We know that many of our members would like to know when we will be returning to 'in-person' activities. The short answer is: now.
We are delighted to announce three talks (one accompanied by a new book!) and our 2022 annual dinner, all coming up in the next few weeks.
We have several school and family activities planned for summer and then intend to return to a full programme in the autumn (restrictions permitting). Read on for more details...
Wednesday 11 May: The 2023 World Solar Challenge
An exciting free evening talk, to be held at Anglia Ruskin University, with the Cambridge University Eco-Racing Team. Book now via our website.
Tuesday 17 May: The Centenary of British Radio Broadcasting
An illustrated lecture by Tim Wander to be held in Writtle, celebrating 100 years since radio broadcasting first began there. Book now via Eventbrite.
Accompanied by a new, limited edition book – only 300 copies – published in in the centenary year of the 2MT radio station (and the BBC!). Each book signed and numbered by the author – 208 Pages Full Colour A4.
With many new, previously published and colourised photographs (see full article for example).
The complete story of Britain's first regular scheduled radio station that changed the world.
Visit 2mtwrittle100.co.uk to order your copy.
Monday 23 May: The Centenary CSES Curry Evening
Our annual dinner for 2022 takes the form of a celebratory curry at Pakwaan Indian Punjabi Cuisine in Writtle to mark the centenary of radio broadcasting. Book now via our website.
Wednesday 25 May: Soft Robotics
Also at Anglia Ruskin University. Book now via our website.
Looking forward to the summer, we will be holding the CSES TEXPO (formerly the Schools' Engineering and Technology Competition) and announcing the winners of our photographic competition. Both are open now – enter via our website.
We will also be holding a full weekend of fun experimental activities for all the family (Do and Discover) as part of the Chelmsford Festival in June.
Assuming all remains well with Covid restrictions, we expect to return to a full calendar of talks and regular socials in the autumn. We look forward to seeing you there!
Read more: CSES Spring 2022 Programme: Talks, dinner and new book
Monday 23 May 2022, Pakwaan Indian Punjabi Cuisine, Writtle
Click here to book your place(s).
Members and guests are invited to join us to celebrate 100 years since radio broadcasting first began in Writtle.
Did you know that the world's first radio station started in Writtle in 1922? 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.
Exactly 100 years ago, Marconi Company engineers sat in the snug of the old Cock and Bell Inn – now the site of the Pakwaan – 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.
We invite you to join us for a special one-off evening to celebrate this significant milestone. Like those Marconi engineers 100 years ago, this is an opportunity to eat, drink, and maybe even change the world...
5pm – History Walk of significant Writtle sites with historians Alan Pamphilon and Tim Wander (meet in the restaurant car park)
7pm – Dinner followed by speech and presentation of commemorative plaque
Click here to see the menu – 1920s dress encouraged!
The restaurant is all ours for the evening with an excellent set menu with all the trimmings to choose from. The after-dinner speaker will be Writtle 2MT and Marconi historian Tim Wander, and a plaque will be presented to the restaurant owners.
Spaces are limited and must be pre-booked by Monday 16 May. Click here to book.
We look forward to seeing you there! Read on for a little more of the story...
Read more: CSES Curry Evening to celebrate 2MT/BBC Centenary
The deadline for entries to the 2022 Big Bang Competition has been extended until 5pm on Monday 4 April, so there is still time to get your entries in!
The CSES TEXPO 2022 is also open for entries until Friday 10 June.
On Thursday 31 March 2022, CSES, The STEM Hub and ARU held a fun and successful networking session for STEM Ambassadors, teachers and school students.
Attendees were treated to entertaining tours of ARU's cutting-edge facilities – including the SuperLab, engineering workshops and clinical simulation suites – and a presentation by the Passmores Academy team on their Fresh Air, Fresh Thinking project work. There were careers sessions for the secondary students, hands-on activities for the primary students and a workshop on communicating STEM for the Ambassadors. A networking reception for all participants was well-received after two years of lockdowns and isolation!
STEM networking events are typically held once or twice a year; this was the first one post-Covid and the first of similar events that CSES intends to run, with its partners, in the future.
Our thanks to Peter Sutton (The STEM Hub); Fatima Bibi, Binh Le, Dr Maryam Imani and Prof Laurie Butler (ARU); and Jainna Bhalla and Lily Caskey (Leonardo) for their support and contributions to the event.
Thursday 21 April, Passmores Academy, Harlow
Book for FREE now via Eventbrite
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?
For all the parents and carers of young people in Harlow, have no fear: CSES, Passmores Academy and ECC are on the case and are here to help you get up to speed with how to protect your young person and help keep them safe in the digital world. We want to work together with you to help every young person in Harlow to navigate the internet safely by equipping parents and carers with the right knowledge and skills. We also want to showcase the amazing work of Essex-based companies in this area and reveal the breadth of career opportunities available to anyone who wants to build a better internet-enabled future.
