Engagement opportunities in schools this Autumn

There are lots of opportunities in schools engagement this term, including training, presenting you work to teachers and offering your research expertise to students.

Networking Opportunities

Schools' Engagement: Next Steps, 22nd September, 10.00am-12.00pm

This informal session is aimed at participants of previous school engagement training sessions, particularly those looking for guidance in putting your training into practise. The workshop will be an opportunity for you to reflect on how the training you have received has influenced schools' engagement you've done since or other aspects of your work at the university. If you haven't done any activities since your training, don't worry! We would still like to hear your reflections on the training. We will also be discussing funding options and schools engagement activities that are coming up both in and outside the university to ensure you have plenty of opportunities to build on your experience. Sign up at http://schoolsengagement-nextsteps.eventbrite.co.uk

Schools Engagement Fair: 1^st December, 5.00pm – 7.00pm

Do you want to engage with local schools? Whether you’re a researcher with one activity or responsible for a whole outreach programme this event aims to display the range of school activities on offer at the University. The Schools’ Engagement Fair will take place on the 1st of December from 5 to 7pm at the Graduate School of Education. This is a good opportunity for researchers involved in outreach or engagement activities for schools to network and publicise their activities with local teachers. If you want to run a stand about your school’s engagement offer or want to know more about it, email ellie.cripps@bristol.ac.uk.

Schools Engagement Training

Schools Lecturette Training, 31^st October, 10.00am – 12.00pm

For STEM postgraduates interested in developing a short talk for secondary school students about your research, this training by STEM outreach expert Tim Harrison will offer support and practical advice, including information on linking your research to the curriculum and how to design an engaging talk. For more information go to: https://schoolslecturettetrainingoctober.eventbrite.co.uk

Introductory schools engagement training, 19th October, 10.00am - 1.00pm

For researchers from any department and career stage who are new to schools engagement, this introductory session by engagement specialists Graphic Science will help you to prepare for working with schools, covering communication skills, confidence as well as practical advice for working with schools and designing activities for schools. For more information go to: https://introductoryschoolstrainingoctober.eventbrite.co.uk

Engaging with schools workshop, 24th November, 9.30am – 12.30pm

If you are looking to build on your experience in engaging with schools and are looking to develop an activity that links to your research, this workshop led by Ed Drewitt will cover practical advice including learning outcomes and evaluation as well as case studies from other colleagues in the university and tips from a teacher. For more information go to: https://engagingschoolstrainingnovember.eventbrite.co.uk

PERFORM, from January

The Centre for Public engagement are recruiting early career researchers (ECR) in science to join the 2017 cohort of the PERFORM project. PERFORM is an European Union Horizon 2020 research project investigating the effects of the use of innovative science education methods based on performing arts in fostering young peoples’ motivations and engagement with STEM in selected secondary schools in France, Spain and the United Kingdom. Selected ECRs will participate in a unique training programme which will encourage them to critically consider scientific practice and develop skills to communicate this thinking to secondary school students. For more information, please email vivienne.kuh@bristol.ac.uk.

Activities at the University

EPQ Mentoring, 16^th November 1.30pm - 3.30pm

The University supports local sixth form students (Age 16-18) in their completion of the Extended Project Qualification, where students to a self-motivated research project around a topic of their choice. As part of this programme, there is a mentoring fair where small groups of students spend an hour discussing their projects and getting advice from researchers who work in similar areas. Full training by the public engagement team and a local teacher will be given (training date: 3^rd November) and no previous experience of working with schools is needed. If you are interested in being a mentor, email ellie.cripps@bristol.ac.uk.

