What can a book do?

We’re celebrating World Book Day this week, and at assemblies you’ll have been introduced to some books which have changed the world, and some books which have changed the way Ms Richardson and I thought about the world.

We would very much like you to submit your thoughts about a book (or books) that changed you, or made you think differently about something. The best comment from each year group will receive a prize!

If you’d like some inspiration, have a read of the suggestions made on this page (a poster of the top 10 books are on the Challenge board in reception!)

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts….

Mrs Everington

 

Being a woman in STEM

By Ms Zerrougui

At school I was always fascinated by Science. For me, it explained how the world works. When I looked out of the window at the plants that weren’t there last year, Science explained how they came to be there. I enjoyed Science at Secondary School and selected STEM subjects for A Level. Biology was my strongest subject but I enjoyed Chemistry more. This led me to research degrees where I could study a combination of both. I eventually chose Pharmaceutical Chemistry which had a stronger focus on Chemistry but also incorporated a lot of Biochemistry.

At the start of University I discovered there was an element of choice in the modules I could study. If I wanted, I could have taken a module in German! Towards the start of my second year I was really enjoying the Science and made the decision to stay on to complete a Master’s Degree. As part of the BSci and MSci I had to undertake research projects. At first it was daunting! I chose my project titles and then it was up to me. My first project involved trying to reproduce the intricate structures of sea shells using calcium carbonate and potassium carbonate in the lab. At first it seemed impossible – standing in a library, looking at all the research journals and not really knowing where to start. My scientific mind won and logic took over. I researched methods, adapted them and developed my own. I must have read close to a hundred research papers before beginning any practical work. Almost a year of research culminated in some results but no answers, I had not been able to reproduce the wonders of nature in a lab in just nine months. I did however miscalculate the mass of a gold nanoparticle, it had the same mass as the Sun! Luckily I spotted my mistake before handing this in.

My Masters project was completely different. I was researching how enzymes counteract the aging effects free radicals produced in the body during chemical reactions or from exposure to environmental factors such as x-rays or ozone. I was looking for lab-made alternatives that could be used in the cosmetics industry. The anti-aging cream that would work.  I had the pleasure of using some research in my project that my supervisor didn’t know even know existed, and he was the expert. I had, in part, become the teacher. It was at this point the seed of teaching was planted in my mind. The rest, as they say, is history.

On reflection I was very lucky to have supportive parents and teachers who helped guide me in my path through education. Being a girl wanting to do Science was never an issue. It’s only looking back now I realise how male dominated the subject was. The overwhelming majority of my lecturers and professors at university were male. Women in STEM careers now make up just 22% of the workforce. In all the STEM professions women make up just 41% of the Science Professional occupation. Whilst this is the highest amongst the STEM professions, this is an 18% decrease from 2015. The most underrepresented profession is Engineering where just 8% of professions are female. As a teacher, I look to address this by encouraging girls to take STEM subjects. Part of this is enjoyment of the subject and but also instilling the belief that they can do it. The world is constantly changing. How did we function without smart phones?? It is the duty of women out there to be part of this and change the world for the better!

Challenge (Answers to be uploaded to https://www.dropbox.com/request/BxsJ93iBoX14zzwk22H1 – Please include your full name and tutor group!)

What processes in the body form free radicals?

Why are free radicals in the body so damaging?

First blog post: Why challenge yourself?

“Urgh Miss, this is so looooooooong!”

“Why don’t you just tell us?!”

“Do we really have to do this?”

Sound familiar? It’s pretty natural for us human beings to want to take shortcuts – the path of least resistance. So why is it we teachers keep talking about stretching and challenging yourselves?

Well first of all, let’s talk about brains.

 

No, not like that. Brains like this:

Your brain isn’t a muscle – but it behaves like one. The same way that you can get better at stretching and jumping by, well, stretching and jumping, you can get better at writing, maths, French and any other subject by practicing that subject.

Be careful though. Practicing something the wrong way 1000 times is just going to make you really good at doing that thing the wrong way. Make sure you’ve got the technique right – then make it part of what you do. Read quality books, practice using maths and science formulas, listen to German, Spanish or French native speakers on youtube, ask your teacher for more challenging work…decide what it is you want to get better at, then go at it!

Before you go, watch this video – and leave your thoughts in the comments below!