Cambourne Electronics and Robotics Club (CERC) provides children aged 7 to 14 years a structured and enjoyable experience of working with electronics, robotics and computational languages to help nurture their understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).
The sessions run every alternate Sundays in Old Blue School from 2 pm to 4.30pm in two batches. Each session is geared to develop child’s STEM skill and heighten their creative problem-solving. They also develop essential soft skills like presentation, teamwork, communication skills as well as logical and computational thinking abilities.
We are a passionate team of STEM ambassadors working hard in developing leadership in communities to ensure all children can fulfill their potential to shape a better future for themselves and the world around them. We are empowering the youth in the community with the necessary digital skills that are essential in today’s world’ that will develop tomorrow’s innovators.
Our Motivation :
Why Engineering…
- The notion that knowledge of engineering is necessary only for scientists and engineers is outdated in today’s high-tech world. A solid engineering education is essential for students of all backgrounds, talents, interests, and abilities. All kids need the knowledge and skills that makeup what we call ‘digital e-literacy’”
- It is about learning about how things around us work. Today’s age it is important for the child to know what is an algorithm/ program, how does the internet work, etc.
- The reasons for mentoring in Engineering is about logic, problem solving and creativity that is foundational for any jobs that these kids will take up in the year 2030.
- Job growth in the engineering sector is outpacing the student growth by more than 3:1 times in this field.
- The involvement of more girls in engineering will boost the GDP by 10%.
Our Aim :
- Participate in National and International events.
- Ambassador for STEM in school, within the community and at the national level.
- Online link-up with national and international clubs to exchange ideas and interact.
- Create repositories for the digitally deprived regions – national and international.
- Conducting workshops for 0-100 years old.
CERC Mission :
- The Club aims to provide students with a platform and resources to gain practical skills and realise projects that are innovative.
- We strive to mentor and help youths to acquire new skills in an era of rapidly evolving technology.
- The mission of the club is to expose youths to challenges and new technologies and thus to nurture and develop their skill set in this arena.
- From Screen-Time to Creativity Time – the emphasis is on experimenting and “learning by making” to empower youths to become collaborative, critical and creative thinkers.
- Mission statement: Developing tomorrows innovators.
Our Recognition :
- CERC mission is in the right direction for the advancement of education for the public benefit.
- South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) recognised the efforts and awarded the club a grant to build up on the existing equipment – laptop, projector, kits, etc.
- Cambourne Parish Council has permitted to use the Old Blue School for CERC sessions at a very nominal cost.
- SCDC awarded CERC the Outstanding Youth Initiative Award.
Activities & Roadmap :
- Started in November 2017 around the kitchen table at the mentor’s residence.
- More than 500 students registered and the classes were held in two batches on Sundays (alternate).
- Shifted to Old Blue School Hall in January 2017 and now have three batches — Beginners, Intermediate and intermediate.
- At present, the sessions are based on BBC Micro:bit, a small micro-computer with programming in the Code Editor.
- Each batch completes around 30 projects by using various sensors available in the Micro:bit.
- These projects are done during the sessions and though weekly assignments at home.
- Advanced batch build projects on Micro-Python and Javascript with Raspberry Pi and Arduino.
- Construct various types of robots for various applications.