North Star

About The Event

WHAT IS NORTH STAR SCIENCE SCHOOL?

Bringing young people, educators, scientists and businesses together to explore the future of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) in the South Yorkshire Region. On 8 November 2023, the fourth annual North Star Science School will take place at Gulliver’s Valley Resort in Rotherham. Find out more about this fantastic adventure-filled day, and learn how you can be a part of it!

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Schools

Educators

Students

Workshops

A little background

Created by Professor Brian Cox CBE and Lord Andrew Mawson OBE in 2012, the amazing Science Summer School programme aims to make Britain the best place to do science and engineering, by inspiring the UK’s next generation of young scientists, engineers and inventors. North Star is South Yorkshire’s part of this fantastic Science School initiative.

So what is North Star?

North Star Science School is an amazing one-day live event for school children in years 8 and 9. The vision is to combine science with curiosity and play to stimulate and inspire the next generation to consider the fascinating range of careers in STEAM subjects. We do this by showcasing the cutting edge of science and engineering, and promoting innovation and opportunity in the South Yorkshire region. In a blended programme, the day will include inspirational talks from leading scientists and engineers, and students will engage in fun, creative activities, experiments and hands-on interactive workshops delivered by our partners.

Why South Yorkshire?

South Yorkshire has a proud industrial heritage built from the power of STEAM. It is THE place in the UK for people to connect, co-locate, collaborate and innovate; attracting business and investment from all over the world. We have a number of schools working in partnership with sponsors to co-create workshops as part of a year-round programme.

Speakers Find Out More

Alex Gardner – Host

Lord Andrew Mawson OBE

Professor Brian Cox CBE FRS

Ruth Amos

Dr Simon Goodwin

Melanie Oldham OBE

Workshops

The following partnerships have been formed between local businesses and schools who are working together to co-create exciting, hands-on workshops to be delivered on the day of the event:

: AMETEK Land
Are you ready to uncover the science of chocolate? Join us to explore why chocolate cools differently on various foods using our world-leading thermal imagers to measure the exact temperatures. It's a sweet journey you won't want to miss!
: Barratt Developments Plc
Have you ever wanted to create your own little village? Become a Designer for Barratt Homes!At the Barratt Developments & Brinsworth Academy Workshop, you will have the chance to create your own perfect village.Use your problem solving skills to overcome all the challenges that come with designing a real life layout.
: CBE+
Presenting 'Crazy Cranes!'... Have you ever wanted to have a go at building and controlling your very own hydraulic crane?Students will be given the task of building their very own hydraulic crane and using this to move a load from A to B. A fantastic opportunity to learn about the functionof hydraulics and put your teamwork skills to the test!
: CPH2
Are you interested to learn about renewable energy? Do you want to learn about hydrogen? Then come along to Clean Power Hydrogen's workshop where you learn how we make hydrogen by splitting water using electricity, and you will learn why hydrogen is a good fuel. This workshop involves a science practical activity to perform an electrolysis experiment to make hydrogen and oxygen and learn about it's properties.
: Forged Solutions Group
Ever wanted to learn more about the materials of science?Now is your perfect chance! Join Forged Solutions Group and Oasis Don Valley Academy for a series of activities including low melting point alloys, magic paper clips, strength testing and evaluating weight and power on model cars!
: Ibstock
Have you ever wondered how bricks are made? This workshop will give students the chance to learn the art and science behind brick-making. Prepare to get your hands dirty with some sand and clay!
: UKAEA
Join UKAEA and learn how fusion energy harnesses the power of the sun to create near-limitless sustainable energy. Our workshop will highlight the importance of magnets for use in fusion as well as letting students build their own spinning electromagnets!
: Volker Rail
Are you up to the challenge of being a railway engineer? Do you have a project manager in your team that is good at maths and good at organising others. We challenge you to follow a chosen design and successfully build a quality railway motor out of K'NEX that can run on track and carry a weight. Will your team use an easy weight or will you take a risk for a bonus?
: Vulcan to the Sky Trust
Ever wanted to ﬂy your own jet? In this workshop you can attempt to ﬂy models of iconic Vulcan XH558 using different styles of parachute. Each team will have the opportunity to send their jet on take-off down our Gully Street runway, timing the run and observing which type of parachute provides more or less resistance.Students will learn simple theory of ﬂight and understand why this design of aircraft was is considered one of Britain's biggest design innovations.

