Young SET Ambassadors
This year's programme
Taking part in the Young SET Ambassadors programme are many school teams of 6 pupils, aged between 12 and 14 years, across a variety of locations in Scotland. Enrolled Ambassadors from science, engineering and technology companies are linked with them, providing mentoring guidance to the individual teams through the project. The programme is also open to children who are home-educated.
This year the Young SET Ambassador programme is engaging with a variety of teams, from various regions throughout Scotland, in an exciting recycling project. The recycling project encourages young people to use their innovative and creative skills to make a proposal for recycling at their school (or home, if home-educated). As well as recycling, the project aims at educating the pupils on how to protect the environment and decrease carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
All pupils involved with the Young SET Ambassadors programme attend a launch event which will be held at the university. The teams will then start to develop and manage the recycling project with the help of their teacher (or parents) and industrial mentor.
All pupils will attend a visit to the company they are linked up with, along with their teacher, and the pupils will also enjoy an exciting tour of the company.
The 2009-10 winners, St Augustine's Roman Catholic High School, Edinburgh
The 2009-10 runners-up, Tynecastle High School, Edinburgh
Projects will be assessed and displayed at the Young SET Ambassadors Celebration and Awards event held at the university. Teams have an excellent opportunity to compete for prizes. The projects will be assessed by a panel of expert judges from a variety of science, engineering or technology backgrounds who will decide which prizes are to be presented to the award winning teams.
Process
You may already be recycling, but if you’re not already recycling, discover more about how you can really make a difference. For those who already recycle, discover the positive effect your recycling efforts are making and find out what else you may be able to do.
Did you know recycling conserves resources?
- When we recycle, used materials are converted into new products, reducing the need to consume natural resources. If used materials are not recycled, new products are made by extracting fresh, raw material from the Earth, through mining and forestry.
- Recycling helps conserve important raw materials and protects natural habitats for the future.
Did you know recycling saves energy?
- Using recycled materials in the manufacturing process uses considerably less energy than that required for producing new products from raw materials.
- There are also extra energy savings because more energy is required to extract, refine, transport and process raw materials ready for industry compared with providing industry-ready materials.
Did you know recycling reduces landfill?
- When we recycle, recyclable materials are reprocessed into new products, and as a result the amount of rubbish sent to landfill sites reduces.
Did you know recycling helps protect the environment?
- Recycling reduces the need for extracting, refining and processing raw materials all of which create substantial air and water pollution (for example in mining and quarrying). As recycling saves energy it also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which helps to tackle climate change.
As the Young SET Ambassador recycling programme kicks off we are delighted with the prospect of holding more celebration events for pupils, teachers and their scientific, engineering and technology mentors than ever before.
We expect pupils to complete projects relating to recycling, all supported by industry mentors, We are playing a key role in helping to put the pupils’ work into an industrial context. We are also finding ways to recognise the crucial role played by teachers and parents in encouraging the enthusiasm of the pupils, who will hopefully go on to make SET choices in their future careers.
Young SET Ambassadors is designed to raise awareness amongst young people of the possibilities and options offered by SET at university, and inspire them towards the necessary subject choices.
Apart from inspiring the future young scientists, engineers and technologists, Young SET Ambassadors offer benefits to your school, company and mentors and you can make a real difference by participating in the programme.
More images from the 2009-10 programme:
The 2009-10 winners, St Augustine's Roman Catholic High School, Edinburgh, demonstrate their project for the judges
Knox Academy, East Lothian
Presentation of certificates - Mr Michael Lothian, Royal Bank of Scotland
Presentation of Awards - Mrs Sarah Boyack (MSP) serves as Scottish Labour's Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Environment and Climate Change
Dr Aileen Lothian, Young SET Ambassadors Programme Director. Professor Timothy O'Shea, University of Edinburgh Principal
