Get on With Science

- Techniquest, Cardiff Bay

Get On With Science (GOWS) is a new project being funded by the Welsh Government’s Department of Education and Skills, and was launched in January 2012 by Chwarae Teg and ContinYou Cymru.

GOWS aims to improve the delivery of science in schools in Wales and to encourage all pupils, especially girls, to pursue science subjects and consequently consider careers in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) industries.

Welsh Women Scientists

Not many of us can reel off the names of prominent Welsh women in the science industries but all this may be about to change with the launch of the GOWS project. Pupils currently studying in Welsh schools could soon join the ranks of the following women, who have all made notable contributions to science from the peak years of the Industrial Revolution to the present day.

Read More...

GOWS Activity

Insight into Industry

One of the aims of the project is to organise ‘Insight into Industry’ sessions for teachers. These sessions will be held in science related workplaces and have four main purposes:

• To give teachers a practical appreciation of the modern STEM workplace
• To raise awareness of career opportunities in STEM
• To promote STEM links between schools and industry
• To provide a platform for discussing key issues around gender inequality in the workforce

The first ‘Insight into Industry’ session was held on 16 November 2012 at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK, Flintshire, where Toyota car engines are made. The session included a presentation on manufacturing, a plant tour with time to see the training facilities, a talk on career opportunities at Toyota and a robotic challenge workshop from Techniquest Glyndŵr. The session improved the teachers’ own perceptions of industry and they left with many ideas ready to pass on to their schools.

The second session was held during the afternoon of 22 November 2

012 at Organic Energy, Welshpool. The company specialises in wood pellet boiler heating systems and the afternoon was spent enjoyably debating the positive aspects of such systems and finding out how they work.

The eight attendees over the two ‘Insight into Industry’ sessions all gave the visits a 5 out of 5 rating. A very positive outcome for the GOWS project and the bar is now set high for future sessions in the Spring Term 2013.

23^rd October, Anglesey

The first training and activity day for Anglesey schools took place on 23^rd October. The day involved representatives from 5 Anglesey schools, and included demonstrations on a range of science activities and resources, all designed to equally engage boys and girls in science lessons. Highlights of the day included an inspirational talk by UK Young Engineer of the Year, Jessica Jones, and a hands-on activity on electricity by David Evans of Sarn Associates. Help was also available from Careers Wales, who provided a wealth of tips and information on science provision on the island.

25^th October, Wrexham

Teachers in Wrexham and Flintshire attended their follow-up training day on 25^th October at Techniquest Glyndwr. Teachers from participating schools gave a presentation on their progress on the project so far and further discussion was had on future activity, particularly an ‘Insight into Industry Day’ teachers will be attending at the Toyota factory on 16^th November. The project also welcomed a new science champion, forensic specialist Nerys Aird, who has worked as a forensic scientist for the police for over 20 years.

8^th November, Newtown

Three new school clusters – Newtown, Machynlleth and Welshpool – joined the project for their initial training and activity day in Newtown on 8^th November. The day included a demonstration of excerpts from Science Made Simple’s award-winning science shows, which showcased innovative ways of teaching a range of science disciplines from acoustics to cryogenics. The teachers were joined by two new science champions, astrophysicist Mike Corcoran and computer scientist Dr Hannah Dee, who provided lively demonstrations on the science of colour, light and sound and Raspberry Pi. The day concluded with inspirational talks by science champions Jessica Jones and Graham Nutt, and an opportunity for teachers to create their project action plans.

11th March, Newtown

Southdown and Mountain Lane primary schools in Buckley, Flintshire, turned their pupils into ‘Super Scientists’ during the week beginning 11th March.

Every pupil in years 1 to 6 spent a day taking part in science workshops, with the emphasis on making science fun, relevant and accessible to all pupils, especially girls.

Selected workshops were run by local science industry professionals, to give pupils a taste of science in the real world.

Younger pupils made and tested balloon powered aircraft with Suzanne Ellis and Andrew Steele, STEM Ambassadors and Airbus apprentices whilst others were kitted out as forensic experts by Nerys Aird, forensic scientist and Science Champion for the ‘Get on with Science’ project.

If the schools ever need help solving a crime, they now have many keen crime scene investigators ready to take fingerprints!

Other workshops included; Fire Safety from Bethan Williams, Community Safety Educationalist with North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, fossil and rock investigations from Arden Early Learning, electricity and circuits from David Evans of Sarn, night-time animals and ‘Want to work in a zoo?’ from Chester Zoo Safari Rangers, and Humpty Dumpty and Solar Power challenges from Techniquest Glyndŵr.

Both schools invited the pupils to come back after school to show their families the activities they had taken part in during their ‘Super Science Days’.

Dawn Colyer, GOWS Project Liaison Officer said:

“It was lovely to hear the pupils explaining how the equipment worked to their families and to find out which workshop they liked the best”.

Pupil questionnaires show that all the pupils appreciated being ‘Super Scientists’, with the unanimous response: “It was brilliant”.

Thanks is due to Mrs Nicholls and Mrs Tomkinson for arranging the days, putting together the hedgehog forensics workshop and for ensuring everything ran smoothly. The ‘Super Science Days’ will be talked about for a long time to come.