Meet real scientists!
Sparking STEM is delighted to be able to offer free opportunities for school children to meet real scientists online, and ask them questions about their work.
Who are the scientists?
When and where?
What age is it suitable for?
How many students can take part?
Which scientists will we meet?
How can this support our curriculum learning?
What do we need to do to take part?
What does it cost?
Do you record sessions?
When and where?
What age is it suitable for?
How many students can take part?
Which scientists will we meet?
How can this support our curriculum learning?
What do we need to do to take part?
What does it cost?
Do you record sessions?
Who are the scientists?
The scientists your students will meet are mostly Postgraduate Research Scientists carrying out research in a wide range of fields. Since we began doing this in 2018, we've had researchers from a range of UK Universities as well as those working for the Natural History Museum, British Antarctic Survey and British Geological Survey. They work in a broad range of fields such as Ecological sciences, Geographical sciences, Palaeo Oceanography, Biological sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geochemistry, Electrical engineering, Mathematical sciences, Life Sciences, Chemistry, Mechanical engineering, Psychology, Bioengineering, Biochemistry, Genetic engineering and more. We've had researchers who investigate Martian polar vortices, gravitational waves, penguin adaptations to climate change, volcano deformation... and so much more! One of the great benefits of joining these sessions is seeing children broaden their awareness of the many diverse applications of a career in science, and the diversity of the people that work in science.
The scientists are attending our Effective Outreach with Children training course, as they are keen to develop their skills in communicating their science to children.
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The scientists your students will meet are mostly Postgraduate Research Scientists carrying out research in a wide range of fields. Since we began doing this in 2018, we've had researchers from a range of UK Universities as well as those working for the Natural History Museum, British Antarctic Survey and British Geological Survey. They work in a broad range of fields such as Ecological sciences, Geographical sciences, Palaeo Oceanography, Biological sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geochemistry, Electrical engineering, Mathematical sciences, Life Sciences, Chemistry, Mechanical engineering, Psychology, Bioengineering, Biochemistry, Genetic engineering and more. We've had researchers who investigate Martian polar vortices, gravitational waves, penguin adaptations to climate change, volcano deformation... and so much more! One of the great benefits of joining these sessions is seeing children broaden their awareness of the many diverse applications of a career in science, and the diversity of the people that work in science.
The scientists are attending our Effective Outreach with Children training course, as they are keen to develop their skills in communicating their science to children.
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When and where?
These opportunities are online so you can join from anywhere. Each session lasts 30 minutes.
When a new event becomes available we will email all the schools who have asked to be notified to let them know of the date and time the available slot and the event will be allocated to interested schools as fairly as possible.
If you would like to be notified when a new opportunity becomes available, please complete this quick form (or click any of the "notify me" buttons).
The dates and times of the events are fixed and set in advance. If you really want to take part but need slight adjustments (within an hour or so) of the given time, we may be able to accommodate this and will be happy to work with you to try to adjust accordingly.
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These opportunities are online so you can join from anywhere. Each session lasts 30 minutes.
When a new event becomes available we will email all the schools who have asked to be notified to let them know of the date and time the available slot and the event will be allocated to interested schools as fairly as possible.
If you would like to be notified when a new opportunity becomes available, please complete this quick form (or click any of the "notify me" buttons).
The dates and times of the events are fixed and set in advance. If you really want to take part but need slight adjustments (within an hour or so) of the given time, we may be able to accommodate this and will be happy to work with you to try to adjust accordingly.
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Which scientists will we meet?
Approximately two weeks before each event you will be notified of the scientists (there will be up to twelve in each event) who will be attending your session. You'll be given their names and a short description of their field of research in child-accessible language a week or so in advance so that your students can prepare prepare questions for their chosen scientist(s) if you would like them to.
When we contact schools to notify them of new opportunities, we will provide any information we have at that stage of the likely research areas of the scientists, and will tell you which Universities or research organisations they work with.
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Approximately two weeks before each event you will be notified of the scientists (there will be up to twelve in each event) who will be attending your session. You'll be given their names and a short description of their field of research in child-accessible language a week or so in advance so that your students can prepare prepare questions for their chosen scientist(s) if you would like them to.
When we contact schools to notify them of new opportunities, we will provide any information we have at that stage of the likely research areas of the scientists, and will tell you which Universities or research organisations they work with.
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What age is it suitable for?
Our scientists are keen to meet children of all ages so please feel free to get in touch whether you are from a primary or secondary school. We have found that students from Year four and up seem to get the most of these opportunities. There are many aspects of the curriculum in year 5 and 6 that link particularly well with these opportunities, (see below).
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Our scientists are keen to meet children of all ages so please feel free to get in touch whether you are from a primary or secondary school. We have found that students from Year four and up seem to get the most of these opportunities. There are many aspects of the curriculum in year 5 and 6 that link particularly well with these opportunities, (see below).
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How many students can take part?
