Technicians’ conference session information 2017

3A Molecular Gastronomy

Spherification, Gelification & Emulsification are all buzz words used in the food industry, but you will probably be more familiar with algal beads, making agar plates and looking at fat globules in milk during science lessons!

In this workshop you will be given the opportunity to try out your skills at a variety of techniques many Michelin star chefs use in top fashionable restaurants - and before you shout “how has this got anything to do with science?” I will hastily point out that many of the techniques are similar to those undertaken in science lessons and of course lots of fun!

This hands on workshop will include making:

  • Balsamic beads
  • Rhubarb caviar pearls
  • Mango spheres

We will also take a closer look at the humble egg, and ask “how much meringue can you obtain from just 1 egg white?”

Gill Collins, National STEM Learning Centre

3B STEM Club resources

How to create a topic and find resources for a STEM club scheme of work.

A session on a whole STEM clubtopic and hands on, take home resources.

Angie Ridout Chief Technician

3C Paper Resources to Support Science

A totally hands on workshop of paper model resources to support Science. From DNA to Volcanoes and everything in between. Make and Take at its best!!

Michelle McAnallen & Marie Guinness Senior Science Technicians

3DGlass Working

In this hands-on session technicians will gain the knowledge and confidence to manipulate hot glass in a flame enabling them to make delivery tubes and how to safely insert and remove glass from bungs.

Chris Peel, Technician Adviser, CLEAPSS

3E Unusual and engaging chemistry for KS4 and KS5

The required practicals form chemistry at GCSE and A Level are not always the most exciting or engaging practical to do. This session will explore a range of interesting chemistry pratcials that can be used to engage students, improve student subject knowledge, support the curriculum and enhance practical skills for the required practcials.

Mark Langley, National STEM Learning Centre

3F Physics at CLEAPSS

“If it’s physics it doesn’t work” - Not true - if it’s physics at CLEAPSS - it does!

Come and see the CLEAPSS wind tunnel, how an Arduino can be used to make low cost Physics kit, a £40 USB Oscilloscope, why you should get an infrared camera and much more.

Samir Moezzi, CLEAPSS Physics Adviser

4B Technicians: Leadership and team working

Do you lead a team or even just work in a team? If so this session will get you exploring and thinking about how you get the best out of working with your teammates (other technicians and teachers). The session will cover leadership and vision, self-awareness, team working and surviving difficult conversations all in the space of an hour. Designed for technician and based on the senior technicians accredited co -leaders in science (STACS) course run at the National STEM Learning Centre, this session will give you a boost and strategies when working with others in your department and school.

Simon Quinnell National Technicians Lead, NSLC

4C "Using Technology in Science"

This session will use social media, apps and websites to show how you can get the most out of your department, including Facebook and LabLogger.

Phil Wilson Senior Science technician

4F Title: What’s In My Tray

Description: An all new activity selection for 2017, this popular workshop returns with a carousel of practical science activities. This will be a fast paced, hands on workshop.Tweeting will be encouraged via #whatsinmytray and there will be prizes for the winning teams.

Dr Katherine Forsey

4G To datalog or not? That is the question.

Well of course it is and I will show you how. In this session you will experience a varied range of dataloggers and sensors which will show that their use in science experiments can be useful and valuable data for students to work on. We will explore a bit of biology, chemistry and physics and look at datalogging for KS3/4 and 5.

Helen Rose National STEM Learning Centre

5A Make it with CLEAPSS

Have a go at making the Arduino voltage data logger featured in the “Physics at CLEAPSS” session. There will also be the opportunity to see how other equipment used in the session can be easily put together at less cost than “buying off the shelf".

Mary Owen, CLEAPSS Senior Science Technician; Jane Major, CLEAPSS Technician Adviser

5B Electronics for technicians

This session aims to enhance electronics related skills for technicians. The use of components such as diodes, transistors, capacitors, and LEDs in teaching environments up to A level will be explored. You will master the use of a digital multimeter, an indispensable tool that you can use to diagnose circuits.

Razika Berboucha, Physics Technician

5C ‘Down with Demos’Fun experiments which whole classes can enjoy with relevance to the current KS3 curriculum.

In biology there will be menstrual cycle bracelets and the variation of bird beaks, in physics CD hovercrafts and sound wave balloons, and finally in chemistry, rainbows in test tubes and chemical hard warmers, just what you need in July!

Tina Farr RsciTech, Senior Technician at Richard Hale School, Hertford.

5D Hints, Tips and Great Ideas!

Technicians at all stages of their careers continue to broaden the role they perform. This session will enable technicians to share their ideas and then try out some practical activities they might not have encountered before.

Sue Cure RSciTech Technician Instructor Education CPD+ Leicester

5E Genetechnology -

Skills and tips for technicians to help support the delivery of the practical work involved in genetechnology (electrophoresis / |PCR) in the classroom.

Including ways of introducing the skills students need, with fun practicals. Looking at the resources and the different equipment available to make this possible in schools.

Presenters are Gail Webdell , Senior science technician, Jayn Wright, Senior Technician

5F “Oh no its required”

Aimed at non specialist technicians or those for whom physics isn’t your first choice , this session looks at some of the KS4/KS5 Physics required practicals , exploring what can be done and setting them up with more confidence going forward.

Physics doesn’t bite…honestly!!

Paul Cook Senior Technician