The following organisations will also be delivering exciting STEAM inspired workshops to showcase careers within the industry:

: AESSEAL
This year, we have created an easy-to-understand seal-building workshop to which students will be given the opportunity to learn from AESSEAL staff members, how to build a mechanical seal. During the time given at the workshop the students will learn from professionals how each of the different components come together to create a finished mechanical seal.Our workshop will teach students about how our mechanical seals go on to make a substantial different to business all around the world, saving them money, water, time and much more.
: Amazelab
Have you ever wanted to design your very own rollercoaster? Well now is your chance! Be inspired by your surroundings and get ready to design and make your very own rollercoaster to take home watching as it moves with the use of magnets. Learn about the power of magnetism which will make your ride take off!
: AMRC Training Centre
Using a selection of design ideas, students will be able to use a 3D pen to create the item and bring it to life. 3D pens warm up a solid plastic and push it through a small nozzle allowing you to lay this down onto a template. By adding layers they will build the item and create a 3D model, inspired by 3D printing and additive manufacturing.
: British Army
Are you ready for a mission?This workshop will see students participate in two missions:Operation Disaster Relief: Program your robot to carry out a sequence of tasks to complete the mission.Operation DaVinci Bridge: Have a go at using Da Vinci’s fast bridge building technique to construct an emergency overpass.Both activities will use key STEM skills used within the armed forces to carry out real-life based tasks. Students will experience technologies from the past and future - with traditional bridge building and robotics to help them conquer the challenges.
: Esh Group
This is our first year at the North Star Science School. In our session we will launch our ‘Construction in the Curriculum – Science’ workshop which will see students experience a day in the life of an Environmental Designer using a real-life scenario to understand the importance of science skills within the role. Students will use a variety of products and design principles from one of our current projects - a carbon neutral Tri-Station, the first of its kind in the UK – to design their very own project within budget and to meet the client’s specification. Students will gain an insight into why sustainability is key in construction, looking at the impact of high CO2 emissions and the important task of reducing our industry’s carbon footprint.
: NHS
If you like science, you're going to love the range of roles on offer that the NHS Healthcare Science workforce can offer you! Healthcare scientists can be found working in laboratories, wards, operating theatres and outpatient departments in hospitals. We have fun practical tasks where students can have a go at some of the things audiologists do in clinics such as taking impression of an ear for ear moulds, listening to how hearing aids sound and looking inside of ear models with normal and abnormal anatomy and an otoscopy box.Microbiology will also be there for students to take a swab from a fake wound on a simulation arm. See how bacteria react to antibiotics and learn about good and bad bacteria along with hygiene and antibiotic resistance. Come and experience what it is like to be a scientist in the NHS today!
: United Cast Bar in collaboration with Cast Metals Federation
Presenting ‘Casting in a Box’! Students will be making sand moulds by pouring a low temperature alloy, producing a number of small castings to take away as a memento. They will also be given the chance to use ultra sonic equipment to detect defects on cast iron bar samples and see a real working iron foundry in operation on VR headsets!

9:00 am: 20 Effective Ways To Build A Better Customer Experience
10.00 am: How to Prepare for your Hacked website?- Pelican Steve
10.00 am: Inbound Marketing Strategies for Entrepreneurs- Max Conversion
11:30 am: Delicious Lunch- Cafeteria
2.00 pm: FeedBack, Quiz, Interaction & Gifts- Chauffina Carr, Guy Mann
7.00 pm: After Party- J W Marriot

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Visitor Bookings

North Star Science School is an amazing one-day live event for school children in years 8 and 9. The vision is to combine science with curiosity and play to stimulate and inspire the next generation to consider the fascinating range of careers in STEAM subjects. We do this by showcasing the cutting edge of science and engineering and promoting innovation and opportunity in the South Yorkshire Region. Visitor bookings for 2023 are now sold out! To be added to our waiting list please get in touch: beth@work-wise.co.uk.