Which students take part is entirely up to you. The session is only 30 minutes, so you may wish to think about how manageable it would be with anything larger the a standard class size. You may wish for a specific class to take part, or to arrange and select students from a year group representing classes. You may have a club or a group with a keen interest in science who would benefit from the experience. If it would help, we are happy to talk through ideas with you, just mention it in the comments section of the "please notify me of opportunities" form.
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Which students take part is entirely up to you. The session is only 30 minutes, so you may wish to think about how manageable it would be with anything larger the a standard class size. You may wish for a specific class to take part, or to arrange and select students from a year group representing classes. You may have a club or a group with a keen interest in science who would benefit from the experience. If it would help, we are happy to talk through ideas with you, just mention it in the comments section of the "please notify me of opportunities" form.
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How can this support our curriculum learning?
For any age group, these events provide opportunities for students to broaden their understanding of what it means to be a scientist. Our scientists come from a wide range of backgrounds and we find the experience really helps students to move away from the traditional view of a scientist being an older white male in a lab coat!
There are many "working scientifically" aspects of the curriculum which are enriched by taking part and we find that students gain a better understanding of the enormous range of directions a career in science may take you.
Many of our scientists are conducting research from a range of fields but are applying them to provide environmental solutions.
At each key stage, there are specific curriculum links that may be supported by taking part.
For example, the following aspects of the programme of study for years five and six that may be particularly relevant:
- enable pupils to develop a deeper understanding of a wide range of scientific ideas.
- exploring and talking about their ideas; asking their own questions about scientific phenomena
- recognise that scientific ideas change and develop over time.
- use relevant scientific language and illustrations to discuss, communicate and justify their scientific ideas
- find out about the work of naturalists and animal behaviourists
- find out about how chemists discover new materials
- find out about the work of palaeontologists
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For any age group, these events provide opportunities for students to broaden their understanding of what it means to be a scientist. Our scientists come from a wide range of backgrounds and we find the experience really helps students to move away from the traditional view of a scientist being an older white male in a lab coat!
There are many "working scientifically" aspects of the curriculum which are enriched by taking part and we find that students gain a better understanding of the enormous range of directions a career in science may take you.
Many of our scientists are conducting research from a range of fields but are applying them to provide environmental solutions.
At each key stage, there are specific curriculum links that may be supported by taking part.
For example, the following aspects of the programme of study for years five and six that may be particularly relevant:
- enable pupils to develop a deeper understanding of a wide range of scientific ideas.
- exploring and talking about their ideas; asking their own questions about scientific phenomena
- recognise that scientific ideas change and develop over time.
- use relevant scientific language and illustrations to discuss, communicate and justify their scientific ideas
- find out about the work of naturalists and animal behaviourists
- find out about how chemists discover new materials
- find out about the work of palaeontologists
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What do we need to do to take part?
You will need to be able to join by Zoom (you'll be sent a link and password, no Zoom account or cost required) and will need access to adequate Audio-visual technology for the class or student group to be able to see the scientists on screen, hear them via a suitable speaker and speak via a microphone so the scientists can hear you clearly.
If you are local to the S10 area of Sheffield, we may be able to lend you a high quality microphone for the event (no charge).
You may wish to spend some lesson time before the event helping the students to consider the scientist's specific areas of research, and prepare questions that they may wish to ask them. You will be sent a list of the names of the scientists you will meet, and a summary of their specific research topics in child-accessible language, a week or two before the session.
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You will need to be able to join by Zoom (you'll be sent a link and password, no Zoom account or cost required) and will need access to adequate Audio-visual technology for the class or student group to be able to see the scientists on screen, hear them via a suitable speaker and speak via a microphone so the scientists can hear you clearly.
If you are local to the S10 area of Sheffield, we may be able to lend you a high quality microphone for the event (no charge).
You may wish to spend some lesson time before the event helping the students to consider the scientist's specific areas of research, and prepare questions that they may wish to ask them. You will be sent a list of the names of the scientists you will meet, and a summary of their specific research topics in child-accessible language, a week or two before the session.
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How much does it cost?
These opportunities are entirely free of charge. The scientists are as keen to meet your students, as the students are to meet them! Everyone is a winner!
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These opportunities are entirely free of charge. The scientists are as keen to meet your students, as the students are to meet them! Everyone is a winner!
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Do you record sessions?
No photos or recordings of the session will be taken by Sparking STEM. If you wish to take photographs or recordings and share them you are welcome to do so (please tag Sparking STEM on our social media platforms, thank you!). There may be scientists who have not granted photographic consents, in which case I will let you know who beforehand, and ask that you obscure their image in all photographs before sharing, thank you.
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No photos or recordings of the session will be taken by Sparking STEM. If you wish to take photographs or recordings and share them you are welcome to do so (please tag Sparking STEM on our social media platforms, thank you!). There may be scientists who have not granted photographic consents, in which case I will let you know who beforehand, and ask that you obscure their image in all photographs before sharing, thank you.
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