Report from CSES Spotlight Event, 15 April 2021
In April 2021, CSES held a 'spotlight' meeting to discuss the role that trust plays in stimulating and enabling new partnerships between users and providers. Specifically, the event explored the role of trust in the context of emerging trends in the four sectors of focus: healthcare, planning, digital economy and education. This follows directly from the Covid recovery roundtable hosted by CSES and Essex County Council in October 2020.
The event concluded that:
- There is a clear case for multidisciplinary collaboration, and there is appetite among the group to establish a more formal model for this.
- Each sector's issues are connected and cannot be considered in isolation. Any collaborative initiative must adopt a "whole system" approach.
- Diversity and inclusion are not simply "nice to haves"; they are essential to getting things right. Whilst the existing stakeholder group is relatively diverse, the model that we adopt to bring about action must be fully inclusive.
- To achieve the necessary levels of system integration, inclusion, diversity and participation, trust among the parties is essential.
Read more: Optimising the new normal: the central enabler of TRUST
After our very successful 2020 photographic competition, which received some outstanding photographs depicting important aspects of the history of science and technology in Essex, we are pleased to open again for entries in 2021.
The competition is open to anyone in full time or part time education in Essex and again explores the key link between the creative arts and STEM. As part of a bigger project, which we will be running later this year, the theme of this year's competition is:
Fresh Air, Fresh Thinking
While pollution is a multifaceted global problem, from agricultural pollutants such as nitrates and ammonia to mercury and lead contamination and of course our worrying reliance on single-use plastics, air pollution is often less noticeable but is increasingly harming both our health and our environment.
We want you to take photographs that express what air pollution means to you, or how it impacts our health or our environment, and the negative or positive roles that technology can play. Each photograph should be accompanied with a short explanation (not more than 50 words) of the story or thoughts behind it.
Listen to the stories of those working in engineering, including CSES President Adam Wood
In association with Silver Fox, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) have launched a series of podcasts called Engineering Stories. These are an excellent opportunity for young engineers to hear the tales of those who have been there and done that.
In Episode 3, hosts Alex and Connor welcome Systems Engineer, Adam Wood to the show. Adam has had an interesting career working in the rail, defence and healthcare sectors, currently working at Teledyne e2v. Adam shares some interesting insight on the similarities and differences between them, as well as talks about the work he is doing for the Chelmsford Science & Engineering Society.
Environmental Challenge | Plastic – friend or foe? | Trust Science: Make Essex Covid-Safe
A BIG thank you and well done to everyone who entered our spring 2021 Imagine! STEAM competitions on the themes of sustainability and Covid vaccination. We were pleased to receive so many entries, which you can see on our web gallery, and enjoyed picking the winners. Congratulations to everyone who received a prize, listed below.
Visit our web gallery to see all the posters and videos entered.
Read more: Spring 2021 Imagine! STEAM Competition winners announced
CSES exhibiting at virtual event hosted by The STEM Hub and Southend Borough Council
Link to original article at The STEM Hub:
https://thestemhub.org.uk/news/news-article/southend-virtual-career-fair
The Southend Virtual Career Fair launches on Tuesday 4th May, showcasing a range of employers and career opportunities available in and around your local area. The fair has a number of different sections including; creative, construction, digital, engineering and advanced manufacturing, finance, health and social care, hospitality and leisure, and the public sector.
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UKTV's Specialist factual channel Yesterday is airing an eight part series on the buildings that helped fight Hitler. CSES's Chris Neale tells the series about Baddow Tower.
Airing every Monday from April 19th, The Buildings that Fought Hitler is an eight part series exploring the range of buildings, structures and engineering that would help defend Britain in the case of Nazi invasion.
Chris Neale, CSES's Programme Manager, helps present a segment describing the role that Baddow Tower, one of the original Chain Home Radar Towers, played in the defence of the country.
You can see Chris in episode 4, broadcast on Monday 10 May at 8pm. Catch up on UKTV Play.
Read more: The Buildings that Fought Hitler - Featuring Baddow Tower
Career development and volunteering opportunities with CSES
As it enters its centenary season, CSES (Chelmsford Science and Engineering Society) is looking for new volunteers to grow the core team and drive forward its recently launched strategy.
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 (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education and would like to be more involved?
This is an excellent chance to make a real difference to our community. CSES volunteers actively contribute to, and influence, what goes on locally by representing a respected body and working with a wide range of other organisations, including local government, the education sector and businesses. It is also a chance to grow your network, whether personal or professional.
Remember: any time spent volunteering for CSES counts as Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and is a perfect complement – or coda (we know plenty of retired people enjoy this sort of thing!) – to a career in the STEAM or education sectors. We are already affiliated in some way with many local employers – and want to build relationships with more – working with us is good for your progression and employment prospects.
CSES to host Ask Me Anything (AMA) event on 15 March 2021
In an exciting new development for CSES, we will be hosting an Ask Me Anything (AMA) event on Reddit.
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.
LIVE link to Reddit: https://redd.it/m5i6g5
The British Science Association is looking to recruit a talented and organised Festival Operations Officer to help us plan and deliver the British Science Festival 2021.
The British Science Festival is Europe’s longest-standing science festival which connects people with researchers from across the scientific spectrum. It offers an inspiring programme of free events to the public over five days, attracting around 15,000 visitors. The talks, workshops and drop-in events span a diverse range of subjects that encompass science in the broadest sense.
Full-time (35 hours per week). Fixed-term contract terminating on 17 September 2021. Preferred start date: 6 April 2021.
To apply, submit an application here. You will need to provide a CV and a covering letter. The closing date for applications is 23.59, Sunday 7 March 2021. First interviews are likely to take place on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 March 2021.
Main Duties:
- Act as the main logistical point of contact for Festival event organisers/speakers.
- Support the Events & Festival Operations Manager in building and managing the Festival Masterplan.
- Recruit, train, and oversee the temporary Festival Assistants.
- Lead on Festival accommodation administration.
- Oversee the integrity of Festival-related data.
- Coordinate the administration of the event’s Risk Assessment forms.
- Manage staff and goods transport (including staff travel bookings, coaches, parking facilities, supplier delivery details etc.)
- Monitor the Festival Inbox along with members of the Engagement Team.
- Attend meetings and site visits in Chelmsford in the run-up to the Festival.
- Support the Festival on-site event management and delivery as required.
- Other duties as reasonably required by the line manager.
Read more: Festival Operations Officer opportunity at The British Science Association
- STEM Ambassador Programme Launches Online Mentoring Scheme
- Electronic Engineer opportunity at CVC Components
- Trust Science: Help Make Essex Covid-Safe
- CSES Centenary Calendar
- CSES Imagine! Plastic – Friend or Foe?
- CSES Imagine! Environmental Challenge
- Centenary Photo Competition winners announced
- CSES hosts Covid recovery roundtable
- Teaching GCSE Science with Circus Skills
- Essex County Council Laptop Donations