To the School Office, Headteacher's PA, etc:  If you get this email I would be grateful if you would forward it to all relevant member(s) of staff at your school - for example, Head of Chemistry, Head of Science, Head of Sixth Form, Careers Co-ordinator, etc. Many thanks.

To the STEMNET, STEM Ambassadors, Directions, Connexions, IChemE, etc. addressees, I would be grateful if you would disseminate this 'appeal' as appropriate in your area, eg, in your newsletters/emails to schools and/or to specific teachers/staff, to the local 'whynotchemeng' ambassadors, etc.  Many thanks.

Dear Colleague,

“Essex Chemistry at Work” - Schools' Careers Event

APPEAL FOR HELPERS!

I am writing to launch an appeal for new committee members for the organising committee for this annual careers event. 

What is the event?

For those of you who are new to our mailing list, Essex C@W is a very successful and worthwhile careers event.  The event promotes the chemistry‑based professions (chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry, pharmacy, etc) to 14-17 year olds in and around the county of Essex.  Last year over 600 students (a record number) from 20 schools attended the event over the two days.  Data shows the numbers of students going to uni to study these subjects from Essex have increased markedly since the event began.

At the event, practising chemists, chemical engineers, pharmacists, etc, give talks about their jobs and careers - to tell students about careers in these chemistry-based professions.  These 20-25 minute talks take the form of lively, interactive presentations many of which include practical demonstrations, ‘hands-on’ activities, etc.   We aim to give each group of students six such presentations during their visit.  The event is organised jointly by the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institution of Chemical Engineers and local STEMNET staff.  It is now in its fifteenth year and several schools come back every year.  Teacher feedback on the event is either Outstanding or Good in OFSTED terms.  See the video of a recent event: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPuB2RDQ36U

Role of the committee

The committee basically carries out several functions to put the event on.  These include marketing the event to the schools, liaising with the attending schools re their joining instructions, timetabling the student groups round the speakers, maintaining and increasing a list of sponsors, requesting sponsorship donations, maintaining and increasing a list of speakers and liaising with them re their joining instructions and booking the venue and liaising with them re arrangements for the event.  The committee presently consists of three retired teachers, one retired chemist and a retired chemical engineer.   

Most of the committee's work is done by phone and email.  In addition we hold two or three actual committee meetings, currently in South Essex, for which we pay travelling expenses.

So if you have any questions or would like a 'no-commitment' initial chat, do contact us either by return email eamgschools@ichememember.org or phone:

Best regards,

Alan Stanford, Institution of Chemical Engineers, 01268-753078 or 0781-8672090

Jonathan Morgan, retired Secondary School Head, 01268-462768

Colin Ward, Royal Society of Chemistry, 01375-407361