Women in Science and Engineering Day, 16^th November, 10.00am – 12.00pm

The University is running a Women in Science and Engineering day on the 16th November on campus to celebrate females in Science and Engineering. The day will involve students in Y8 and Y9 from local state schools in the area taking part in a poster competition and then attending a range of demonstrations, designed to be interactive, showcasing the research that is happening at the University. The event will run from 10:00-14:15, we would need academics/students to run demonstrations or help to judge the posters from 10:00-12:30. If you would like to volunteer to be involved with the day, please email adele.ruston@bristol.ac.uk

Activities in Schools

NSETC STEM Careers Fair, 20^th October, 4.00pm – 7.00pm

An opportunity for academics in STEM departments to speak to local secondary school students about STEM qualifications and careers in academia. The event will be a hands-on careers fair where you can run a stand with some interactive activities about your work or your department. If you would like support in developing ideas for your activities or need funding for consumables, please get in touch. For more information email ellie.cripps@bristol.ac.uk.   

SMRT TrED lunchtime talks, several dates available, 12.25pm – 1.10pm

The sixth form are looking for researchers to give lunchtime talks about your research. This could be in a specific topic aimed at students specialising in your subject or a more general topic that could be of interest to any students. The school are particularly interested in controversial topics or something that will get the students talking such as politics, ethics or philosophy but all ideas welcome. Email ellie.cripps@bristol.ac.uk for more information and to develop ideas for your talk.

Winterbourne International Academy Science Week, w/c 5^th December

The school are hosting a week of science activities for their students and the local community. We are looking for people to lead workshops or demos that are 1-2 hours long for groups of students from a class of 30 to a year group. These can be around any science subject and we can support any ideas you’d like to develop and provide funding for consumables. Academics are also invited to give 1 hour evening lectures (including a Q and A) about their research to interested students, their families and members of the community. For more information, please contact ellie.cripps@bristol.ac.uk.

Other opportunities

I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here! and I’m an Engineer, Get me out of here!, 7–18^th November

These online competitions for scientists and engineers are an opportunity to interact live with students all over the country. Students ask questions in live chats about anything from your research to your first pet and favourite band. Throughout the competition, people are gradually “evicted” until the winner is left, who receives £500 to spend on public engagement. For researchers looking to do public engagement from their desk – this is an ideal opportunity! The deadline to apply is 26^th September. For more information or to apply, go to: http://imascientist.org.uk/2016/08/november-2016-zones or http://imanengineer.org.uk/2016/08/november-2016-zones. 

Events and Activities for Schools - Summer Term 2016

Calling all teachers!

We've recently sent out an email with a round-up of various events happening this term (see below). If you would like to receive future editions please email ellie.cripps@bristol.ac.uk.

University of Bristol events and activities for schools

EPQ Library Visits, 21st June and 7th July

The library are hosting free group visits to the University for Yr 12 students doing the EPQ on 21st June (20 places remaining) and 7th July (30 places remaining). The day will start with a talk (09.45-10.30am) to introduce students to the library system, then students can use any university library to research their EPQ topic until 3.00pm. Library Services at the University of Bristol have over one million books, journals and other publications that students can use. Students can use the visitor scheme to make individual return visits to the library during July and August to continue their research.

For more information and to book your place, email ellie.cripps@bristol.ac.uk.

Biomedical Sciences Taster Days, 20th June and 21st June

The Faculty of Biomedical Sciences are offering taster days for Yr 12 students studying sciences. The day will give students a taste of undergraduate teaching as well as some laboratory practical experience, with sessions from Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Medicine, and Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience. There will also be an opportunity to attend a lecture about current research in the faculty and to receive admissions advice ahead of UCAS applications. Students will need to book on to the day individually; each place costs £5. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

For more information and to book your place, go to http://www.bristol.ac.uk/biomedical-sciences/outreach/. 

Science Educator Residency, 6th-7th July

Interactive Scientific are looking for science teachers to take part in a Science Educator Residency.  Fully funded places will be offered to science teachers who demonstrate an interest in enhancing science learning both in and out of the classroom. The event takes place at the Royal Society's Chicheley Hall, and the theme is “Making the Invisible Visible”. It will explore how teachers can communicate invisible, abstract concepts in science to their students and feature exciting demonstrations including: Nano Simbox, danceroom Spectroscopy, Spectroscopy in a Suitcase and the Global Experiment. Interactive Scientific Ltd are running the event in collaboration with the University of Bristol, Corsham Institute and the Royal Society of Chemistry. The Science Educator Residency includes one evening (6th July) and one full day (7th July). It is fully catered, accommodation is provided and travel expenses will be covered.

