university of east anglia norfolk stem...norfolk stem university of east anglia welcome! this issue...
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NORFOLK STEM
Univers i ty of East Angl ia
Welcome!
This issue we are focusing on the automotive
industry. With the Formula One season now
under way there is a lot of interest in this area
and there are plenty of opportunities in the sector.
Norfolk has a brilliant automotive heritage with
companies such as Lotus, Caterham and many
others.
Inside we have two career pathways as well as a
profile of one of our ambassadors based at Lotus,
news of an exciting new Norfolk STEM project
and much more.
If you would like to talk to the STEM team about
using ambassador support for your school please
see the contact details on the back page. We
have just updated all of the STEM web pages, so
do have a look. We are constantly updating the
current request page so do visit it regularly to find
out about some of the exciting events going on in
Norfolk.
The next, end of year newsletter will be out in
July, if you would like anything included in the
round up please send it in to Alex. We hope to
hear from you soon, have a great Summer term.
Industry Insight
Careers in this industry can span a very wide
range of jobs, as well as the technicians and
engineers that you initially think of, there are a
great many other possibilities behind the
scenes: business skills are needed to head up
the companies, designer jobs to create car
styles and designs, parts manufacturers, sales
and marketing staff, staff who pack, prepare
and deliver cars, showroom staff who know
about the cars they are selling, and more.
With more cars on the road than ever, and the
need to improve systems and find alternate fuel
systems as petrol stocks run out, the need for
people in this industry is not going to diminish.
If you are interested in inspiring some future
Formula 1 engineers why not sign your school
up for the F1 in schools challenge or 4x4
challenge? The sites also include free access
to curriculum resources when you register.
April 2012
Don’t forget!!!!
Don‟t forget to register your
ambassador activities on the
STEMNET website for them to
count towards your required 1
activity per year. If you don‟t have
time to log them on, send the
details to Angela or Alex and they
will upload them for you.
Career Pathways – Motor Vehicle Technician
Motor vehicle technicians service and
repair cars, vans, motorbikes and larger
vehicles like lorries and coaches. They
work on all areas of vehicle mechanics
and electrics, from the engine and
exhaust systems to the air-conditioning
and security features. As a technician,
your duties would include finding and
identifying faults, advising customers if
repairs are needed and how critical they
are, providing time and cost estimates
for jobs, carrying out repairs and
replacing damaged parts, road testing
the vehicles to check the repair work, fitting and servicing accessories like radios and alarms and
carrying out routine servicing and checks. A common way into this career is through an
apprenticeship in vehicle mechanics. To get onto a scheme, you may need GCSEs in maths,
English and science, or equivalent qualifications. Alternatively, you could take an automotive
course at college to learn some of the skills needed for the job. Relevant courses include City &
Guilds Awards, BTEC Certificates and IMI Awards.
Skills and Knowledge
You will need an excellent knowledge of motor vehicle technology, strong practical skills, good
problem-solving skills to find faults, the ability to work quickly and pay attention to detail, good
communication and customer service skills, the ability to follow written and verbal instructions, a
reasonable level of fitness, an up-to-date knowledge of developments- especially new engine
types and electronics, an awareness of health and safety regulations and you normally need a
driving licence for the class of vehicle you work with.
Training and Development
The ever-changing technology in the car industry means it is vital that you continue to update your
skills and knowledge throughout your career. You could work towards an Automotive NVQ from
levels 1 to 3. The NVQ has several options, including: Vehicle Maintenance and Repair (options in
light or heavy vehicles, lift-truck, motorcycles, auto electrics, motorsport, electronics and security),
Vehicle Fitting Operations (tyres and general fitting), Vehicle Body and Paint Operations (body
repair and refinishing) and Roadside Assistance and Recovery.
Opportunities
You can find work with garages, manufacturers' service centres, freight, transport and construction
companies, vehicle hire and breakdown organisations, fast-fit outlets and car dealerships. There
may also be opportunities with local authorities, the police and taxi companies as well as
companies that maintain large fleets of vehicles such as BT or Sky.
You could specialise in a particular area of mechanics, such as electrics or diagnostics, or on a
specific make of vehicle. With experience, you could be promoted to senior technician, workshop
supervisor and workshop manager. Other options include working as a breakdown engineer,
moving into automotive engineering or you could become self-employed. Average salaries for
motor vehicle technicians can be between £15,000 and £20,000. Experienced technicians can
earn over £25,000 a year.
