Meet scientists!
Sparking STEM is delighted to be able to offer opportunities for home-educated children to meet real scientists and ask them questions about their work.
Who are the scientists?
When, where and who?
Which scientists will we meet?
What age is it suitable for?
How do I sign up and how does it work?
Your certificate of participation
What does it cost?
What if we need to cancel?
Do you record sessions?
When, where and who?
Which scientists will we meet?
What age is it suitable for?
How do I sign up and how does it work?
Your certificate of participation
What does it cost?
What if we need to cancel?
Do you record sessions?
Who are the scientists?
Mostly, the scientists you'll meet are Postgraduate Researchers carrying out research in a wide range of fields. In the past we've had researchers from a range of UK Universities as well as those working for the Natural History Museum and British Antarctic Survey, studying Ecological sciences, Geographical sciences, Palaeo Oceanography, Biological sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geochemistry, Electrical engineering, Mathematical sciences, Life Sciences, Chemistry, Earth sciences, Psychology and more. We've had researchers who investigate Martian polar vortices, gravitational waves, penguin adaptations to climate change, volcano deformation... and so much more!
Most of the scientists are attending our Effective Outreach for Children training course, as they are keen to communicate their science to children. Occasionally, opportunities arise for one-off events or discussion panels with individual scientists who have attended our course previously.
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Mostly, the scientists you'll meet are Postgraduate Researchers carrying out research in a wide range of fields. In the past we've had researchers from a range of UK Universities as well as those working for the Natural History Museum and British Antarctic Survey, studying Ecological sciences, Geographical sciences, Palaeo Oceanography, Biological sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geochemistry, Electrical engineering, Mathematical sciences, Life Sciences, Chemistry, Earth sciences, Psychology and more. We've had researchers who investigate Martian polar vortices, gravitational waves, penguin adaptations to climate change, volcano deformation... and so much more!
Most of the scientists are attending our Effective Outreach for Children training course, as they are keen to communicate their science to children. Occasionally, opportunities arise for one-off events or discussion panels with individual scientists who have attended our course previously.
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When, where and who?
Most opportunities are online so you can join from anywhere.
Occasionally opportunities arise for "in-person" interactions at the University of Sheffield, UK.
Please note that children attending in person sessions must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
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Upcoming opportunities:
Most opportunities are online so you can join from anywhere.
Occasionally opportunities arise for "in-person" interactions at the University of Sheffield, UK.
Please note that children attending in person sessions must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
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Upcoming opportunities:
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 a short description of their field of research so that your child can prepare a question or two for their chosen scientist(s) if they would like to.
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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 a short description of their field of research so that your child can prepare a question or two for their chosen scientist(s) if they would like to.
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What age is it suitable for?
Children of all ages from five and over are welcome. Sparking STEM will select children from a range of ages for each session and will offer opportunities for questions from younger children first so that they may leave the session early if they wish, while older students will have the chance for more in-depth questions later on. You will be asked the age of children at registration.
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Children of all ages from five and over are welcome. Sparking STEM will select children from a range of ages for each session and will offer opportunities for questions from younger children first so that they may leave the session early if they wish, while older students will have the chance for more in-depth questions later on. You will be asked the age of children at registration.
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How do I sign up?
Please complete this form to let us know you are interested (or click on any "Sign me up" button).
Please note that places are limited and completing this form does not guarantee you a place.
What happens then?
The form asks you to indicate which session(s) you would like to attend. Places will be allocated to ensure that as many children as possible get a chance to attend. You'll be notified by email (please check your spam folder) approximately 4 weeks before your allocated session with details of how to join and a link to a registration form which will give you the opportunity to grant / decline photo consent and indicate any particular needs or requirements.
What if I don't get a place?
If it is not possible to allocate you a place in the upcoming sessions, you'll be given priority at the next available opportunity.
Can I sign up for more than one session?
Yes absolutely! Please note that priority will be given to people who have not already attended to try to give a fair opportunity to all.
Can I sign up more than one sibling?
Yes absolutely! If attending online, siblings can attend from one screen, please indicate on the form how many siblings you wish to join and their ages.