For more information and to apply, go to: http://interactivescientific.com/science-ed/.

Quantum in the Summer, 25th-29th July

The Centre for Quantum Photonics are giving Sixth Form students the opportunity to spend a week at the university, getting an insight into the use of light in photonics, spanning optics and quantum computing. The summer school is aimed at students with a keen interest in physics and engineering who would like to tackle material beyond the curriculum. Students will also have the opportunity to find out about the work of quantum physics researchers and career options in the field. The deadline to apply is the 7th June.

For more information and to apply, go to: http://tinyurl.com/h7cwha4

From Plants to Planes, May to December

Engineers from the University of Bristol are giving schools the opportunity to host a workshop about the use of renewable materials in STEM industries, including aerospace and the biomedical industry. The workshop is based around current research looking into extracting cellulose from plants and processing them into strong fibres for use in engineering applications. It is aimed at KS4/5 and students will be the scientists as they carry out research around this topic and present their findings to the rest of the group. The workshop is available from May to Dec 2016 (approx. 2 hrs per workshop in school but this is flexible).

If you are interested or would like more information, please contact ellie.cripps@bristol.ac.uk.

Synenergene Theatre Project, from July

An exciting opportunity for teachers to collaborate on a new theatre project for schools; the university has partnered with a local theatre company to create a play about the ethics of synthetic biology as part of a large European project called Synenergene (https://www.synenergene.eu/). The play is based on cutting-edge research taking place at the University and we are seeking teachers to advise on the design of the play and support its development for a school audience. This will involve a couple of meetings (from July) with synthetic biology researchers and theatre practitioners plus giving feedback on the script. The cost of your cover and travel will be paid for. The play will then be performed in your school in the academic year 2016/17.

If you are interested or have any questions, please contact mireia.bes@bristol.ac.uk or david.owen@bristol.ac.uk.

Western Outreach Network

Don’t forget you can check out outreach opportunities from across the four universities in Bristol and Bath via the Western Outreach Network: http://www.won.ac.uk/.

Hope to see you at some of these events!

Top Tips from Ed Drewitt

Ahead of our Engaging with Schools training session next week, we invited resident schools expert Ed Drewitt to share his top tips for creating outreach activities for schools.

About Ed

Ed Drewitt works across the University delivering training and has been working with schools for over 14 years. He currently teaches part time in the School of Biological Sciences. Previously he has worked at Bristol Museum and on the University’s Bristol Dinosaur Project.

Young archaeologists at work with the Bristol Dinosaur Project (credit: Ed Drewitt)

Top Tips for developing engaging activities for schools:

1. Develop three clear learning outcomes for your activity

2. Employ a mix of activity styles appealing to different learning preferences

3. Use touchy feely objects - children learn through touching

Students learning about electrostatic charge with glitter at the Festival of Nature schools day

4. Don't forget that attention span is related to age: a seven year old generally has an attention span of seven minutes

5. Pilot your workshop in a school first to iron out timings and activities (the Public Engagement team can help you with this!)

Come along to the training to get more information and advice from Ed. You'll be able to expand your knowledge of working with young people and learn how to develop an activity linked to your research that could inspire the next generation of researchers. There will also be presentations from researchers representing the arts, sciences and social sciences, plus advice from a deputy headteacher.

Engaging with Schools Training

21st April, 9.30am-12.30pm - Queen's Building, University of Bristol
The training is aimed at anyone interested in doing outreach activities in schools to get advice and ideas for developing activities. Taking part in outreach is great for skills development as a researcher and most importantly it's a lot of fun!

New Schools Partnership Coordinator - Ellie Cripps

I recently started as Schools Partnership Coordinator taking over from Chloe Anderson. I'll be coordinating the SUPI project (School-University Partnerships Initiative) and finding opportunities for local school students to engage with academics and the research of the University of Bristol. Previously, I managed the STEM Ambassador volunteering programme for Bristol/Bath and before that I studied at Bristol myself.

