Who are STEM Ambassadors and what can they do? 
STEM Ambassadors are STEM Professionals who volunteer their time to act as inspiring role models to young people. The scheme is run nationally by STEMNET and managed in Cambridgeshire by STEM TEAM Cambridgeshire. There are currently over 19,000 STEM Ambassadors in the UK and the Government want to increase this number to 27,000 by 2011.
If you are a STEM Professional in Cambridgeshire and would like to work with local schools and colleges to help inspire young people about STEM, inform them about the STEM career opportunities available to them and promote your skills, have a look at the STEMNET STEM Ambassador web pages and talk to us about becoming a STEM Ambassador. You can register online at STEMNET and your details will be passed on to us.
There are many ways to get involved as a STEM Ambassador in Cambridgeshire. For example, supporting STEM TEAM Cambridgeshire activities, working directly with a particular school, running a science club, giving career talks, volunteering as part of your company outreach activities and assessing STEM projects. As a registered STEM Ambassador, you are CRB cleared and have insurance cover while you are engaged as a STEM Ambassador.
Have a look at our December 2009 STEM Ambassador newsletter to find out some of the opportunities for engagement that we have available in 2010.
Our News - The Big Bang Eastern
We're really pleased to announce that we, along with STEM TEAM Essex and SETPOINT Hertfordshire, have been awarded the contract to hold The Big Bang Eastern. This regional Science Fair will be held at Duxford Imperial War Museum on Friday 16th July. It celebrates students' achievements in science, technology, engineering and maths and work undertaken as part of the British Science Association CREST Award Scheme and Young Engineers. Our guest speaker will be Lucy Hawking, jounalist and author of George's Secret Key to the Universe which she wrote with her father, Professor Stephen Hawking. We also have an interative science presentation by The Naked Scientists and hands-on activities related to The Big Bang. This fantastic event is open to pupils from 9-18 years old in the Eastern Region and we need STEM Ambassadors to help judge STEM Project work on the day. Please email us at ambassadors@stemteamcambridgeshire.org.uk if you would like to be involved. Have a look at our flyer for more information on what will be going on on the day.
Would you like STEM Ambassador support in your school?
If you work in a school and would like STEM Ambassador support for your STEM activities, please contact us with information on the type of support you need and when you would like it! We will then contact relevant STEM Ambassadors on your behalf.
National STEM Ambassador Awards 2009
Each year STEMNET holds a National STEM Ambassadors Celebration Event which aims to recognise and reward some of the most dedicated and inspiring STEM Ambassadors. STEM TEAM Cambridgeshire is really proud to announce that three of our STEM Ambassadors and one company we work with were recognised in these awards this year. We'd like to send congratulations to
Christopher Cleaver from The Engineering Department at the University
of Cambridge who won the Best Activity Award. This rewards the Ambassador who has developed their own activity that has really engaged students about STEM. Christopher worked with sixth form students at Abbey College and the Leys School to develop a Carbon Footprint activity. This was delivered to a total of 260 Year 9 students at Abbey College. As a result of the activity, governors at Abbey College have now agreed to commit at least £20,000 and a 5% annual carbon dioxide emission reduction which really demonstrates what an impact this activity has had! Claire Cockcroft from the Babraham Institute was highly commended for the Support and Development Award. Susan Foord from The British Antarctic Survey received a commendation in the Inspirational STEM Ambassador Award and Napp Pharmaceuticals were highly commended in the Most Dedicated Company Award.