Is Howard Wolowitz a 'good' engineer?

The Big Bang Theory has been around for some years now, making more than ten seasons has given the general public a lot to contemplate. Each of the characters are unique in their convictions, and they can bring a different element of humour to the award-winning show.

This is all about Howard, the Beatle-haired, hoochie-pants-wearing, guy, with a need for intimacy, however crude it might be. His background has been well explored, coming from a Jewish single mother provided the core of his humorous activities for the first half the show's seasons. He is not what society recognises he should be, instead, he is keen to woo any lady that are close enough to be verbally attained. In the first season, he is up for dating the blond-beauty across the hall from his friends' apartment. My beef is not about the fact that he is a 'lady-killer', but that he is bordering on engineering's version of the pretend executive. He is unable to complete tasks, making errors that would see him cast out, and with that, a definite NO to space travel. That's right, if you are unaware of this character, he is also, as of the end of season 5, an astronaut. This was to fix engineering issues and then maintain them in the International Space Station. This is baffling in its own right. A quick mention should also go to his disregard for that which he has access. He once used a government recon-drone to find the 'Next-Top-Model' household, and if that wasn't bad enough, he then decided to break communication with a Mars Rover, just because he was attempting to impress a girl. The man is a threat to national and global security!

Mars-Rover Mayhem!

So, let's look at the evidence for my theory that Howard is only half the engineer, and not the storming one that he achieves the accolades for. Thus, here we go...

Howard's Toilet Mishap:

In season 2, Howard is tasked with producing a zero-gravity toilet that ultimately ends up on the ISS. This toilet is later found to have issues, namely the release of excrement within the confines of the space station. After an evening of problem solving, he finds a solution to it, but not without a lot of messing about, and considerable help of his 'doctor' friends. This is okay if it is a singular mishap, but it is the beginning of many issues that serve to evidence my, eventual, theory. The end of this episode, incidentally, sees the ISS in orbit and the astronauts claiming that they need to leave the station for a space walk; they then alert Houston to the pending poop-fest that is now inside the capsule. This shows that, even with a lot of effort, it all failed anyway.

The Drone Dismemberment:

After Raj purchases a drone, Howard and Sheldon discover that it doesn't work properly. What does Howard do next, yes, he takes it apart. It is at this point that Sheldon reminds him of the toilet. Howard then makes the excuse that it worked, but it wasn't designed for the 'Russian potato-based diet'. Even after the eventual phone call to customer services, the drone picks up another signal and goes AWOL from their control. Another mess up from a skilled engineer? In his defence, Howard is also asked to fix Sheldon's train, informing the viewer that there is a notable skill in him that Sheldon can see, that's high praise, given the nature of Sheldon's character.

Miss-Use of Government Funds and Inventory:

This is a storm, so keep your hats firmly held on your heads. The largest misdemeanours that occur, other than the Next Top Model house, are:

• Robotic Arm: This is taken home and used to massage his shoulder. With his perversion taking hold, he then decides to use it for extras. Getting stuck, he is whisked to hospital, where the nurse frees is with the escape key. This happens a second time before the end of the episode.
• Creation: Howard makes a networked pair of mouths, for kissing! Creates Bernadette's diamond ring, with his mother's back hair, on the University's hydraulic press. He cooks his paninis to perfection with a heat-cupboard, offering this service to his buddies.

So, it isn't a great problem, pressing the diamond, and he is actually quite skilled at jewellery. This was evidenced when he joined the girls, and Raj, on one of their get-togethers. In this episode, they are making jewellery; he excels at this. The materials? They come from the University, where else?

Professor Hawking's Service:

Howard's skills are called upon by Professor Stephen Hawking. Making a visit to Pasadena, he is here to do a series of lectures and requires Howard to keep his chair in tip-top condition. After one of his servicing trips, he is found with a left over sprocket, and he doesn't know where it belongs! Another piece of evidence to show that he is inept!

On the Defence!

As a character, he is very funny and his absence whilst visiting the ISS was noticed. The show lacked the ludicrous outcomes of a needy nerd, hyped up on the fun with his wife and friends. There is no true answer to this, he must be good at some parts of his job, if not all. If NASA approve of him, and the University use him on loan from the Space Administration, then there has to be an engineering genius within him, possibly shown away from the contexts of the episodes that we see.

He is quite clearly engaged for humour, and I know that this is a silly question really. I like the character, and believe the show could offer up some of Howard's 'excellence' for a while. Even though the humour might lack a little, not being a mummy's boy, a pervert, and a doormat to Sheldon, would be a breath of fresh air. The latest offerings that see him as an inventor, creating a working radar system for use by the military, is closing in on this. The choice to make him need his friends to contractually keep him in the loop is a little sad, though. This was another way to show that he is a dependant, not able to survive without the hand of another to stabilise him.

Either way, he is a great character. Long live Howard Wolowitz! What do you think? Are there any parts of The Big Bang Theory that show him in a stronger light? For now, I hope that he is given some strength in future episodes, at least before the last one airs.

Written for @beingSTEM - 2017

Can Assistance based AI change the way that we exist?