Over the next few months I'm particularly keen to share great examples of Bristol's researchers working with schools and reflections on these activities. I'll also be looking at ways to make the activities sustainable and easy for researchers and schools to get involved.

If you'd like to contribute to the blog and tell others about an activity you've taken part in, or to find out about ways to engage with local schools, email me at ellie.cripps@bristol.ac.uk.

For more information about Public Engagement at the University of Bristol, including past or current projects and advice for researchers, go to our website.

 I'm looking forward to working with you all!

Becoming an EPQ mentor

David Dewar, a Postgraduate Researcher (PGR) in Musicology, reflects on the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) Fair on 9 November.

I saw that there was an opportunity for research postgraduates to be involved in mentoring sixth form students undertaking the Extended Project qualification and to advise them in research skills. As a (somewhat) mature PGR, who has undertaken a fair bit of research and lecturing in previous careers, and being interested in teaching here at Bristol, it seemed too good an opportunity to miss. I’ve found that I learn at least as much from undertaking teaching, coaching, and mentoring as does the recipient!

So I signed-up and attended a briefing in the Victoria Rooms, which itself was packed with information.  One particularly significant feature was a chance to look at completed previous EPQ project reports from candidates; those were really outstanding. I was looking forward to the chance to meet some of the new cohort of candidates at the EPQ Fair.

On the day of the Fair I had the chance to meet the three students assigned to me. Not only were they all impeccably polite and a pleasure to talk to, they had an impressive grasp of their topics. They also had definite aims in life – equally important in maintaining a sense of motivation. They had to get to grips with the specialist repositories for their subject, which we are used to dealing with, and the construction of effective Boolean search criteria.

Given the ambition of some of the projects, the timescale for completion is tight. The mentor’s task does not so far seem to be onerous; there is just the requirement to be positive, encouraging, and thoughtful when there is contact and I’m looking forward to further discussions with each of them.    

Their projects, apart from one, do not directly relate to my own research, but do make use of life-experience and interests. Since the overall aim is to be a ‘research-colleague’ or sounding-board, it is not necessary for the mentor to have project-specific knowledge. Having had initial discussions, I can now do some thinking around their particular projects to be able to take the discussion further when next we might meet or exchange emails, and to be able to suggest some additional materials for them to consider.

I’d recommend this programme for the experience it gives to hone one’s own skills in interacting with potential future colleagues; showing that researchers are not necessarily geeks(!); genuinely trying to help those trying to gain a qualification in an important life and academic skill; and in the chance to show the University in a good light.

For more information visit: www.bristol.ac.uk/public-engagement/schools/case-studies/epq-mentoring

De-coding Gender in the Media - schools workshop

Natalie Jester reflects on her experiences of designing and delivering the Gender Research Centre's workshop for local A Level students

What we did

When the call for proposals for the ESRC-sponsored Thinking Futures Festival went out in 2014, the request for events targeted at ‘new audiences’ using ‘different engagement methods’ caught my eye. I liked the idea of running an academic workshop with local school pupils, so I suggested it to fellow members of the SPAIS Gender Research Centre, and it was adopted as one of our centre’s proposals. I co-wrote the successful application with Professor Jutta Weldes, and we held our first Decoding Gender in the Media workshop in November 2014 with Thinking Futures and the Schools University Partnership Initiative, supported by Chloe Anderson. We felt that it went well, so we applied to run the same workshop again in 2015, and it took place in early November.

A Level students involved in the De-coding Gender workshop

Why we did it

When I first had the idea for this workshop in 2014, one of the main things in my mind was this idea of ‘new audiences.’ I really enjoy engaging with young people, although I didn’t have much experience of it before our first workshop in 2014. It is a horrible cliché, but young people really are the future. They are the ones who will be producing our culture, running our government and our schools, so the way in which they make sense of the world really does matter.

