Education

Join us for our new series of Podcasts coming out exploring all things Diabetes as part of Exploration 2021

https://www.explorathon.co.uk/

Here you can find resources from our 2017 Early Years and Primary Programme available to download and use in class!

The Wasp that felt the Thunder 
A wasp awoke in the deep dark wood. A bird saw the wasp and the wasp looked good. What happens when the wasp feels a thunderstorm coming and tries to warn the creatures that live in the great oak tree? 

Poem - click here to download! 
Presentation - click here to download! 

 TechFest are pleased to welcome the newest addition to the team, Archie! 

Congratulations to TechFest's Managing Director, Sarah, and family on the birth of their new son. 

Giving S2 pupils an insight into applying Maths in real life

Maths into Finance is a one-day event designed and delivered by TechFest to give S2 pupils an insight into how mathematics can be applied to real-life situations. The events provide an opportunity for students to engage with finance industry professionals and use the maths they learn in school to solve the type of problems tackled daily by professionals providing an insight into the world of work and building  financial skills for life.

TechFest aims to establish a strong platform for careers and life skills for secondary school-aged pupils across Scotland. Within our schools there is a need to support Maths teachers with practical applications and cross curricular learning. The aim for Scotland’s young people is to mature into a financially literate society and programmes such as Maths into Finance support their financial education as well as offering a greater understanding of the career options available within one of Scotland’s largest industries.

The session involves three workshops that have been designed to encourage teamwork and introduce the pupils to mathematical modelling. The day starts with an ice breaker challenge, identifying the difference between wanting and needing, an important part of personal money management. The remainder of the workshops have been designed to establish important links to learning with real data being used throughout to add authenticity. The afternoon Business Challenge is the highlight of the day and time to test skills established and developed throughout the earlier sessions. With a deadline to meet and critical choices to be made this problem requires accuracy and teamwork.

Covering mortgages, tax, payslips, budgets, protection and risk, debt, saving, and careers in finance, the workshops encourage the young people to be creative, to communicate with each other, and to consider the importance of financial literacy and confidence in a range of real-life and interactive scenarios.

TechFest is currently working to translate this programme to a digital offering to allow us to work across Scotland with this programme as well as our in person model.  We are also excited to explore links with the Higher Applications of Maths course. For more information please do not hesitate to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The CREST Awards scheme is the British Science Association’s flagship programme for young people, providing science enrichment activities to inspire and engage 5-to-19-year olds. It is the only nationally recognised accreditation scheme for project work in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

CREST gives students the chance to participate in hands-on science through investigations and enquiry-based learning, supporting them to solve real-life STEM challenges through practical investigation and discussion.

Visit CREST Award at Home page for great resources! 

There are six CREST Award Levels, allowing students to progress through the scheme throughout their education. CREST offers educators an easy-to-run framework for curriculum enhancement and is student-led, encouraging young people to take ownership of their own projects. The Awards are well regarded, high quality and a tangible recognition of success. CREST can be run in schools, clubs, youth groups, other organisations or at home.

Why CREST?

The CREST Awards provides a framework for STEM project work that supports all students, not just future scientists, to leave school with the skills and confidence to discuss and shape scientific and technological advances in society, whatever their career choices.

Enquiry-based approach
CREST encourages pupils to learn by solving a problem or answering a question, rather than simply following instructions or being presented with information. The emphasis is on the process, not on finding a ‘right’ answer. By encouraging students not to view STEM as learning facts and doing experiments, but as sharing ideas and asking questions, the CREST Awards help to develop a culture of ‘everyday science’, bridging learning and supporting cross-curricular education.

Scientific process
CREST provides opportunities for students to experience the scientific process. We believe that supporting young people to experience behaving like a scientist or engineer, and lead their own project, will support young people to put into practice transferable skills such as observation, thinking, reasoning and communication. The knock-on effect is a space for young people to be innovative and creative, and to develop their problem-solving skills.

Real-world context
We believe that encouraging students to lead their own projects on topics that connect to their everyday experiences, enables young people to explore the relevance of STEM subjects to their lives, and motivates them to respond positively to challenges. 