Our lives are surrounded in technology. The very notion of putting our phones down depicts the end of the world. As a late-night screen-reader, I am often kept awake by the emitted glow of blue light.
Putting this aside for a moment, our very nature as human beings is changing, we are less likely to communicate than we once did, and we have become more self-affirming than ever before. If for nothing else, social media is a great way to show off. The very idea of 'keeping up with the Jones's' is unfathomable to me; I see no real point in comparison to others, let alone trying to be like them.

Small processors could still help!

So, the very emergence of this technology might be the new age of humanity. There have been many key moves in our history, the things we like and the ideals that spark our curiosity have all been altered in some way. I think about the floating chairs in Wall-E's world as a possible future, although it should be mentioned that even this has, at least, a social aspect to their existence.

This post is all about how technology could assist us in more than just imaging what we had to eat. At what point did we decide that friends and family, and the greater population, would like to know what our baked potato looked like during dinner, or how healthy your oats, with tangy fruit bits, looked this morning?
The game has been raised with personal assistant modules, our Mobile phones harbour Siri, or Windows being the bearer of Cortana. These assistants may still be in their infancy, but how can they form the basis for a better existence?

Siri is seldom used on my phone, though the concept is very intriguing to me. A.I. has handed me a warm, funny, feeling, since I was asked a question that regarded the socially anxious aspects of such a thing. Back in the day, some twenty years ago now, I was asked: "If an A.I. was advanced enough to replicate that of a human being, and that said technology was installed into a machine that has the appearance of a specific individual, would they BE that person if THEIR memories could also be added?" This holds a big dilemma, humans would understand that this person is now synthetic, but holds the potential wisdom of the real person that is known prior.

So, even if people would not accept this dilemma, what if our assistant software was built upon A.I.? The world that is pictured in iRobot shows the open use of helper droids, there are even friendships built on synthetic connections, creating a society of human to A.I., and A.I. to A.I. companionship. This world is capable of using technology for good, we are hounded by stories of rogue machines and failing societies, all because of a device that finds its own voice and destroys them.

Okay, this has gone a little awry, the use of our personal devices should become more than just an excuse for capturing our daily monotony; what about them running our errands and keeping us on our feet? 'We can download an app for that!' This is what we hear all of the time on TV, the ever beloved big Bang Theory have even addressed the concept of writing apps to do specific jobs, in their case, reading equations in an instant! What apps exist right now? Fitness ideals are matched to your body's needs, nutrition can be managed, and even the calendar has its place in our day to day lives.

What was that? Can I hear you shouting? "Get on with it you muttering fool!" Okay, here we go! If our lives are anything, they are a busy entanglement of business, pleasure, and a small bit towards the progress of our self. Even though the technology and software exists to provide help in many areas of our lives, there is a lot of room for improvement. I am quite outspoken about my distaste for many of modern societies whims, and the very thought of many of today's quips feels like hives in my brain! I have come to a conclusion that we are often looking at the negative, imagine a world that foresees negativity and adjusts you with small, mental, alterations. If A.I. was specifically tendered to the user, as it learns, it helps you to move forward; as it strives to help you, it makes ideal suggestions to 'bypass' the very problem in the first place.

I first had this concept a few years ago. The emergence of QuInt, was an idea based on one premise, 'Questionable Intelligence'. Ultimately though, the software was a personal companion, the technological and funding limitation is what stopped any further extension of it. The following is the theory base that I wanted to work on:

• QuInt is a companion based A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) that serves to both adapt and adjust to the user. The personal outcomes that are expressed by this entity are built from what it knows about you. Key focus is based on shrinking the overall processing, meaning that the end result is 'small-brain' compliant. (Concept derived and highlighted by G. Rudd, July'2014) [The term 'small-brain' is given in reference to the use of smaller computer processors. This is when comparing them to the large A.I. systems that make up the 'super-computer' realms of technology.]

This idea is still sitting in my own, 'small', brain. There may be a use for it some day, but for now, I truly believe that the use of A.I. could be used to aid in humanity, not accelerate the application for social prowess or build ways for us to create destruction.

What are your thoughts on A.I., will it destroy us? Are there any ways that you have thought of for using A.I. in a 'positive' light? Until the assistance is compiled, let those of us that care, keep doing so!

On an extra note, I am intending to further my understanding of A.I. Visit beingstem.uk to see the progress, and even be a part of it.

Written for @beingSTEM - 2017

The Technology Slump

After a hiatus from writing my STEM blog, I decided to write my thoughts from last week. I was thinking about the world that we live in, what we have acheived, and what we will acheive in the future.

My thought rested on one key idea, asking if I'm in the wrong timeline? No, not like an episode of Fringe or the X-Files, but more about my place in history. I am aware of how wrotten the 19c was, the illness and very young deaths make it a no return policy, but I believe they might have had a positive outcome that works to mark-out these measly notions.


With technology being at a sombre spot in this era, we were still open to many new ideas. There was a lot to explore, places to see, and information to attain. I am worried that we have hit a slump! We have advanced so fast with our tech in the last century that we may be ahead of where we should be, and until the advancements reach planetary exploration, these new-land-discovery urges can only be a dream.