Teenagers are also in that difficult space between childhood and adulthood, where they are trying to figure out who they are. I remember being that age myself and having terrible body image problems, so part of the motivation for running this workshop was to give young people the tools with which they could deconstruct the media and say precisely why it was rubbish. With tablets and mobile phones making the media accessible 24/7, this is even more important than ever.

We also have a selfish motivation for running this workshop: both Jutta and I really enjoy doing it. As much work (and if I’m honest, stress) as it has been, seeing all the groups pulling apart the media resources and then presenting their interesting findings made it all worth it. The students genuinely seemed to enjoy the workshop, too, which was also important for us as organisers.        

Students present their findings to the rest of the group

Lessons learned

Running this workshop two years in a row has taught me many lessons, chiefly that nothing ever goes entirely to plan, and you just have to be prepared to deal with that on the day. If you expect traffic problems, illness, and to forget something you needed, you won’t feel so worried when one of those things inevitably happens; just improvise. Forgotten your name labels? Use post-it notes with sticky tape. Forgotten your camera? Find someone with a good camera phone and use that. Secondly, I cannot stress enough the importance of working with other people, specifically a team of people you know you can rely on. Working on your own is more work, less fun and more of a risk because if you are ill on the day there is no one else to step in; a team is always better. Thirdly, everything requires more work than you think it will, even the second time around, so start preparing early. This is even more important because it mitigates the problems if something more serious goes wrong. Finally, schools are not the easiest organisations to work with, because they are so large and under pressure to hit targets, so you should expect not to receive replies to all emails, and for some people to drop out near/on the day. This is not something to be taken personally, but simply one of the few down sides of working with complex organisations.

Creating the visuals for the presentations - what would we have done without Post-It notes?!

Thinking beyond the day itself

There are many benefits to running an event that happens more than once. Organising this year’s workshop was a slightly different experience than last year’s, largely because we already knew what to expect. In 2014, for example, bad traffic delayed our participants by 20 minutes, so this year we opted for a later start to minimise the impact of rush-hour traffic (although they arrived half an hour early this time!). Running the same workshop two years in a row also enabled us to take advantage of sunk costs; we spent a lot of time on handouts detailing the key concepts of a gender/media analysis, so we tweaked our 2014 version rather than needing to make something new.

Running a recurring event allows you to build relationships, whether that’s with schools, organisations, (e.g. SUPI) or festivals (e.g. Thinking Futures). I personally have really enjoyed working with the same people over time, and opportunities can arise through these contacts if you think beyond the one day your event takes place. After creating this material in 2014, and gaining confidence delivering it, I have used it to: deliver a talk to Red Maids’ school conference (they sent students to our 2014 workshop), run a seminar for Access to Bristol and write an article for a young people’s magazine. I am already (!) in touch with one of the participating schools about doing a seminar for students unable to attend the workshop. All of these opportunities stemmed from the first event we did, which goes to show that thinking beyond the day itself only makes these events more rewarding. 

Nat Jester is a PhD student at the SPAIS Gender Research Centre. Her PhD examines how UK state identity is constructed in online British media representations of the conflict in Libya. Drawing on David Campbell's work Writing Security, she examines the way identities are sculpted around external threats, paying special attention to gendered-Orientalist tropes. 

Being the bad guy: My experience as a Shell delegate at a mock climate change negotiation

On the 12th November, the delegates gathered for UNFCCC COP 15 "Climate Change Negotiations: What would you do?" An event that formed part of the Thinking Futures Festival this year. 

Royal Dutch Shell took their seats in the centre of the room. As a global powerhouse for the private energy sector not afraid to wield their lobbying muscle, many eyes were trained on them below eyebrows of cynicism that made clear how the company’s position at the high table of one equal vote was seen.

Players in the Climate Change Negotiations event

As the facilitator of this group, it was my job to guide a group of A-Level students from across Bristol through a set of mock negotiations on a range of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. To make matters even worse, we had to do this as a multinational oil company that specialises in attracting suspicion and doubt. This blog is a reflection on my day – I cannot comment on the other groups and their negotiations. I do know that Greenpeace stormed out of negotiations after 10 minutes (to later return – when told to) and Brazil, Sweden and Russia all seized the microphone from the chairs of the session. Under other group’s distrustful gaze, preparations began tentatively as the three Shell negotiators brought in from Nailsea School Sixth Form began to set out their positions on the five resolutions and plan their strategies for the three rounds of bilateral negotiations, thinking carefully about the other parties’ positions and how they could be pulled away from them.

