STEM Clubs | Our Community | Edinburgh BioQuarter

During the lockdown due to COVID-19, Edinburgh BioQuarter collaborated with the University of Edinburgh King’s Buildings science departments to bring 1,350 STEM activity boxes to the families of six of our neighbouring primary schools after raising a phenomenal £20,000.

We wanted to support our local families and schools during this difficult time and continue our flourishing relationships, despite not being able to meet face-to-face.

To stay connected and fulfil our aim of supporting a world-class science education for our local young people, Edinburgh BioQuarter is once again teaming up with the University of Edinburgh King’s Buildings campus.

Together, and whilst COVID restrictions are still in place, we will provide online STEM clubs to children at local primary schools: Castleview, Niddrie Mill, St Francis, Prestonfield, Gilmerton, St John Vianney and Craigdour Park.

We have a long history of working collaboratively with local schools, providing exciting STEM Clubs made extra special with undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as a full range of other STEM related professionals in a range of careers.

In 2019, a team of STEM professional service staff from the Centre for Regenerative Medicine, together with technicians and students, created a half-term STEM club at our local community centre, The White House Café.

Also last year, Castleview Primary School won the prestigious Rolls Royce Science Prize through our partnership, for raising STEM Capital.

The aim of the STEM clubs is to involve our local young people in engaging STEM activities, to build confidence and awareness of STEM.

By involving STEM professionals and students, we will open children’s eyes to STEM related careers, demonstrating that STEM is relevant to their lives and that people like them ‘can do science’.

Weekly STEM Club sessions

After half term (week beginning 2nd November), we plan to run 7 x weekly 60 minute STEM Club sessions on Wednesday and/or Thursdays 3.30pm – 4.30pm for P5-7 (8 years plus) (TBC). The sessions will run online, likely on Microsoft Teams.

Each session will revolve around a fun hands-on STEM activity that the children will do using materials we have provided beforehand.

A facilitator and a few ‘real life STEM professionals’ will run each session. We will also have a pre-recorded ‘how-to’ video of the activity presented by a STEM professional.

The activities will all contribute to children receiving a CREST Award at the end of term.

Superstar Awards

Recruitment for STEM Club volunteers for the Autumn 2020 programme has now closed.

We may look to deliver an additional series of weekly sessions in the New Year (Spring 2021). Please continue to check Our Community for further information.

We are particularly looking for young STEM professionals (or those in the making) to connect with the young people – PhD students, technicians, STEM professional services, various roles in STEM business or healthcare – representing a diverse range of careers, backgrounds, gender, ethnicity to bring alive the message that they can do STEM.

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Connecting with STEM Clubs

Online STEM Clubs for Edinburgh BioQuarter’s neighbouring primary schools

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Award-winning collaboration

The STEM Club plan

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