After two years off due to Covid, the annual CSES Schools' Competition returned on 17 June 2022, now known by its new name "TEXPO" (Schools' Technology Exhibition) as it accompanies our new online competitions and projects.
Numbers were understandably lower this year, but the standard of work on display was incredibly high. Entries were especially impressive given the limitations that we know people have faced over the last couple of years during the pandemic.
Congratulations to everyone who won an award at the 2022 CSES TEXPO, which took place on Friday 17 June 2022 at Anglia Ruskin University.
Update 3 July: Functionality for online registration is restored. There is still an issue with the generation of links in some automated emails (especially event reminders), which we are continuing to investigate with the software developers. A fix should be in place for the start of the 2022-2023 events programme.
Update 15 July: We have had to migrate the server on an emergency basis to a new facility. Users should notice no change, and everything appears to be working as normal, but please advise if there are any issues.
If you experience any issues using the website, please Contact the Webmaster (technical support) with any relevant screenshots and the exact date/time that the problem occurred.
Thank you for your patience.
CSES welcomes entries to the 2022 TEXPO: Schools’ Technology Exhibition.
Open to Y5-13 | All STE(A)M projects welcome | Show your work to scientists and engineers | Cash prizes to be won
Are you in a STEM club at primary or secondary school? Have you made something fantastic in technology or science lessons or for your coursework? Have you created some great software? Have you been doing interesting technical projects at home? (Or have your students?)
Or do you have some STE(A)M work you'd like to share with others – including real scientists and engineers – such as a poster, report, presentation or video?
If your answer to any of these questions is YES, then exhibit at the annual CSES TEXPO. There is prize money to be won! All STE(A)M projects are very welcome – whether practical or theoretical. The TEXPO now includes a dedicated 'poster session' for science, maths and non-practical projects.
This is also an excellent opportunity to develop your interview and presentation skills, as you explain your project to our judges, many of whom are from local industry. You won't just get professional feedback and tips from real engineers and scientists, you'll also get to talk about careers – this is great exposure and looks good on your CV or university application!
Register online quickly and easily here.
Find out more about TEXPO here.
Also a reminder that our Centenary Photographic Competition is still open for entries.
Open to anyone living, working or attending education in Essex, our photographic competition explores the key link between the creative arts and STEM. The theme is Controlling the Climate Crisis.
We want you to take photographs that express what you think are the ways in which we are starting to mitigate the climate crisis. So take out your camera or your phone and snap some photos that encapsulate the essence of climate change and the role of science and technology! We will be looking for photos that are creative in their approach, with an innovative angle on the subject, or have a creative interpretation of the themes.
Enter online quickly and easily here.
Find out more about the competition here.
The entry deadline for both competitions is Friday 10 June 2022.
In May 1922, the world's first radio station started in Writtle. Called 2MT ("Two Emma Toc"), this humble – and somewhat experimental – enterprise operating from a small hut ultimately became the BBC as we know it today.
Marconi Company engineers sat in the snug of the old Cock and Bell Inn – now the site of Pakwaan Indian Punjabi Cuisine, Writtle – and planned the first ever scheduled radio broadcasts in the form of concerts to be aired by 2MT. The success of this station, under Captain Peter Eckersley, led directly to the start of the BBC.
Exactly 100 years later, Heritage Writtle put on a season of celebrations for this significant milestone in our history, including a parade, history walks, talks, and a weekend of family activities and exhibitions. As well as presenting at the weekend festivities, CSES held its annual dinner at Pakwaan on 23 May, where an excellent meal and evening was had by all. Guests were also treated to an exclusive walking tour of the significant sites by Tim Wander and Alan Pamphilon.
Tim also presented a commemorative display to the restaurant to record and celebrate the significant history of their premises; you can read more about the story on our website.
We intend to return to our social programme in the 2022/2023 season, with meet-ups on Thursday 13 October and Thursday 15 December.
When: Wednesday 22 June 2022 – Friday 15 July (see specific dates below)
Where: Marconi Building, Anglia Ruskin University, Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford, CM1 1SQ
Hours: 11:00 to 16:00 on each day the exhibition is open
This special exhibition will showcase artefacts of scientific and technological innovation from the last 100 years. This is not just about the past – there will also be forward looking displays sponsored by Leonardo and Teledyne e2v. Today, companies in Chelmsford continue to build the technology of the future, with high-tech developments in fields as diverse as space, medicine, communications, and defence. The impact of industry in Chelmsford on all of our lives is incredible. This exhibition will tell at least a part of that story, revealing how household names such as Marconi are echoed in the modern age.
The Chelmsford Civic Society (CCS) is looking for help on each of the days listed below. Your main duty will be to act as an exhibition ambassador and assist visitors with basis information about the content and location of the various exhibits. You may also be asked to assist with specific exhibits should the need arise (information will be provided).
