Interview with Jon Tickle

Take a look at our interview with Jon Tickle – why he got involved with the festival and his thoughts on the day

Pupils & teachers thoughts

Here are a few comments from students and teachers at the festival – sharing their thoughts on the day so far……

• The Magna Carta School

I came here with a team of five people and our teacher to exhibit our work and presentation on a security system for a company called transUK, which was made up by TRL. they have three main assets which are a big truck simulator, a HARRIS van and a computer server. Our job wasto make a security system and we were judged by some judges.We also got to look at other schools presentations which was fun and interesting. We look at some exhibits by companys like BP and Radio Eagle.

James Deller, Sam Smithers and Emily Craddock

• Jubilee High School

The projects and enthusiasm have been outstanding. It’s our first time here but it’s likely that we’ll come back next year – most of the students aren’t here at the stand, they have gone out looking at all the exhibitors and are totally absorbed by it all. It’s a fantastic day.

Mr Doxford .

• Heathside School:

Today is really fun and exciting, especially down in the tent with all the hands-on stuff. You can programme robots and turn custard into solids – I’d love to come to the festival again

• Rodborough Teechnology College

I liked this event! It was great with the variety of what was here. I like everything from the custard trick to the massage to the lego tech to the eagle radio! I came here because I was invited and was one of the first 12 to reply. This was a great trip for me and I will hopefully come here with a project next visit, if I get invited again.

 Jamie Bellenger

Working World Marquee

Take a look at our video from the festival. Here, Susie White from CBSbutler takes a tour of the Working World Marquee.

Festival season

Jon Tickle with a group of students at the 2009 festival

Well it’s nearly here – the big science festival day (Thursday 24th June) and we’re all really excited about welcoming Jon Tickle and our other guests to the 2010 Science festival at Brooklands Museum in Weybridge.

As well as some excellent science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) projects from a wide range of schools across the county we also have some fantastic hand-on exhibits from some really top-class employers.

Students and guests will be able to experience the following:

• The strange world of non-Newtonian fluids
• Low-altitude photography
• 3D visualisation system for earth images
• Spray-paint technology
• Robots and artificial intelligence
• How to make your own podcasts
• What its like to sit in the Mercendes Benz SLR McLaren

And if it all gets too much they can get away from it all in the interactive pod, after having an Indian head massage…

In addition there will be the prize-giving ceremony for students to get their efforts over the last year recognised.  But we’ve not forgotten about all the hard work that teachers put in as we’ll also be awarding a trophy for the CBSbutler ‘Most inspiring STEM teacher’.

Looks like its going to be a nice sunny day, just perfect for the marquee outdoors and we hope to see the local press there, as well as 96.4 Eagle radio.

We’ll update the blog during the day and you can post your comments about the festival whilst you’re there as we’d love to know your thoughts about the day.

See you there…
Adam

Heathside School – Why we got involved

By Mrs K Walker – Heathside School

Our science department at Heathside School  received a flyer from Surrey Satro  and we thought what a great event this would be for our STEM club to exhibit some of the great work they had produced  They have all been really creative over the past year with innovations such as lava lamps using jam jars, simple chemicals, electronics and arts and craft materials. Equally, the event would give them a chance to see where their interest in science could really take them.

We’ll be exhibiting a range of projects including kites and electronic ‘steady hand’ games and obviously the students will get the chance to look at all the other projects on display – and to pick up some goodies from the working world marquee.

It’s going to be so valuable for the students to see the types of successful careers on offer when studying STEM subjects.  Everyone at Surrey Satro has a passion for STEM which really shines through – the festival celebrates this collective enthusiasm and Heathside School is delighted to be involved again.

Faces of the festival – The softer side of engineering

 

How could you operate a wheelchair using only your chin? How can you press the pedals on a piano if you are paralysed below the waist? How can you climb into a car if you can’t bend your knees?

 These are just some of the problems that our engineers and volunteers get asked by the children and young people that we serve at MERU. We’re a charity that exists to improve life for children and young people with disabilities. We do this by designing and custom-making specialist equipment for use at home, at school or college, in hospital or at play. We are really keen to encourage young people to study engineering – and also to show that engineering isn’t just about nuts and bolts – but that it also has a softer, more human side.

We’re really looking forward to exhibiting some of the equipment that we design and manufacture for children with disabilities as well as telling you how you can get involved with our Design Club on Facebook. We hope that some of the schools will choose MERU as their charity to raise funds to help children and young people with disabilities. We’ll see you there!

Want to see some custard monsters?

Well its now only two months to the festival and we are hoping for a great turnout. We’ll be celebrating the skills and achievements of students and their links with local and national science and engineering companies. Last year we introduced the Working World Marquee in which 20 local companies exhibited hands on demonstrations of their innovations to hundreds of students. This included a bike powered disco, sky box technology and police forensic demonstrations. This year we are expanding this area and anyone can exhibit for FREE

The University of Surrey will be exploring the very strange world of custard monsters with non Newtonian fluids; the Institute of Civil Engineers will be project managing a team who will design and build a helipad using just paper and paper clips; Horizon Imaging will be showing off their invention of low altitude aerial photography using a radio controlled helicopter and Oculus will be showcasing their ovei Pod which allows you to create your own space in the real world. And that’s just a few – so why not join us! It’s a great opportunity to enthuse young people about engineering and it’s free!