FREE club starting 24 January 2026 for Year 10 students – apply now
We are pleased to offer Year 10 students the opportunity to take part in the 2026 National Saturday Club which CSES will host, once again, at ARU in Chelmsford. As with everything we do at CSES, the Saturday Club is completely free of charge!
The club will provide an opportunity for year 10 students to experience a range of different Science and Engineering topics using the state-of-the-art Super Lab and workshop facilities at ARU's Chelmsford Campus. Each session will explore the science and engineering behind real life activities and problems that can affect our daily lives. In addition to laboratory and workshop sessions, there will also be visits to science and technology related organisations. The NSC also organise for us a masterclass with leading industry professionals and a Summer Show at Somerset House in July.
Report from the Family Weekend
The Chelmsford Science Festival Family Weekend was once again a great success seeing several thousand members of the public coming to the CSES activity area. Many favourite demonstrations from previous years were present including Magnetics, 3D Printing, Centre of Gravity and Force and Moment. The ever-popular Egg Drop also saw a return with over 220 participants over the two days, including some coming back to try and beat last year’s attempts! We had some very innovative designs and some very good results! For those interested, the winning score was 1.1g (the lowest shock registered by our "digital egg") achieved by Violet, on the Sunday.
Creativity, Teamwork & Purpose at ARU’s Hack-a-Ton 25
In November 2025, Anglia Ruskin University’s Chelmsford campus was filled with curiosity and energy as the ARU STEM Society hosted Hack‑a‑ton 25. This two-day event brought together students from various backgrounds—including engineering, business, health, and law—to tackle real-world challenges through creativity, collaboration, and conversation.
🚀 What Happened
- Two full days of innovation
Participants were split into teams and given a challenge when the event began. Over the weekend, they used workshops, breakout rooms, and computer labs to develop ideas and in some cases working prototypes. - “Debate Your Hack”
A highlight was the interactive session where teams defended their ideas in front of an expert panel, sharpening both their problem-solving and public-speaking skills. - Support from start to finish
Expert mentors from ARU and companies like BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce (Alten), and the Chelmsford Science & Engineering Society guided students throughout.
We can now reveal the completed season of our social events and FREE evening lectures.
We hope that you enjoyed the first two excellent talks on Spacecraft Propulsion and Folding Electric Bikes, our inaugural visit to Taste of Italy and the 2025 Chelmsford Science Festival. We are sure that the remaining programme will be just as informative and exciting.
CSES attends annual Braintree Careers Fair
On Wednesday 24 September 2025, Roger Pittock and Ed Bye spent the day at Chelmsford City Racecourse, flying the CSES banner at the annual Braintree Careers Fair.
Over 1,500 year 11 (aged 15 – 16) students from 8 schools attended, two schools at a time to a strict timetable. The large marquee was divided into two sections, each serving in excess of 50 manned stands from a wide range of industries and further education establishments. School groups of around 190 students spent 30 minutes in each section.
CSES launches new Primary Resource Kits scheme
We have been working with a small number of primary schools to trial the introduction of a new feature of the CSES STEM Club Bursary. This is the Primary Resource Kits scheme, providing free resource kits to support teaching of science at KS1 and KS2. We are aware of the challenges that teachers can face in terms of obtaining resources (or resources that work properly!) when planning and delivering engaging science lessons. It is our aim to support teachers and, in turn, help children explore science and technology.
Priory Primary School in Bicknacre have been among the first to make use of this scheme, taking delivery of a seed kit, wild west desert garden, grow-your-own herbs kit and a stick-on fabric plant diagram. Together, these make up the 'Plants' subject resource pack (others available include 'Electricity', 'Space', 'Rocks' and 'Light').
CSES supporting STEM in the community
Funds from the CSES STEM Club Bursary have been used to purchase Lego Spike Essential kits for Cherry Tree Primary School in Basildon, enabling them to run a club for pupils in years 1-6 with a more age-appropriate set of equipment.
Read more: STEM Club Bursary 2025: Cherry Tree Primary School
CSES@ARU Science and Engineering Saturday Club 2025
A few words from David, who runs our Saturday Club...
Hello, I am Professor David Humber from Anglia Ruskin University and Vice President of CSES, who runs this club at ARU, Chelmsford.
This year, we explored over a dozen different hands-on topics from infection and microbiology, through CAD design and 3D printing, and even pond dipping, chocolate welding and horology! We also took visits to Essex Wildlife, the Power Museum and our Masterclass at UCL East.
Each year our students seem to get better and the quality of work they submitted for our Agar Art Competition and the posters they produced for the cutting-edge science poster challenge were really impressive.
Finally, thanks to ARU for supporting our club and to the tutors and student ambassadors who helped run the sessions. Also, a big thank-you to our enthusiastic students and their parents and carers who supported and encouraged them.
Read more: CSES Imagine! Saturday Club completes its third year
Discover gaming careers, meet industry experts and explore the skills needed to create best-selling video games!
Spark! Youth Forum, Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and Chelmsford Science and Engineering Society (CSES) are delighted to invite you to our Game On! Careers Event on Wednesday 15th October from 12:00-5:00pm (6:00pm including networking) at ARU, Chelmsford.
The event is aimed at students and youth group participants in school years 9-11 and has been co-designed with young people for young people.
Game On! will:
- Showcase the breadth of skills / vocations involved in computer game design (e.g. coding / software design to voiceover, writing, music, graphic art, story development…).
- Raise awareness of career paths and show students how to get involved.
- Give students careers advice and confidence in seeking out opportunities.
- Provide an opportunity to speak directly with employers and industry players.
- Give students the chance to learn about the latest developments and opportunities in gaming.
Congratulations to everyone who won an award at the 2025 CSES TEXPO, which took place on Friday 27 June 2025 at Anglia Ruskin University.
We are very pleased to announce that the winners are as follows:
- CSES helps to secure major investment for Chelmsford Science Festival
- CSES Wins SheCanCode STEM Educator Award
- Felsted Pupils and Essex REMAP at Billericay Soapbox Derby 2025
- Volunteer Opportunity: STEM Day Support Needed
- CSES TEXPO 2025 is open!
- A Festive STEM Adventure: The CSES/ARU Christmas Lecture 2024
- Big Bang Competition 2025
- A new look for the website!
- Seeking volunteers to help with CSES/ARU Christmas Lecture 2024
- CSES at the Braintree Careers Fair 2024