Upcoming events
Gifted at Science? The Gifted and Talented team at the University of East Anglia offer a variety of events for high achieving students in years 10-13. Details can be found at www.uea.ac.uk/giftedandtalented but here is a taste of Spring events with a scientific flavour… 1st May- Blood, Sweat & Tears, Chemistry (yrs 10-12) 26th June- Mathematics Enrichment Day (yr 10) NEW: 12-13th July– Energy Engineering Summer School (Year 12 Maths A-Level students)
For more information, prices or to book, please contact [email protected] or call 01603
591961.
Norwich Science Cafe– for the adults! Maddermarket Theatre Bar 7.30pm, free. 23rd May : Steve Gaskin (Right Angle Events) presents Offender Profiling, „Art‟ or „Science‟ (looking at characteristics of offender behaviour at a crime scene). 20th June: Tharin Blumenschein (UEA, RSC) presents „Proteins: Why Shapes Matter‟. Norwich Research Park Events– for all events please contact Dawn Barrett [email protected] 18th May – Fascination of Plants Day http://www.plantday12.eu at JIC Conference Centre, aimed at Key Stage 2/3 plant related activities and talks. July – Science Camp - Year 10 work experience scheme
Further information at: http://www.jic.ac.uk/year10/ 25th – 27th September - Inside Science Workshops for Gifted & Talented Students at Norwich Research Park. A 3 day workshop for gifted and talented students in years 11, 12 and 13. Students are invited to spend three days on an intensive workshop, hearing about the research we do first hand, meeting students, post-docs and research assistants explaining exactly what it is like to work in science. Places are limited and competitive. All applications must include the following:
A covering letter explaining why you would like to attend the Inside Science Workshops.
A CV detailing both subjects taken and extra-curricular activities and interests.
A recommendation form, to be completed by your science teacher or Head of Science.
Places are awarded to students that demonstrate a true passion for the subject through good grades, attendance and extra-curricular activities. Further information can be found at: http://www.jic.ac.uk/corporate/opportunities/InsideScience.htm 26th September - Microscopy Insight Day at John Innes Centre, 09:30 – 16:00; 2 hour slots for 35 students max per slot. 28th September – JellyVision Competition at Institute of Food Research, Colney, 11:00. The Institute of Food Research has once again set local schools a challenge to find out who can make the tallest jelly. Go on – get practising. Further information at: http://www.ifr.ac.uk/jellyvision/ 28th September – Inside IFR Schools Open Day at Institute of Food Research, Colney, 09:30-15:00, come and find out what goes on inside the IFR Yrs 11, 12 and 13.
29th September – Inside IFR – Public Open Day, Institute of Food Research, Colney, 10:00 – 16:00 come and find out what goes on inside the IFR .
Please note although STEM Ambassador resources are completely free, some external events may cost.
HEADLIGHT
Headlight is a set of free, nation specific, teaching resources mapped to the GCSE and BTEC
business and enterprise curriculum.
Headlight was developed by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) to provide full lesson plans and
work books that teach business subjects in practical and „real world‟ examples.
What Is It?
17 full lesson plans covering recruitment, finance, marketing, training and more.
Full work book for students.
All lessons are based on real life activities with the motor industry as the backdrop.
Helps young people understand how a complex business functions.
An opportunity to gain links to automotive businesses within your area.
Why Get Involved?
Contextualise learning for students.
Develop relationships between schools and the UK-wide automotive retail network.
Increase awareness of the exciting opportunities for young people within the sector.
Interesting and engaging lessons presenting unique problems to solve.
It‟s Free!
To learn more or register for the resources go to www.autocity.org.uk/headlight or contact the
Headlight team: [email protected]
INDICATE
Indicate is a set of free, nation specific, teaching resources mapped to the key stage 3 maths
curriculum. Indicate was developed by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) to provide full lesson
plans and work books that teach maths in practical and „real world‟ examples.
What Is It?
12 full lesson plans covering statistics, data analysis, finance, space, shape, measure, sequences
and more.
Full work book for students.
All lessons are based on real life activities with the motor industry as the backdrop.
Encompasses sub sectors such as motorsport, motorcycle, paint and sales as well as green issues
such as vehicle emissions.
An opportunity to gain links to automotive businesses within your area.
Why Get Involved?
Contextualise learning for students.
Develop relationships between schools and the UK-wide automotive retail network.
Increase awareness of the exciting opportunities for young people within the sector.
Interesting and engaging lessons presenting unique problems to solve.
It‟s Free!
