’s number one space company and an industry world leader. Recognising the importance of maintaining its highly skilled workforce, Astrium has been a long-standing advocate of the promotion of science and engineering to the next generation and embraced the STEM Ambassadors scheme from its inception. Astrium currently has 55 STEM Ambassadors.