If attending in person, we'll do our best to ensure siblings are allocated to the same session but please note that it may not always be possible as numbers are limited.
What do you do with my data?
If you select the option on the form, your email address will be added to a mailing list to be notified about opportunities for meeting scientists (please see the privacy policy, your details won't be shared).
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Please complete this form to let us know you are interested (or click on any "Sign me up" button).
Please note that places are limited and completing this form does not guarantee you a place.
What happens then?
The form asks you to indicate which session(s) you would like to attend. Places will be allocated to ensure that as many children as possible get a chance to attend. You'll be notified by email (please check your spam folder) approximately 4 weeks before your allocated session with details of how to join and a link to a registration form which will give you the opportunity to grant / decline photo consent and indicate any particular needs or requirements.
What if I don't get a place?
If it is not possible to allocate you a place in the upcoming sessions, you'll be given priority at the next available opportunity.
Can I sign up for more than one session?
Yes absolutely! Please note that priority will be given to people who have not already attended to try to give a fair opportunity to all.
Can I sign up more than one sibling?
Yes absolutely! If attending online, siblings can attend from one screen, please indicate on the form how many siblings you wish to join and their ages.
If attending in person, we'll do our best to ensure siblings are allocated to the same session but please note that it may not always be possible as numbers are limited.
What do you do with my data?
If you select the option on the form, your email address will be added to a mailing list to be notified about opportunities for meeting scientists (please see the privacy policy, your details won't be shared).
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Your certificate of participation
Every child who attends a session will receive a personalised certificate (PDF) of participation by email after the event. This is a great addition to a home-education journal or for use in job / college applications.
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Every child who attends a session will receive a personalised certificate (PDF) of participation by email after the event. This is a great addition to a home-education journal or for use in job / college applications.
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How much does it cost?
Most of these opportunities are free of charge. (See "Upcoming opportunities") for details of individual events)
There may be a small fee to cover administration for occasional one-off events with individual scientists.
Places are limited, so please only sign up if you have every intention of attending.
We know that sometimes life throws things at you last minute (in which case please just let us know which as much notice as possible so we can offer the place to someone else), but please bear in mind that if you simply don't turn up you will have deprived someone else of the opportunity to attend.
For this reason, if you fail to attend without letting us know you may be less likely to be selected for future "Meet Scientist" events.
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Most of these opportunities are free of charge. (See "Upcoming opportunities") for details of individual events)
There may be a small fee to cover administration for occasional one-off events with individual scientists.
Places are limited, so please only sign up if you have every intention of attending.
We know that sometimes life throws things at you last minute (in which case please just let us know which as much notice as possible so we can offer the place to someone else), but please bear in mind that if you simply don't turn up you will have deprived someone else of the opportunity to attend.
For this reason, if you fail to attend without letting us know you may be less likely to be selected for future "Meet Scientist" events.
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What if we need to cancel?
Please let us know with as much notice as possible if you have registered for a session but find you are then unable to attend. This will allow us to reallocate your place. If possible we'll do our best to offer you another opportunity when one is available.
Please note that if you fail to attend without letting us know you may be less likely to be selected for future "Meet Scientist" events.
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Please let us know with as much notice as possible if you have registered for a session but find you are then unable to attend. This will allow us to reallocate your place. If possible we'll do our best to offer you another opportunity when one is available.
Please note that if you fail to attend without letting us know you may be less likely to be selected for future "Meet Scientist" events.
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Do you record sessions?
All sessions (online and in person) will be recorded and used for training, but these recordings will only be viewed by Sparking STEM staff and the scientists during and immediately after the event. All recordings will be deleted within three days of the event and will not be shared with anyone.
Only when express consent has been granted for individual children (at registration), will their images / video captures from the sessions be used for promotional and training purposes, including use on the internet and social media.
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All sessions (online and in person) will be recorded and used for training, but these recordings will only be viewed by Sparking STEM staff and the scientists during and immediately after the event. All recordings will be deleted within three days of the event and will not be shared with anyone.
Only when express consent has been granted for individual children (at registration), will their images / video captures from the sessions be used for promotional and training purposes, including use on the internet and social media.
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