The Commonwealth Award "Findel CASTME Protect Our Planet Award 2022" has been given to the STEM project "Imparting Experiences for Science Processes and Laboratory Techniques to Rural Muslim Girls of Bridge School with Discarded Ball Point Pens" undertaken by the functionaries of the Chaksu-based NGO Bhavi Nirman Society. The project was transacted by Rama Sharma and Beena Mali of Nikhar Bridge School which was guided by Dr Lalit Kishore, chair-person and assisted by Giriraj Sharma, Secretary of the NGO.
The project from India made to top position from the entries from 54 counties in which the STEM educators from primary, secondary and tertiary levels participated. "The Awards will be formally announced in January 2023 at the ASE (Association for Science Education) Annual Conference by the President of ASE, Professor Michael Reiss. The Protect Our Planet Award will be publicized on the CASTME website and in the CASTME Newsletter and will also be available to be used in Findel publicity material" stated the Findel-CASTME awards organizers while saying that the CASTME Trustees were unanimous in their decision to award the Findel CASTME Protect Our Planet Award to Nikhar Bridge School.
According to Dr. Sue Dale Tunnicliffe and Dr Balasubramanyam Chandramohan of CASTME [1], "The Commonwealth Association of Science, Technology and Mathematics Educators (CASTME) links science,technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educators across the Commonwealth. It has a UK-based board of trustees, with regional groups in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Globally, CASTME supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG4 (Education) and SDG5 (Gender)."
They further inform that CASTME was established in 1974 as an NGO recognized by the Commonwealth Secretariat and it has members throughout the Commonwealth. It has advisers based in Australia, Canada, India, Malta, Mauritius, and Nigeria. Furthermore, in collaboration with Philip Harris/Findel, CASTME makes three awards - the Education Award, the Protect Our Planet Award, and the Community Award.
The ASE Annual Conference 2023 [2] has been scheduled to take place at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK from 5th to 7th January 2023.
Kathleen Nugent, the Awards Coordinator [3], says that the CASTME Award Scheme is supported by Findel Education Resources for which the entries are received at kath.nugent@yahoo.co.uk, by 31 August and adds,"Awards are offered for educational projects which address the social or human context of science, technology, engineering and mathematics from individuals or groups. Submissions should be based on personal experience and should include a substantial account of teaching or other educational work. They may be hand-written or typed in English and up to 10,000 words in length. Judging is based on evidence of originality and creativity, use in practice, social relevance of the project together with the standard of presentation, organisation and structure of the project."
The Commonwealth Awards [4] that are announced during ASE Conference are as follows.
The Findel CASTME Education Award:This award is presented to the entry that displays an innovative approach to increasing STEM awareness. The awardee receives a £300 voucher to spend on Philip Harris science equipment or resources as well as an international membership of the ASE for one year.
The Findel CASTME Protect Our Planet Award: This award is presented to a STEM project which focuses on the Sustainable Development Goals such as Climate Change, Responsible Consumption and Clean Water. The awardee will receive a £100 voucher from Findel International.
The Findel CASTME Community Award: This award is presented to a community project focused on mothers, fathers, carers and children and/or on raising awareness of STEM in the community. The awardee will receive a £50 voucher from Findel International.
The Alexander Award by ASE: The Alexander Award, established in 2001 by Mary Alexander Harris, honours three members of the Alexander family, Sir Norman, his first wife Elizabeth and second wife Constance, who made major contributions to science education worldwide from 1936 to 1997. The prize (of £500) is awarded annually to a woman or group of women who has made a significant contribution to the scientific, technological, engineering or mathematical (STEM) education of girls or women, in situations of scarce resources.
Links:
[1] http://www.icaseonline.net/newsletter/icase_05_2021.pdf
[2]https://www.ase.org.uk/events/ase-annual-conference-2023-sheffield-hallam-university [3]https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5aa676a0a9e0283d7347d950/t/5ace1f351ae6cf6889cf9d49/1523457850179/C
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