November

2015


Welcome to the November issue of the Sparxx monthly newsletter! 

This month, we're excited to tell you that National Women in Engineering Day 2015 won WES an award! If you were involved in an event at your school or college on 23rd June this year or if you tweeted about it then thank you, you helped us to win!  

If you don't know what all the fuss is about check out our NWED website to see how you can get involved in June 2016 by holding an event. This year we were even mentioned by the Prime minister and reached over 9 million people on twitter! 

Our book reviewer this month is Bhavika Vanik who has reviewed a more philosophical book than usual with Sophie's World. Also, don't forget to check out the latest blog by Lucy Rawlings. This month, she spoke at the ARM Forum in front of nearly 350 people! .

We've also got some new competitions to tell you about: The Ultimate STEM Awards and the Little Big Awards, visit our website to see them all. For fun and a little bit of something different check out the 'Did you know' section in this month's newsletter. 

For November, we also bring you our Sparxx of the Month, Adriana Vargas,who decided to move to the UK from Colombia to continue her chemical engineering studies before becoming a Safety Engineer at ode. Check out the full interview here.

Sparxx of the Month
Adriana Vargas

Our November Sparxx of the Month is Adriana Vargas.

Adriana talked to us about her life in the UK after coming here from Colombia, what it's like to be a Safety Engineer at ode, and why girls should get into engineering. Read the full interview here.

"There are no limits to what you can do, and gain by getting into engineering!"
Competitions 

The Ultimate Stem Challenge!


The Ultimate STEM Challenge is a new competition brought to you by BP, the Science Museum and STEMNET.

The competition asks teams of two to four students aged 11 to 14 from across the UK to put your Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths skills to the test and win some fantastic prizes, including:
  • An invitation to a celebratory event at the Science Museum in London, 
  • �500 for your school, and 
  • Science Museum goodies
The categories based around the theme of increasing energy efficiency are: Streamlined Ships, Better Buildings and Trim Turbines.

For more information and to enter visit the Ultimate STEM Challenge website.

Deadline: Thursday 15th January 2016 


The Little Big Awards 

The Little Big Awards is a challenge launched by STEMNET and Cisco that explores the concept of the 'internet of things' and what is possible when you connect everyday objects like the microwave or your central heating to the internet. 

STEMNET invites you to take part in the Little BIG Awards if you are aged 11-14 to show them how you think life could be made better by connecting everyday things together.

STEM Ambassadors will support your team and provide advice and support by email, face to face meetings or video conferencing on a regular basis (weekly or fortnightly).

To register your interest, ask your tutor to go to the Little Big Awards website


TeenTech Awards 2016
Are you an innovator? Do you have an idea which could make life easier, simpler or better? TeenTech want you to use your imagination, to think creatively.
This is a chance to ask "What if?" or even build a fun example of what this might look like.
The TeenTech Awards are for UK students from 11-16 (Years 7 to 11) and 17-18 (Years 12 to 13) working in teams of up to three to look at problems large and small to see if they can find a better way of doing things.

There will be a prize of �1000 to the winning school in each category and the overall winners will be presented with their awards by HRH Duke of York KG at Buckingham Palace. Find out more.
                           
Deadline: Wednesday 16th December 2015

The Senior Team Mathematics Competition (STMC)

The STMC is for students in years 11, 12 and 13. It tests mathematical, communication and teamwork skills and has three rounds: the group round, a cross number and a shuttle round. There are regional heats throughout the country in November and a national final held in London in February. The final also includes a poster round which last year had the theme of 'Mathematics of the Universe'.
 
The competition is run jointly by the FMSP and UKMT and this year the number of available spaces has been increased allowing those schools who may not have taken part in the past an opportunity to do so for the first time.Please ask your teachers if you are entering a team! Find out more


Check out our Competitions page for more exciting challenges and the chance to win amazing prizes! 
Did you know...?

'Tail lights' are not  just for cars.
 
In some countries, horses are still as much a part of the transportation system as cars and other forms of modern day transport. 

To cut down on the number of accidents involving our equine friends, a company in Michigan USA has created 'tail lights' for horses. These LED lights will be used on their harnesses and tails to raise visibility. Simple but effective, this invention has a Kickstarter campaign to get off the ground. For more information click here


My new BFF? Yes please! 

The largest diamond in over 100 years has been found in Botswana. We'd love this little beauty as our best friend at Sparxx - wouldn't you?. 

This is the second largest diamond in history and with over a thousand carats is priceless. 

We'd love to say more but really all we want to do is stare at it and dream... 

If you wish to know a little bit more though please do read on!



A vaccine is being developed to stop cows' environmentally disastrous wind...


Did you know that cows' burps are bad for the environment? - maybe you did. But sadly it's worse than you thought, they're terribleSo scientists worldwide are looking into producing a vaccine to reduce the amount of methane these gentle but belchy beasts produce. 

For more information read on

Did Ancient Vampires really exist?...The proof says Yes! 

From studies made on fossils that are over 750 million years old, microscopic vampire activity has been discovered.  

Puncture wounds have been found on the fossilised victims. So the next time someone you know laughs at the existence of the 'undead', you can tell them about the real vampires from millions of years ago. Read more here
.

Into Cars? Top 5 gadget checklist for the next five years 

If you love cars then you'll probably be excited about the latest developments in the automotive world. The top 5 science fiction-to-fact gadgets we'll be seeing by 2020 are:
1. Autonomous vehicles
 (well they'll almost drive themselves)
2. Driver over-ride 
 (where the car makes it's own decisions - eek!)
3. Biometric Access 
 (the driver has fingerprint access)
4. Active Windscreen displays 
 (visuals on the windscreen for the driver)
5. Controllable body work 
 (e.g. retract glass and roof into the bodywork - stylish!)