Groups set out their position on the five resolutions 

Our first negotiation was with the International Work Group of Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) representing indigenous peoples across the world. Perhaps needless to say, there was not a great deal of common ground. The IWGIA have little control of land or resources and therefore not a lot to bargain with. With negotiation being at first hesitant as everyone settled into their roles, and also relying on appeals to morality or promises with no way of holding anyone to account, neither side was prepared to firmly shake hands on a deal. There were other negotiating partners to come, and ones that would prove more tractable, particularly as the Shell delegates polished their negotiation skills.

Next up was Ethiopia, and Shell’s toughest negotiating partner of the afternoon, with both sides reluctant to give too much away too soon. Propositions went back and forth with constant consultations between the two negotiation teams. Eventually, as the time of the session came near to an end, a voting deal was done with a handshake. Shell had done well; a trade on keeping the Arctic open for what was a compromising, but not disagreeable, vote from Shell on the protection of climate refugees.

Ethiopia: Shell's toughest negotiator!

The final round of formal negotiations saw Shell talking to Brazil, which had promised to be the most fruitful meeting of the day – depending on how much they had already been tied into. With Shell’s negotiating team now in full flow and putting on a tactical masterclass, a deal was quickly formalised with no real concession on their part. As negotiations began to come to a close they fought hard for a further deal, which would have seen Brazil renege on an earlier deal they had made with Greenpeace. Shell’s argument that Greenpeace’s more militant-activist tactics had invalidated the formal agreement fell on receptive ears, but the integrity of the agreement process was upheld when they finally held firm to their previous pledge, even with the threat of pulling all business out of the country.

And the final three minutes meant free-roaming negotiations and last-minute deals. The room was buzzing as now was the time to shore up some multilateral bloc voting agreements in a final attempt to get favourable resolutions passed in the final vote. Shell, the corporate power house, reached quick backroom agreements with political and economic powers the USA, Russia and China, in a final attempt to ensure that the logic of the market and the multiplier effect would prevail for the benefit of all, even if they wouldn’t see it.

Following a break for lunch it was time for to vote; five resolutions to determine a global strategy for how the world’s resources, environment and the people affected by it, would be managed for years to come. The negotiating teams waited and voted patiently, assessing the room with each show of hands to see how the vote was going whilst justifying their various positions.

Voting on the five resolutions

Whatever it may auger for COP21 in Paris starting at the end of the month, on all five resolutions the one which promises the most for addressing environmental degradation was passed. Even Shell, with a fairly free vote on one resolution, voted in a way which raised eyebrows in the room again, although this time out of pleasant surprise rather than suspicion.

The resolutions passed by this group of students have resulted in a climate change agreement that sees: all countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2050; a global fund of $100 billion for at risk countries by 2025; the protection of all climate refugees; the protection of the forests under a REDD-style scheme; and the end of exploration of the Arctic for fossil fuel supplies. On final reflection it was a great day; an exercise in critical, lateral and creative thinking, in empathy, in dirty dealing, strategising to maximise interests, in bargaining and compromise. Shell had not seen a single one of their preferred positions on the resolutions passed; the best they took away was a second preference on one resolution.

That wasn’t evidence of a lack of skill on the part of Shell’s negotiators but, above all, about bringing some hope and solidarity to the table. This hope was secretly shared by the Shell delegates as they thought about the future of the environment and their role as part of the global powers responsible.

Backwell School students pose with Sir Winston Churchill, former Chancellor of the University of Bristol

This blog was written by Thomas Sealy, first year PhD Sociology student and one of the facilitators at the Climate Change Negotiations event.

If you're interested in running a schools event like this, the Public Engagement team can help advise and support.