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Brilliant rubbish sTEM- creating global communities of young scientists and Engineers

Brilliant sTEM proJects using rubbish

Join our global collaboration of schools and individuals solving authentic problems using scientific design thinking. Help create food, water and health security using only rubbish. Try our live online lessons or online course.


Developing Brilliant Rubbish Scientists

Where is the evidence?

We are possibly living in the scariest time of disinformation. What is real and what is fake and how might you decide?
We teach our students of all ages how to be sceptical (and we need to reclaim this word), to search for evidence, and to know what good evidence looks like.
We believe that knowledge is crucial. Scientists and engineers also need to apply that knowledge to unfamiliar contexts in a supported and structured way. We celebrate failure as a learning experience and this facilitates our students to become resilient problem solvers, equipped for the challenges of the 21st century. They will need these skills.

Global collaboration

Rubbish Science workshops have been delivered worldwide to some of the richest and poorest. What is clear is not the differences, between us, but the similarities.
Our aim is to build bridges between these communities. To carry out activities at the same time and share ideas. We also aim to go intergenerational so the youngest and oldest members of our communities can discuss shared projects.
As our activities do not require buying equipment, it provides a level playing field. The only limits are your imagination.
Please join us to help make this happen

Rethinking Rubbish

When we see rubbish we see a resource
A plastic bag is a potential fishing line or net. An area of wall space can host a vertical bottle garden. A plastic bottle a crisp packet and a few sticks and we can provide warm sterile water as a hand wash station.
We are facing a global crisisand Rubbish Science can help produce a degree of water, food and health security.

Its NOT THE DESTINATION, it’s the Learning journey

All our activities are easy to do, but hard to do well. They can be done by anyone and will push them to the limits of their ability. Unlike most school science, Rubbish STEM activities have multiple variables and no one can predict the exact outcome. We are often dealing with novice scientists and fearless engineers, but what they create and learn can be astounding.

Who we are

OUR PROGRAMS

We run programs for governments, schools, homeschoolers, corporate challenges and individuals. We support some of the most vulnerable communities
Scroll down to see the links

ABOUT US

Registering as a non-profit CIC and Rubbish Science is part of the charity Operation Orphan. We connect some of the poorest and richest people to do collaborative projects where everyone has access to the same equipment – Rubbish/trash

GET INVOLVED

Please join us and be part of our Rubbish Science community. We also welcome sponsors to enable us to expand our reach.

GET INVOLVED

Online live lessons and own pace courses

Live lessons thrOugh outschool

Live lessons are scheduled through our account at Outschool. You can contact us for your own bespoke sessions. Click on the link

own pace online courses

We run online courses through Teachable that allow you to study at your own pace, Click on the link below to see what we offer as well as our e-book.

Sponsor our enablers

We are funding Rubbish Science trainers in Kenya and Sierra Leone in order to develop scientific literacy within vulnerable communities. Please contribute to this using the link below


Example projects – Bird Feeder

How might you make the best bird feeder from a plastic bottle? What size, colour, food or design works best? No one knows so it’s up to you to find out using our design thinking structured method. What do we need to know? How might we find out? what ideas do we have? Which might be the best? Real science involves exploring with multiple variables. It is messy, but so is life!


inclusivity – Ladder of Role models

Cartoon scientists are stereotypical crazy old white males in white coats. Kids cannot relate to these and often feel science is ‘not for people like me’ We run unconscious bias training and programs where we train older students from underrepresented groups to be train younger students to deliver workshops for even younger ones. Thus setting up a ladder of role models and encouraging all to think science is accessible. Contact us if you want to know more.


a brilliant young Rubbish scientist/Engineer

This novice scientist/engineer, a Rohingya refugee, took part in one of our workshops. She decided a funnel fly trap would fill with water so built one with a side entry. She found flies were not going in it so she hung bait in front of the entrance (using a fishing line made from a plastic bag ) This brought flies in, but they then escaped, so she lined the trap with glue.

We need to connect these brilliant minds to ensure we do not lose them and this is our mission. Undoubtedly the World is at a point of an environmental catastrophe. Scientists and engineers are the ones who may be able to save us all, but we must give them the opportunity to develop their thinking and problem-solving strategies. By connecting them doing joint projects we are helping to build understanding and collaboration regardless of who you are or where you come from.

SO FAR WE HAVE done

11

COUNTRIES

215

PEOPLE TRAINED

4839

STUDENTS ENGAGED

Neil Aulehla -Atkin Director

Neil has taught as one of the first Advanced Skills Teachers (terrible title but wonderful role!) for over 30 years in possibly more situations than anyone else. He is a physics specialist and works supporting teachers delivering physics as well as worked as a Gender Balance Officer trying to increase the engagement of girls in physics. He is an expert at training students to be scientists as opposed to just learning science. He has taught both the poorest and richest kids in the World and learned that kids are kids and what makes us similar far outweighs our differences. He has delivered training to many governments on science, learning, girls in STEM and also as a digital learning consultant for the DfE program teaching live lessons to primary and secondary students

Garrod Musto – Primary Consultant

Garrod Musto is a Chartered Maths Teacher and Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. He is currently Director of International Partnerships at Kingswood School in Bath, previously spending 20 years as Head of Mathematics and member of the Senior Leadership Team, leading staff professional development. As a Mathematics graduate,  Garrod began his career as a teacher nearly 30 years ago and has experience of working with organisations such as The Royal Institution, The Princes Teaching Institute, ACME, MEI and NCETM to help support Mathematics teachers regionally and nationally. Throughout his career Garrod has also supported the educational work of the IMA, as regional chair of the West of England Branch, their Schools and FE Committee, and more latterly spending 9 years as IMA Council Member, a role which has seen him act as Trustee of the Court of Bath University. A dedicated teacher, Garrod was recognised by the Chartered College of Teaching in 2018 and was appointed Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching.  Garrod is also keen to engage with outside agencies and has significant experience of outreach projects, ranging from leading a HE STEM project in conjunction with Bath University, to working with local charities such as Bath Rugby Foundation, and working with local schools, to help the mathematical experiences of their students. This outreach work led to Garrod working with the Royal Academy of Engineering for 7 years as a regional STEM coordinator, alongside his teaching role at Kingswood School in Bath. Subsequently, Garrod designed and oversaw the development of a Global Citizenship & STEM course, which has at its core the RAEng’s signature Engineering Habits of Mind. This course was specifically designed for international EAL students, and prior to the pandemic was successfully piloted by Garrod in schools in Asia.

FIND OUT MORE

PLEASE CONTACT US TO GET INVOLVED

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