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For Schools • Primary • Secondary • National Schemes • International • Highlights
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HighlightsA-level student wins maths prize for work with BBSRC-funded Rothamsted Research
An A-level student who spent his summer holidays working with BBSRC-funded researchers at Rothamsted Research in Hertfordshire has won an award from the Nuffield Foundation. Christopher Scott with his Nuffield Foundation prize. Credit: SETPOINT Hertfordshire Christopher Scott, 17, a pupil at Marlborough Science Academy, was taking part in the foundation's Research Placements scheme, which each year provides 1,000 students the opportunity to work alongside professional scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. After using mathematical analysis and modelling techniques in a project investigating the ability to predict bud burst date in willow varieties, Christopher won the prize for Best Use of Mathematics/Statistics (in the Applied category). He received his award at a ceremony at the University of Hertfordshire on November 6. He said: "The opportunity to spend four weeks completing a Nuffield project at Rothamsted Research was an immensely valuable experience. My understanding of mathematics has subsequently grown as I encountered branches of mathematics which go well beyond the A-level syllabus. "I also received a wide range of support from my supervisor and had daily meetings to discuss the progression of the project. "I would highly recommend the chance to complete a placement at Rothamsted Research to anyone who wishes to study a mathematics or science based course at university." Dr Marianna Cerasuolo from Rothamsted's Sustainable Soils and Grassland Systems department supervised the project and said: "Chris is a very skilled student with a fantastic understanding of mathematics. He worked very hard and he was always very active during our discussions. He deserved to win this prize!" Dr Vinay Kathotia, Project Head for Mathematics for the Nuffield Foundation commented: "Christopher used a range of mathematical and statistical approaches to model and predict biological functions. What was striking was that over the summer not only did he pick up and use a number of computer programmes and statistical techniques that were new to him, but he developed an understanding of the power and limitations of quantitative methods "We are grateful to Rothamsted Research and other placement supporters for the opportunities they provide." The Nuffield Foundation's Research Placements scheme is supported by BBSRC via Research Council's UK. Students in the first year of post-16 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics courses are eligible to apply. Placements are available across the UK, in universities, commercial companies, voluntary organizations and research institutions. Visit www.nuffieldfoundation.org/nuffield-research-placements for more information.
North Wyke School Science Fair 2012The Science Fair has been held annually at North Wyke since 1997. In 2011 Rothamsted Research at North Wyke was awarded first place for the Outstanding Contribution Award from the British Science Association National Science & Engineering Week and a cash prize of £800 to put towards events for the next Science and Engineering Week. This year that money was put to good use. The Rothamsted Research North Wyke Science fair was held from March 13th-15th this year with funding from BBSRC and in conjunction with STEM and Devon Education Business Partnership. This year our enterprising Rothamsted students together with the students of the University of Exeter Physics Department volunteered to give a series of workshops to show school children that science can be interesting and fun. Over 230 children attended over 3 days from 10 local Devon primary schools with attending teachers. Verbal feedback was enthusiastic, and we gave feedback sheets to teachers for children to fill in once back in class, to help consolidate in their minds what they had seen. With the sun shining, and rockets being let off on the lawn, Rothamsted Research North Wyke once again had a very successful Science Fair.
North Wyke wins prize at National Science and Engineering Week 2011
Colleagues at North Wyke have been awarded the British Science Association first place in the 2011 National Science & Engineering Week Outstanding Contribution Category and a cash prize of £800. Tom Horner, the judge stated: “The quality of our finalists’ events this year was very high indeed. At Rothamsted however, I was particularly impressed with the variety of activities on offer, the combination of “real science” and fun activities and the personal contributions made by staff outside their remits. It also struck me what a valuable contribution your week made in exposing local children to science. I think you provide a unique and invaluable service to the local community.” The 2011 North Wyke Science Fair, organized by Patricia Butler, has been enthusiastically attended by local Primary Schools during National Science and Engineering Week for well over 10 years. They are very proud to have won the 'Outstanding Contribution' award from the British Science Association for the 2011 Science Fair; this year we ran the event over 3 days with pupils, teachers and parents visiting us from 8 local Primary Schools.
Rothamsted STEM Ambassadors efforts recognized by STEMNET
On 29th April 2009 STEMNET held the National STEM Ambassadors awards ceremony in the House of Lords. The event aimed to recognise and reward some of our most dedicated and inspiring Ambassadors. A number of MPs and peers were in attendance including Lord Sainsbury, Lord Oxburgh and Baroness Morgan. They all got to hear about the great contribution that STEM Ambassadors were making. Roger Highfield (Editor of New Scientist magazine) was a Keynote speaker and STEM Ambassador Sarah Chapman also provided an inspiring speech about her work as an Ambassador and why she believes the Programme is so important. STEM Ambassador Adelia de Paula from Rothamsted Research was Highly Commended for the Most Dedicated STEM Ambassador Award for her contribution in engaging more researchers to the scheme and increasing the scope of STEM activities locally.
The 2010 STEMNET Awards has held on 21st June 2010 at a ceremony at the House of Lords, hosted by Lord Oxburgh. The Awards highlight and celebrate the extraordinary achievements of STEM Ambassadors, employers, schools and teachers in energising STEM learning to captivate the next generation of scientists, technologist, engineers, mathematicians etc. The Awards were presented to winning individuals and organisations by writer, broadcaster and scientist, Vivienne Parry. Dr Femke van den Berg was nationally recognised by STEMNET. Femke was one of only four Ambassadors nationwide to reach the shortlist for the Most Dedicated Ambassador Award 2010. This is quite an achievement considering that there are over 22,000 Ambassadors in the UK. Femke was nominated for her excellent work in raising young people’s awareness of the interaction between biology and mathematics, and careers in both those fields. Successful achievements by Nuffield students
A-Level student will represent the UK at the 21st European Union Competition for Young Scientists in ParisRobert Tann, a student from Sibford School in Oxfordshire that spent 6 weeks working at Rothamsted Research, won the EU Competition for Young Scientists Prize at the Big Bang Fair in London last Thursday. This prize offers three students the opportunity to represent the UK at the 21st European Union Competition for Young Scientists in Paris next summer. During his time at Rothamsted, Robert received a Nuffield Science Bursar. This scheme gives 1000 students in their first year of an advanced or higher-level Science Technology Engineering and Maths course the opportunity to join a real research project with practising scientists. In 2008, Rothamsted Research placed 9 of these students. In his project, Robert investigated the pollination of the wild flower cowslip in agricultural fields and marginal lands. These experiments are relevant to understand the maintenance of biodiversity in crop systems. The project was supervised by PhD student and STEM Ambassador Penny Fletcher.
A-Level student wins prize at The Big Bang Fair 2010A-Level student from The Cavendish School Claire Cerins worked at Rothamsted in the summer 2009 supervised by PhD student and STEM Ambassador Chris Jones. Her project investigated whether the expression of insecticide resistance genes can be reduced in two common pests of agriculture using RNA Interference (RNAi); whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) and the peach potato aphid (Myzus persicae). Claire received a ‘Highly Commended’ award at the Big Bang Fair in 2010 and her project was in the top 5 from over 20,00 projects. She also won the London International Youth Science Forum prize. This is a two week residential summer school in London where future promising scientists come together to make connections and discuss solutions to world problems.
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| © Rothamsted Research 2013 | Contact: Dr Adelia de Paula on 01582 763133 ext. 2260 or adelia.depaula@rothamsted.ac.uk | ||
