A project for Primary and Secondary School Students: September 2021 to June 2022
We are launching a major new science, technology and computing project for primary and secondary schools.
We are looking for participating schools across Essex to become CSES School Affiliate Members where student teams will:
- Collect weather and air quality information (equipment will be supplied).
- Interpret, publish and share data in real-time with other schools – opportunity for coding and web development.
- Undertake a survey of student, staff or parent perceptions of air pollution.
- Design and carry out a scientific investigation into clean air, nitrous oxides or particulate matter. Or you can discuss your own idea with your CSES School Champion to develop your own unique study.
To maximise the success of these student-led projects, additional competitive funding may be available from our CSES STEM Club Bursary.
There will be PRIZES for the most innovative, best data and greatest impact entry in each age group, presented at our annual awards ceremony at Anglia Ruskin University in July. In consultation with your CSES Champion, teams may be funded to enter their project for an appropriate level National CREST Award.
We are now looking for schools across Essex (including the unitary authorities) to become CSES School Affiliate Members and discuss how they would like to be involved in this exciting project.
Please contact our Vice President for Education, Professor David Humber, for further information (
CSES has a long record of supporting STEM in schools with talks, competitions, hands-on workshops and awarding bursaries to support STE(A)M activities. We now have funding to support the first of our major annual projects in partnership with primary and secondary schools.
Sustainability, climate change and environmental issues such as pollution – especially those related to human activities – are now global issues. In this project, we intend to provide selected schools with equipment that will enable students to investigate aspects of the air we breathe. Increasing exposure to pollutants including methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter are not only of concern in climate change but have been implicated in a range of health issues and in both adults and children.
CSES will provide basic equipment to monitor both climate and aspects of air pollution. Each partner school will receive hand-held anemometer, humidity and temperature meters, a rain gauge, a Raspberry Pi environmental monitor for measuring air quality and, where possible, other appropriate materials and equipment (via our bursary fund).
Each partner school will also have a dedicated CSES STE(A)M champion who will not only help design and execute the student-led project but also facilitate access to university and commercial STEM resources if required. The CSES champion will supply regular support and encouragement, virtual or face-to-face as appropriate.
If appropriate, student teams will be encouraged to develop their own project(s) and submit for a CREST Award. The CSES champions also have access to a wealth of relevant background information and hands-on activities that can be adapted and modified to develop rewarding projects.
The aim of this project is to encourage curiosity and creativity, develop research skills and teamwork and increase young people’s awareness of a major environmental threat, while building on core curriculum topics.
During the project, students will be expected to maintain a project log and, at the end, produce a narrated PowerPoint presentation or video which will be assessed by CSES judges. Prizes will be awarded to outstanding projects within their age group. All participants will be invited to our annual Awards Ceremony to receive prizes and certificates of achievement.
We are now looking for schools across Essex (including the unitary authorities) to become CSES School Affiliate Members and discuss how they would like to be involved in this exciting project.
Please contact our Vice President for Education, Professor David Humber, for further information (