Read more: My Smarter Essex: The Internet – What's really going on?
11–20 March 2022
One of the major aims of our society is to raise awareness about both the achievements and challenges of science, engineering, and all things technological. As we continue to develop our educational activities, we are working to align what we do with both focal points in the local calendar and the national and global picture.
There are many national and international celebrations, some of which are dedicated to areas of science and engineering; these are occasions designed to educate the public on issues of concern, and to help mobilise political will and resources to address national and global problems.
We are co-ordinating some of our activities around selected STEM celebrations, either by simply providing information or by organising specific activities to use these as a springboard for raising awareness.
Please think about volunteering to help CSES contribute to or organise an event next year to celebrate:
British Science Week, 11–20 March
Please contact us if you're interested.
Career development and volunteering with CSES and STEM Ambassadors
Are you looking for an opportunity to develop your career beyond the immediate day job? Perhaps you have some time to spare and would like to spend it supporting a local charity? Or do you enjoy volunteering for STEM outreach?
We have some very exciting projects in the works for 2022 (and beyond), and are seeking volunteers to help us with these.
Remember: any time spent volunteering for CSES counts as Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
- STEM Networking: Science and Technology for All (Thu 31 March)
- My Smarter Essex (Thu 21 April)
- Crompton and Chelmsford Pioneers project with the Ideas Hub (ongoing)
- Judges for TEXPO 2022 (Fri 17 June) and national Big Bang
- Chelmsford Innovation: Marconi and Beyond (22 June – 15 July)
- Chelmsford Festival Do and Discover weekend (25/26 June)
- Heath Robinson competition
- Mobile lab for primary schools
- Moulsham High School maths support
- International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2023
- British Science Week 2023
There are further projects still in development: look out for announcements on these in the coming weeks and months.
Annual Schools' TEXPO: Fri 17 June 2022, Anglia Ruskin University
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?
Are you a teacher with pupils or students who have high-quality engineering projects to offer, or a STEM initiative/club that you'd like to showcase? Or are you a parent, guardian or tutor whose child has been working on an exciting project?
If your answer to any of these questions is YES, then exhibit at the annual CSES TEXPO. There is prize money to be won!
Please click here for full details.
The deadline for entries will be Friday 10 June 2022, although please don't wait for your project to be finished before entering. Spaces are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
Please click here to enter your project(s).
If you have any questions, please contact us. We are happy to come into school and discuss or present if this would help.
We would also strongly encourage you to enter the national Big Bang Competition, which is virtual this year. Entries for the Big Bang are open until 20 March – read on for further details.
We look forward to seeing you in June.
Friday 11 February 2022
One of the major aims of our society is to raise awareness about both the achievements and challenges of science, engineering, and all things technological. As we continue to develop our educational activities, we would we like to ensure that – as far as possible – we link what we do into both the national and global picture.
There are many national and international celebrations, some of which are dedicated to areas of science and engineering; these are occasions designed to educate the public on issues of concern, and to help mobilise political will and resources to address national and global problems.
As we continue to develop our activities, we will try to co-ordinate some of our activities around selected STEM celebrations, either by simply providing information or by organising specific activities to use these as a springboard for raising awareness.
Please think about volunteering to help CSES contribute to or organise an event next year to celebrate:
International Day of Women and Girls in Science, 11 February
Please contact us if you're interested.
Read more: International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2022
Free STEM Ambassador Networking Event for Primary and Secondary Schools: Thu 31 March 2022
Come along to a FREE visit to Anglia Ruskin University on Thursday 31 March 2022 for an afternoon of STEM and Environment activities for primary and secondary students. The afternoon will include a tour of the University's cutting-edge Medical School lab facilities, STEM activities, refreshments, and a chance to hear from schools participating in CSES' Fresh Air Fresh Thinking project.
Fresh Air Fresh Thinking is a major new science, technology and computing project for primary and secondary schools. Using a Raspberry Pi, air quality sensors and meteorological equipment, participating students are conducting investigations into air quality and climate across Essex. This is a great opportunity to find out more, potentially get involved yourself next year, and to discuss the climate crisis more widely as a key driver for bringing science and technology to all.
If you are already involved, this will give you an opportunity to see the activities that others have carried out, discuss any new ideas and also present your students' work to an audience.
Free parking is available on campus.
To book your FREE place, please visit:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stem-networking-science-and-technology-for-all-tickets-266967706597
- Save the date: Schools' TEXPO 2022
- Centenary Photographic Competition 2022: Controlling the Climate Crisis
- Photographic Competition 2021 winners announced
- CSES competition winner speaks with PM
- Inclusivity: Closing The Gap
- Solomon's Story: Nuffield Placement
- Programme launch 2021-2022
- Photographic Competition 2021 Deadline Extended
- CSES on show at British Science Festival
- Cell and Gene Therapy Apprenticeships in Braintree