Press Release
Date: Thursday 20 January 2011 (NR/11/11)
Leading Scientist Launches Interactive STEM Resource
The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) yesterday launched its exciting new STEMWorks website with the help of Belfast-born Steve Myers, Director at world-renowned CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, and Education Minister Caitriona Ruane.
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At the recent STEMWorks launch event at the Pump-House, Belfast, we spoke to the key
speakers, including Guest Presenter Steve Myers, Director and Scientist at world-renown
CERN, to see what they had to say about the importance of studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
It was an interactive day at the Pump-House in Belfast, where visitors, including students and teachers, were treated to exciting demonstrations by exhibitors including W5 and Randox Laboratories.
STEMWorks is an interactive web area, highlighting the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to young people, teachers and businesses.
The site includes video case studies filmed in schools and STEM enquiry-based learning and teaching resources, set in an industry context. There is also a STEM Directory detailing local STEM related businesses and resources.
Speaking at the event Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, said:
My Department and I continue to promote the STEM agenda and recognise the importance of providing quality resources and support. It is vital we continue to encourage and nurture our children and young people’s talents. It is our job to teach them about the different opportunities available to them. Resources such as this website help to spark their imagination in the STEM subjects which can lead to new and fascinating discoveries. All of which opens the potential to different and exciting career paths which they may not have considered.
Special guest Steve Myers, Director of Technology and Accelerators at world-renowned CERN, was impressed by the launch:
The CCEA STEMWorks site is a high quality online resource with which I am very proud to have been involved. Visitors to the site will not be disappointed. There is a wide range of information and activities to keep them engaged and returning again and again. You can even take a virtual tour of the CERN offices in Switzerland and listen to interviews with my colleagues. Hopefully we show that a STEM-related work can be a hugely exciting and rewarding career path.
Richard Hanna, Director of Education Strategy at CCEA, commented:
Today’s launch event was a fantastic success and we are pleased to see so many visitors here engaging with STEM. We want the new site to stimulate innovative learning and teaching opportunities, encourage pupils to make learning connections across subjects; and enable pupils to better understand how STEM subjects relate to the world of work.
‘STEM’ aims to promote children and young people’s engagement with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. It helps to make connections for young people between what they learn in school and its relevance to society and the economy, and as such, addresses the aim and objectives of the Northern Ireland Curriculum.
The website can be visited at www.nicurriculum.org.uk/stem/
Students from Colaiste Feirste and Bunscoil Phobail Feirste share their projects with
Steve Myers, CERN, Richard Hanna, CCEA and Catriona Ruane, education Minister.
Additional Information
Launch Information
Pump-House
Northern Ireland Science Park
Queen’s Road
Queen’s Island
Belfast
BT3 9DS
Keynote Speakers
Richard Hanna, CCEA’s Director of Education Strategy (Host)
Caitriona Ruane, Minister of Education
Norman Apsley, NISP
Steve Myers, CERN (Special Guest Presentation)
STEMWorks
A new online resource developed with the support of the Department of Education taking account of recommendations in the STEM Review.
The website includes:
- Video case studies filmed in a range of schools sharing good practice;
- STEM resources for download – including primary and post primary schools working together on STEM related activities;
- Enquiry-based learning and teaching resources, set in an industry context (e.g. nanotechnology, neutraceuticals and passenger security);
- Interview with the Director and staff at CERN (Hadron Collider) originally from Ireland;
- STEM Directory detailing local STEM related businesses and resources.
CERN
CERN is the European Organisation for Nuclear Research. It is host to Scientists and Engineers from around the world who are engaged in a range of experiments in elementary particle physics which aim to improve our knowledge and understanding about the Origins of the Universe. Founded in 1954, the CERN Laboratory sits astride the Franco–Swiss border near Geneva. It is one of the world’s largest and most respected centres for scientific research.
Steve Myers
Steve Myers is Belfast-born Director of Accelerators and Technology at CERN. Steve and CERN have been very supportive of this STEM project and the website includes interviews with Steve and some of his staff (including a Research fellow at CERN and former pupil of Lismore Comprehensive School) who speak about how they became involved with Science at school and how it led them to be working at CERN).
Media enquiries to Ruth Maguire on (028) 9026 1216, Mobile 07796947993. E mail rhmaguire@ccea.org.uk
ENDS
Note to Editors
CCEA is the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment.
CCEA places learners and those who have a concern for their educational and personal development at the forefront of its thinking. CCEA's mission is:
"To enable the full potential of all learners to be achieved and recognised"
What we do
CCEA is a unique educational body in the UK , bringing together the three areas of curriculum, examinations and assessment.
Advising Government – on what should be taught in Northern Ireland ’s schools and colleges.
Monitoring Standards – ensuring that the qualifications and examinations offered by awarding bodies in Northern Ireland are of an appropriate quality and standard.
Awarding Qualifications
– as Northern Ireland’s leading awarding body we offer a diverse range of qualifications, such as GCSEs, including the new GCSE Double Award specifications in vocational subjects, GCE A and AS levels, Entry Level Qualifications, and Graded Objectives in Modern Languages.
- CCEA also offers a range of Awards and Certificates in Education, Training and Skills (ACETS) targeted at learners who want to get
the knowledge, understanding and skills needed
to hit the ground running in the world of work.