If you want to know more or want to WOW your car mad friends visit the article here.
Virtual Museum Tour

Would you love to go to The British Museum in London but just can't get there?

Well there's some great news for you now - as the British Museum and Google maps have teamed up to allow you to take a virtual tour through the galleries. 


Using the Google mobile gigapixel camera used for Street View (pictured above in the museum), visitors can now visit from the comfort of their own armchair to see ancient treasures in high resolution (better than you would ever be able to see in person).

For more on this article click here and to take the virtual tour click here

November
25/11/2015 - 29/11/15
What's Your Angle?

Discover how mathematics relates to everyday life in 'What's Your Angle' a new festival created by the Science Museum and theatre company non zero one. The festival is being generously supported by the Mathematics Society as part of their 150th anniversary celebrations. 

Suitable for ages 12+ click here for more details. 


December
03/12/2015
It is Rocket Science

In December, The Imperial Fringe brings you the opportunity to journey to the stars with space scientists and astronomers at Imperial College London. Build your own spacecraft and take a voyage in the College's new planetarium. Celebrate British astronaut Tim Peake's launch into space and get a chance to hear from Britain's first female astronaut - Helen Sharman.

To find out more and to register click here.


03/12/15
The Universe: a journey through space and time

On the same night as the Imperial Fringe event is the Annual Children's Christmas lecture. A tradition that has been a favourite for many Christmases, this year will see Dr Zita Martin (Earth Science and Engineering) take everyone on a journey through the cosmos in the quest to discover alien worlds. The lecture is aimed at 11 - 16 year olds but all ages enjoy them for their interactivity and originality. 

To find out more and to register click here.


10/12/2015
Powering the Future

LAUNCHING 10TH DECEMBER 2015 -
a new �1.5m exhibition called Powering the Future. Occupying half of Floor 2 of the Science Mall in the Glasgow Science Centre, the exhibition will shine a spotlight on one of the biggest challenges facing modern society- the future of our energy supply.

Through a series of over 60 interactive exhibits, it will get you thinking about how we can meet increasing energy demand. Energy that needs to be reliable, not overly expensive and doesn't impact too much on the environment.

From feeling the force of wind in a hurricane booth, piloting an underwater ROV and generating power in a dance-off, visitors will learn about ways we can harness energy and recognise the benefits and limits of different sources. From how energy is generated, to how it is transformed, stored and transmitted, you can discover what happens behind your power switch. 
Find out more.

 
For more events, check out our calendar featuring amazing events from our partners and supporters.
Workshops
Want to find out how STEM can be realistic career choices?

Young Researchers is an experiment in learning which forms part of the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution's (BRLSI) programme for young people to raise aspiration and knowledge of STEM. It involved a team of volunteers and researchers from the University of Bath (UoB) Architecture and Civil Engineering Department with support from the UoB Public Engagement Department.
 
The programme aims to show the relevance of STEM subjects as a realistic career choice, particularly for girls and through this to show local communities that STEM research is something relevant to their own local areas, while at the same time developing an ethos in university research departments that values the involvement of local non specialists of all ages and knowledge levels in developing effective and relevant projects.

The programme will operate on the second Saturday afternoon of each month from November 2015 until July 2016. Anyone between 13 and 17 is welcome to join.
  
Please contact Paul Thomas at [email protected]

Book Reviews

Now for something a bit different. A book recommendation for Sophie's World from our newest book reviewer Bhavika Vanik!

Sophie's World

Blog


Our guest blogger and winner of TeenTech Peoples' Choice Award, Lucy Rawlings, blogs about her experience of the ARM Forum in November which looked like an amazing event. 

She also talks about her view of where children's aspirations come from. Read now!
For Younger Sparxx 

An awesomely amazing science magazine for kids

We recently made a great discovery for younger scientists - a cool kid-friendly magazine called WhizzPopBang which could be a perfect Christmas present for a younger brother or sister.

Aimed at 6-11 year olds, the magazine is a quality, fun and engaging way of making discoveries about all things science. For a virtual copy of the magazine click here.

The lovely people at Launchpad Publishing have offered us the current issue free when taking out a new subscription using the code WES1. So if you'd like to give a different Christmas gift to a little scientist you know click here.
Video of the Month
Ryan's $400k win for the explanation of Einstein's theory of relativity 
Can't get your head around Einstein's theory of relativity? Well, hopefully this seven-minute prize winning explanation by 18 year old Ryan Chester from the USA will help. 
To read more about his story click here.

For more inspiring videos, check out our Videos page
Fun Stuff
JustPark 

This infuriating mini-game can tell you just how old your reaction time makes you. 

From JustPark, this mini emergency stop app tests your reaction time and tells you just how old that makes you. To play this abominably annoying game click here. 
Organisation of the Month

 
This month's organisation of the month is STEMettes

...and they are:
'Showing the next generation that girls do Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths too'.

Aimed at three distinct audiences: Girls, Students and Parents; Women & Companies; and Schools & Organisations, STEMettes runs panel events, hackathons and exhibitions so that students and young aspiring engineers can meet people already working in STEM to give them good advice. 

For girls over 15 the programme Student to STEMette aims to build successful and fulfilling STEM careers for girls who are 15+ by matching up 'Sherpas' with 'Sherpees' - this is one step on from a mentoring programme where Sherpas help lead their Sherpees to success rather than just tell them what to do. If you love the sound of the STEMettes (as we do), read more at their website.

Can you help Sparxx to continue?
We think Sparxx is awesome and we hope you do too. Sadly we can only keep it going if we have enough funding. If you know of anyone that would like to sponsor Sparxx or donate to keep Sparxx going please email us at [email protected] or call us on: 01438 765506