Following the success of the British Science Festival in September 2021, CSES was back in June 2022 for the Chelmsford Festival, bringing Do and Discover to the city. A new joint initiative between CSES and Chelmsford Festival, Do and Discover is a weekend of fun experimental activities for all the family, taking place across Chelmsford. Working with our partners, we were delighted to put on a packed programme that was widely regarded as a highlight of the festival.
Saturday 25 June saw a family Lego day at ARU organised by Make Happen, alongside the Marconi: Innovation and Beyond exhibition also taking place, with a special thermal imaging demonstration by Leonardo for the festival. On the Sunday, IOP (Institute of Physics) East Anglia Branch held the post-pandemic return of their spectacularly popular PhysicsFest at KEGS. Across both days, CSES were joined in the city centre (Meadows and High Street) by Teledyne e2v, Essex Steamettes, the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the Ideas Hub and ARU to put on a rich display of hands-on experiments, STEAM / craft activities and career opportunities.
From figures obtained at the events, we know that over 700 people and families directly took part in one or more of the activities.
Our thanks to all the organisations and people involved, and we look forward to returning for both the Chelmsford Festival and Chelmsford Science Festival in 2023!
CSES is pleased to announce a packed season of family-friendly activities for Summer 2022, in partnership with Chelmsford Festival, ARU and others.
Firstly, a reminder that our TEXPO 2022 (17 June) and Centenary Photographic Competition are both still open for entries until Fri 10 June. Please do consider entering these – there are cash prizes available!
During the Chelmsford Festival, join CSES and its partners for a full weekend of FREE hands-on discovery across the city of Chelmsford. Taking place in the high street, at the university and at KEGS, we invite you to Do some experimenting and creating, and Discover the wonders of science, technology and opportunities in Chelmsford.
With fun and interesting things to Do and Discover from CSES, ARU, Make Happen, Teledyne e2v / Women@Teledyne, Essex Steamettes, Essex Young Engineers and more, there truly is something for everyone. See our events pages (linked above) for full details. All activities are completely FREE and open to all.
Star Wars revisited... A FREE talk and informal discussion led by Mr Steven Cutts, doctor, writer and familiar face to CSES members.
Café Scientifique is a place where, for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology. Steven's talks are always fun, informative and really get the discussion going!
Book your FREE place via our website.
Following the success of our 2021 Ask Me Anything (AMA) event on Reddit, we will be hosting another one this year. If you are not familiar with the AMA format, it is where notable groups and individuals invite the community to ask them any question, which they will do their best to answer in near real-time. Read our invitation here.
Chelmsford has been a world-renowned centre of scientific and technological innovation for well over 100 years, and still is today. This exhibition at ARU will tell a part of that story, revealing how household names such as Marconi are echoed in the modern age.
The exhibition is free and open to all. There will be fun themed activities for children too, including over Do and Discover weekend on 25 and 26 June with a family day and tours of the campus.
Chelmsford has been a world-renowned centre of scientific and technological innovation for well over 100 years, and still is today. Among other things, Chelmsford is home to the world's first wireless (later radio) factory, the world's first river water treatment plant and the world's first colour digital camera – and that's just from within the last century. Today, companies in Chelmsford continue to build the technology of the future, with high-tech developments in fields as diverse as space, medicine, communications and defence. The impact of industry in Chelmsford on all of our lives is incredible.
A collaboration between ARU, CSES, Chelmsford Civic Society and the Marconi Veterans' Association, this exhibition will tell a part of that story, revealing how household names such as Marconi are echoed in the modern age. It will take place in ARU's Marconi building, which was opened by Princess Elettra Marconi Giovanelli, the daughter of Guglielmo Marconi, in 2010, on ARU's Chelmsford campus.
The exhibition will open on Wednesday, 22 June and will run on specific days until Friday, 15 July. Attendees need to book their place – more information and full details of times can be found at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chelmsford-innovation-marconi-and-beyond-tickets-324804377637.
TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Yubo, are words that parents may or may not have heard of. As adults when we think about the internet we may think of funny cat videos, shopping online or sharing photos of our dinner on Facebook, but the digital world that our children are left to wander through alone every day can be very different indeed. Recent studies by OFSTED have shown that our young people can be exposed to shocking material online. Students in both primary and secondary schools said that they or someone they know had experienced online sexual abuse or harassment, with nearly 90% of female students saying that they had received unsolicited 'nudes'.
Do you really know what is going on in your child's smartphone?
On Thursday 21 April 2022, Passmores Academy invited the Harlow Community for an evening of quizzes, talks and an exhibition to answer the question: "The Internet – what's really going on?". Following the CSES My Smarter Essex format and jointly delivered by the school, CSES, The STEM Hub and Essex County Council (ECC), this fun, interactive and informative event explored and explained the trust and safety risks and pitfalls, as well as the benefits and opportunities that come from using the Internet, to both primary and secondary students and their parents. An exhibition by local employers from across the STEAM spectrum accompanied the main talks, with catering and childcare provided for all attendees.
