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STEM students attend master class at Leonardo's Luton

Year 9 students from St Clement Danes school attended Leonardo at Luton on Saturday 6th October as part of Leonardo's Masterclass Programme.Leonardo is one of the biggest suppliers of defence equipment to the UK MoD and the largest Italian inward investor to the UK.

For several years, Leonardo has run this very successful programme with the Royal Institution each autumn. The programme runs from the 6th October to 24th November 2018, and is aimed at Year 9 students who are interested in science and engineering. Its objectives are to challenge the students academically, opening their eyes to the world of engineering and encouraging them to pursue STEM subjects beyond their GCSE years.

The six classes in the series combine theory / presentation material with hands-on, practical activities, to provide pupils with an in-depth introduction to the world of engineering. The sessions are:

  • Python Puzzles (6 Oct): Students learn about software algorithms and networking using Python and raspberry Pis, including how to use the power of distributed computing to solve a complex problem.
  • The Enigma Machine (13 Oct): A class about the Enigma Machine where students learn about making codes to encrypt information, make their own Enigma Machine with a Pringles tube and get to use a real Enigma Machine.
  • Pi Face (3 Nov): Students learn about how to make computers learn. They also use the knowledge gained from the previous Masterclass sessions to build a system that can recognise faces.
  • Hot Stuff (10 Nov): Participants learn about different types of energy and how they are transferred, and then build their own loudspeaker.
  • Wings (17 Nov): A class about aerodynamics, during which students discover how wings generate lift, before having the opportunity to design their own wind turbine.
  • A Logical Element and Celebration Event (24 Nov): In this final session, students develop an understanding about the basic building blocks of electronics and logic gates, and how these can be used to store information.

Students from six schools are taking part in the programme, and our students are very privileged to have this fantastic opportunity to be part of this programme.

To find out more about the programme, please follow the link below;

http://www.uk.leonardocompany.com/people-careers/people/education/royal-institution

 

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