Levels

Project ideas can be created by students, teachers, organisations or local businesses – ideally, the decision should be student-led so that they choose a topic they are interested in investigating. There are three categories of CREST project to choose from: Research/Investigation, Design/Making; and Science Communication.

Have a look at the British Science Association's overview of Project REsources to get some tips about how to support your students.

CREST Awards can be undertaken at school or college, within an after school club or youth group setting, or by participating in one of our accredited link schemes (i.e. EDT projects, Nuffield Scheme, RZSS Summer School, Geobus etc.)

Once students have completed their project work, they are individually assessed and successful students will receive a personalised certificate.

Benefits of a CREST Award

• Improved grades and increased interest in continuing in STEM education and careers. 
  
  
• Real-life experience of ‘being’ a scientist' and working on STEM projects. 
  
  
• CREST Award projects help to develop students’ skills in creativity, teamwork and time management. 
  
  
• Students can use CREST to enhance their UCAS personal statements.
  
  
• Extra value from other activities, such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and the Children’s University Passport to Learning.
  
  
• A measurable improvement in exam results. 
  In January 2016, CREST published a reportby a team of economists from Pro Bono Economics. This revealed that students who have taken a CREST Silver Award achieved half a grade higher on their best science GCSE result and were more likely to continue with STEM education, compared to a matched control group.
  
  
• A greater impact for more disadvantaged students. 
  The report also showed that Silver CREST students eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) saw a larger increase in their best science GCSE (two-thirds of a grade) compared to a matched control group who were also eligible for FSM.Students who were eligible for Free School Meals and took part in a CREST Silver Award were 38% more likely to take a STEM subject at AS Level than the matched control group.
  
  
• A positive shift in attitudes.
  In 2011, a study from the University of Liverpool concluded that CREST has a strong positive impact on students’ attitudes towards Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) and aspirations for SET careers are significantly improved.A report into the CREST Expansion Scheme showed that three-quarters of participating students and 78% of teachers rated CREST as good or very good. About half the CREST student cohort reported a positive shift in attitudes toward STEM and STEM careers as a result of participation in CREST. Many of those whose attitudes did not change were already positive about STEM.

Getting Started with CREST

Register for free for a CREST Account and access to all project application and support materials at: http://www.crestawards.org/register-your-award/. 

The CREST Regional Support Organisation for Scotland is TechFest.  

For advice about undertaking CREST Awards in Scotland, please contact Kirsty Cranna by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Covering key Curriculum of Excellence experiences and outcomes for Space and Forces, we can now offer to take students on a journey through space and time in this truly interactive and immersive experience.

TechFest Dome is an out-of-this-world adventure not to be missed! 

Using the latest Digitarium Zeta projection technologies in the comfort of our new inflatable dome, TechFest can illustrate concepts and principles in an exciting way that engages participants of all ages. Building on our previous programmes, these shows have been updated to match this new technology. The TechFest Dome offers two exciting shows: Day & Night and Night Sky. 

Day & Night
What makes day and night? Where does the Sun go at night? This show demonstrates how the Sun moves across the sky during the day in both summer and winter. Find the North Star, the Plough, Orion, Betelgeuse and Sirius in the night sky and relate them to the Greek constellations. 
Age Range: EY & P1-P3  Duration: 45 minutes

Night Sky

A tour of the night sky which includes the North Star, the Plough and Orion. Watch how stars move at night and discover how we get different constellations with the changing seasons. Listen to the amazing story of Perseus and Andromeda and find out which planets you can see in the sky tonight.  Age Range: P4 - P7 Duration: 45 minutes 

Booking information:

A minimum of two shows must be booked per visit.
Fee: £96 per workshop

Due to the high cost of living we have had to take the hard decision to apply mileage costs to all our workshops. To make it fair to all schools across the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire area we have averaged out the cost to £15 and will place this on all bookings from 01 April 2023.

For schools outwith Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, mileage is charged at 45p per mile and is calculated from TechFest offices (Butchart Centre, University of Aberdeen, University Road, Aberdeen, AB24 3UT).

Check out New Machar School getting involved with the TechFest Dome here! 

The TechFest Dome is sponsored by  

 For more information, please get in touch! contact us

Alternatively, email the Outreach Programme team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.