To learn more or register for the resources go to www.autocity.org.uk/headlight/indicate or contact the careers team: [email protected]
Career Pathways—Motor Vehicle Body Repairer
As a motor vehicle body repairer, you would fix or replace
damaged body parts on all types of vehicles. On a repair job,
your duties could include: removing damaged panels or parts
to repair at a workbench, smoothing out minor dents in panels
with a 'dolly' hammer and other tools, filling small holes or
rusted areas with resin, body solder and other compound
fillers, fitting new panels where the damage is too great for
repair, custom-building body panels from sheet metal before
welding them into place, removing old paintwork, sealant and
rust, using a wire wheel attached to a drill or grinder, priming
and paint spraying the area, using the manufacturer
instructions on colour matches and sealing and waxing the
repair.
Entry Requirements
You could get into this career through an apprenticeship in vehicle servicing or body repair. To do
this, you will normally need some GCSEs, for example in maths, English, science, IT, design and
technology, or equivalent qualifications – check with the college or training provider to see what
they require.
Alternatively, you could study for automotive qualifications at college, which would teach you some
of the skills needed. These include City & Guilds, IMI Awards and BTEC courses.
Also required are good practical skills and the ability to use a range of tools, the ability to work
methodically and pay close attention to detail, the ability to work without close supervision, good
communication skills, the ability to follow written and verbal instructions, a reasonable level of
fitness and an awareness of health and safety regulations.
Training and Development
You would usually train on the job with day or block release at a local college or training provider.
This would lead to the NVQ in Vehicle Body and Paint Operations at levels 2 and 3.
You could improve your career prospects by working towards the Institute of the Motor Industry's
Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA). This professional development programme has
several levels: Paint Technician, Senior Paint Technician, Panel Technician, Senior Panel
Technician, MET Technician, Senior MET Technician, Vehicle Damage Assessor and Autoglazing
Bodyshop Technician.
Opportunities
You could find work throughout the country, from large car dealerships to small workshops. You
could also work for specialist customisation bodyshops, vehicle restorers, road haulage, and bus
and coach companies. In a small garage, you might combine vehicle body repair with paint
spraying duties. In larger garages, you can
usually specialise in one area.
Your options for promotion include
supervisory and bodyshop management
positions in larger organisations. You could
also set up your own business or move into
mobile or smart repair. Starting salaries can
be between £13,000 and £18,000 a year,
with experience this can rise to around
£28,000 a year.
Changing Futures Website
The „Changing Futures‟ website – developed by teenagers for teenagers – exploring cystic fibrosis (CF) and gene therapy has just been launched. This project has been led by Nowgen (a centre for excellence in public engagement, education and training in biomedicine) and supported by the Wellcome Trust. The website (www.changing-futures.co.uk), includes a range of free resources such as interviews with scientists, animations and video diaries.
The Changing Futures website comprises three zones: The CF Zone, The Gene Therapy Zone and The Teacher Zone. The first two zones explore how CF is inherited and the effect it has on
people‟s lives, as well as the history of gene therapy and the latest developments. The third zone is specifically for teachers; it includes activities and experiments and links to further information suitable for key stage 3, 4 and post-16 pupils.
The Changing Futures team worked with young people with CF, clinicians, educators, artists and scientists, to create new and interactive ways to understand more about CF and gene therapy.
Another Angle
Another Angle was inspired by the wealth of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)
expertise in Norfolk. Some of it is in plain sight, but perhaps you don‟t recognise it as STEM, some of
it is harder to find, perhaps undertaken in universities, colleges or businesses. Wherever or whatever
it is, it‟s nearly always amazing, inspiring and deserving of a little attention. So in 2012 we‟re hoping to
photograph STEM subjects all over the county in an artistic way. We‟re not going to go into the cliché
that „not all scientists wear lab coats‟ (although if we do break down some stereotypes we‟re fine with
that). What we want is for people to be proud of one of Norfolk‟s biggest strengths.
We want as many people to get involved as possible to show the incredibly diverse and talented
STEM people in Norfolk so if you are
willing to get involved please email
We can arrange to come to you and
photograph you in situ whether it‟s in
a lab, in a class or up a tree!! The
images will be used on posters to
promote STEM Ambassadors to
schools, students and other potential
ambassadors. We are also hoping
that the project will have a strong
impact and lead to exhibitions and
maybe other follow up activities. To
keep up to date with the project and
see some of the first images visit:
http://anotheranglenorfolk.tumblr.com/
Meet The Ambassador
Name: Dan Croft
Job: Proposal Writer and Project Planner/Estimator
Company: Lotus Engineering
STEM Area of expertise: Automotive Engineering, Power Industry, General Sciency-ness.
