Entries by Carol
Can parents help ‘nudge’ students into choosing STEM A-levels?
When young people are asked who has provided them with careers advice and guidance, the most common answer is ‘parents and family’, followed by ‘teachers’. The Behavioural Insights Team (sometimes known as the Nudge Unit) apply behavioural economics and psychology to understand the choices that people make, and help people make sensible choices. They often […]
Summer Holiday Happenings
One of the great things about working in the university, is that we get to hear about the interesting research that our colleagues do. Now you can do the same. Over the summer, our friends in Geography and Computing are running family workshops as part of their research, and they’d love for you to come […]
Plan B
As part of the ESH Building my Skills programme each year, NUSTEM staff take part in a mock interview day with students from North East secondary schools. During the day, students have the opportunity to be interviewed once or twice by representatives from local businesses and other organisations. At NUSTEM we see the interviews as […]
Why not Physics?
Last month, the Institute of Physics released a report called ‘Why not Physics?‘ The report looked at how many students studied A-level science subjects in different schools in 2016. The good news is that the picture is a little bit better than when the IOP did a similar analysis 4 years ago. The bad news is […]
Leaky pipeline or drip irrigation system
The leaky pipeline is a recurring metaphor in discussions about the gender balance in Science (especially physical sciences), Technology, Engineering and Maths (collectively, ‘STEM’). Whether the field under discussion is academic or industrial, there is widespread concern about the fact that many of those who start in the field do not stay in the field […]
International Women in Engineering Day 2017
Today (23rd June) is International Women in Engineering Day. Across social media, companies and organisations are tweeting and posting to show their support for women in engineering. Tweets which show employees looking happy, often standing in front of large equipment! Friday is Women in Engineering Day #nwed2017 so we’re talking about skills in transport all […]
Connecting with Physics
When I did my A-levels a couple of decades ago, there were only two or three girls in my physics class. The situation has got a little better since then, but many girls still find they are in a minority in their physics class. Whilst this doesn’t stop the students enjoying physics and doing well, […]
Poetry and Science
Today is National Poetry Day, and across the land people have been posting poems. At Think Physics, we’re doing our bit for poetry too, though our Imagining the Sun project. ‘Imagining the Sun’ brings together the Northumbria University Solar Physics group and a number of artists. Together, they’ve been exploring our knowledge and understanding of the […]