What do you enjoy about your job: I‟m a massive petrolhead so working for not just any car company, but one synonymous with British racing heritage was a big buzz when I started. I still enjoy wandering through the car park and seeing prototypes, mule cars, classic Lotuses and pretty much anything interesting to someone like me. I always keep meaning to get hold of some old car bits from the boneyard and make a coffee table, but I‟m yet to get round to it. Plus I have no room for a coffee table.
Typical day: I‟m more office-based than workshop based. We do a lot of work for other companies and our projects range from sending a guy to China for a week to test out some ride and handling, up to brand new engine designs and building whole vehicle prototypes.
Generally my role involves getting all the technical information from the relevant specialists, pulling it all together into a plan and then writing the proposal/contract telling the client exactly what we‟re going to do and how we‟re going to do it. If I feel the urge to get my hands dirty, I have a boat I‟m restoring which keeps me sane. It‟s great fun though, the satisfaction once I‟ve ticked another job off the list (usually after adding two more jobs to the list) is brilliant. I‟ve been boating since I was 5 so living near the broads is great for me. Before moving here I lived by the Italian lakes with my last job.
Favourite Scientific Idea/experiment: All of science and engineering is fantastic, but I‟m going to go for the custom car sleeper scene. I just love the idea of a dowdy-looking car with something mad under the bonnet. I once saw a Citroen 2CV van body sat on top of a Ferrari 355 chassis. Not sure what‟s going to beat that. Maybe a 27 litre Spitfire engined Rover.
Best STEM event you took part in: “The S Factor” in the Forum was great fun. The experiment kit I had didn‟t work and the age groups weren‟t what I was expecting so I just had to wing it. In the end the whole talk revolved around me shouting “NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS IN SPACE!!!!” -Which seemed to go down well.
STEM hero: Guess I really should say Colin Chapman. I‟ll throw in Richard Feynman and Brian Cox too.
If you would like to feature in meet the ambassador in a future issue please email your profile to [email protected]
Chemistry In Sport
The Royal Society of Chemistry are running a global experiment that your school could take part in. The global experiment is an activity highlighting the role of chemistry in sport, and explores the
effects of sports drinks on physical activities. The experiment is for all ages to take part in and tests scientific and sporting skills.
There is also a wealth of resources based around the Olympics for students aged 7-16 years which includes experiments, handouts, worksheets and presentations. The resources are free and
accessible to anyone, teachers or ambassadors who would like to deliver or support these sessions in the classroom. The resources can be found on the RSC website.
Ambassadors wanted-A snapshot of requests
● Wymondham College is hosting a day-long event, on 27th April. The event will consist of
teams of 7 or 8 students, with 6 teams from different high schools. The teams will take
part in the Institute of Physics Ashfield Music Festival. Once the roles have been
allocated, students will be invited to meet with their respective expert/STEM
Ambassador to ask questions, listen to real life scenarios, address challenges, etc. The
teams will then reconvene and students will be tasked with putting together a tender to
host the Ashfield Music Festival.
Ambassadors are invited to attend for the entire day, although it is absolutely fine if you
wish to take part in the morning session only.
● 5th/6th May– we are still looking for anyone who is willing to help run some science
activities at the Norfolk Showground for Norfolk Cubs.
● 18th June- We are looking for ambassadors who are willing to give a 45 minute talk to
sixth formers at their careers day. The time slot during the day can be whatever best
suits you and the students who attend will have signed up especially to hear your talk.
The subject range we are looking for can be anything in STEM but especially maths,
engineering, health, physics and environmental science.
● Two year ten students have designed a prototype X-Box product and their school is
looking for any ambassadors who may be able to help or advise the students as they
wish to make a prototype and then look at marketing.
● The Young Archaeologists Club are looking for ambassadors who are interested in
giving guest talks and sessions on any scientific topic related to archaeology. I.E.
geophysics, carbon dating etc.
● A high school in North Walsham is looking for support from ambassadors on several
areas:
Hands on activities for a group of 30 x year 8 students to help re-ignite interest in STEM
subjects.
A talk about doing a maths degree and the importance of maths in general.
Talks for year 10 students on medicine, nursing, geology and forensic science
Send your ambassador requests to Angela or Alex and they can be advertised here.
Ambassadors, are there any activities you can offer schools, let us know and we can
include those too! Don‟t forget to check the full list on the ambassador request page.
Contact details:
STEM, EDU 1.120, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ
[email protected], [email protected] 01603 591738
[email protected] 01603 591659 07826 877188
http://www.uea.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/teachers/STEMNET
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