We might be talking about going to Mars by 2030, though I'm sure it will happen later than expected, what we have now feels like it is holding us down to the ground. As an exploratory person, I love to find new places, create new ideas, and build, just build! I feel that my skills and ideals are wasted right now, being better used 150 years ago, or 150 years in the future? What can I do about it? Let's look at these:

• We are splashed with information all of the time, there is little to be learned beyond the struggle to surpass our current tech level. Although the Internet is a great idea, we are able to share and archive like never before, so what is there to explore anymore?
• Our idols have shifted to 15 minute has-beens, people who are famous for being a face on a cheap TV show. The engineers of the past, scientists that saw huge acclaim, are seamingly forgotten about. It is these people who could alter the future of our planet, making new leaps into a better future.
• With a positive mortality rate, are we making things worse? It's not great dying at 35, but with so many more people pushing 100, are we simply working against the planet's capability? Perhaps this pushes more reasoning towards the off-planet living many have dreamt about.

I could spout on about this, but the key focus is on the fact that I am hard pushed to find new ideas now. As a wee 10 year old chap, I would hash new sketches, build basic prototypes from scraps, all this whilst bearing in mind that 3D printers were still two decades away! This was an inspiring time for me, one that I fear has left me, and the world, for good.

So, should we sit back and wait for the new age to begin in the hope that we make it there, or should we be the ones to start it? What would it take, a new focus on tech for a better future, not a more comfortable one? Perhaps that is were we are going wrong?

What do you think? Tech is great, and serves a key purpose in modern life, but there must be something you would prefer in your life, perhaps from the olden days, or for a future yet to be seen.

Register at beingstem.uk and be a part of the STEMvolution. Until next time...

Tolerant World: Adding warmth to those that don't have it...

As I sit under the moon, typing by the warming hum of my PC, I can only sense the feelings that hamper our homeless citizens. The town that I live in is home to many without a safe-space; sleeping in doorways and hoping for a couple of quid for a 'bite' is all they have.

It would be easy, and is for many, to look down on these individuals, knowing that we are tucked away in the relative security of our closed block. I am not going to do this, and want us all to make a step into the new initiative, that is, Tolerant World.

Picture it: I was in a McDonald's restaurant in Stoke-on-Trent, having a coffee with a friend, when suddenly I noticed that the 'loyalty' stickers, that I collect and swap for another beverage after the sixth, were making huge leaps forward, into the trash!

What do you think was running through my brain then? What if...we could gather the dead stickers and offer them to the homeless on cold, winter, nights? If only 25% of people that threw them away would place them into one place, we could make sure that the cold months were a little more easier than what they are now.

I have come to these assumptions:

1. McDonald's must budget for these stickers being used at least 75% of the time, if not, it could have ramifications beyond their control,
2. The people that throw them away aren't bothered anyway, what is the loss to them?
3. In every 1000 binned stickers, 25% would equate to 250 of them, which then would cover 41 loyalty-cards with 4 left over.
4. There are other loyalty schemes for hot beverages in the market place. Can we get something out of these multi-billion dollar companies? They could help the 'high-street' in the process!
5. As a hot beverage drinker, I believe they do make a difference in the cold weather, even if it is a small one.

So, with these in mind, a little more research and some 'fire' in the form of support, this could become a reality. Whether they are issued to charity houses like Shelter, of to hostels that are already on the ground, it could start a ball rolling in a positive direction.

STEM should not sit in the background, keeping the buildings high and providing technological breakthroughs without first being mindful of what is on the ground beneath it all. A tolerant world would make all the difference, not just to the poor and needy, but to ALL of us, we are all human and could all try a little harder to respect it as a fact!

What are your thoughts? Are there ways that you could help? You may have ideas that could launch this initiative and help it become a reality? For now, let's hope that one day we cold really see a 'Tolerant World'.

Engineering from Afar, or Up High...

Investigating a source of engineering history can have its UPS and downs. As a long time visitor to Cosford Air Museum, I love to hear, and then see, the new objects of aviation that become the latest statements of the museum's growing floor-art.

I was able to browse over the latest developments in the Junkers JU88 rebuild. The latest email received from Karen Crick, a name that has popped up in my inbox for many years now, stated that they had put the core air-frame together. There was also the mention that the control surfaces weren't attached yet, this however meant that a more interesting trip was to be evident due to the job being 'in progress'. With parts strewn around their storage boxes, it offered more questioning for my two accompanying learners.

The JU88 was a 1930s fast-bomber by design, with the intention of it having a multi-role responsibility in the German Luftwaffe's plans. The twin-engine bird saw more than 16,000 built, with many specification variations produced that included land and sea-battle capabilities.

The history that oozes from this war relic is prevalent from the moment you get close to its moderate hulk. This is a key piece of Nazism, the Third Reich's effort to cast hell upon those below. I have stated, in a previous blog post, that it is important for us to learn about the Axis Powers too. Knowing of the lives lost from the whole war, may represent a chance to stop us reliving the horrors in our digital-rich present.

As I approach the aircraft, I can see the parts missing from the rear of the wings and underbelly. Tins and surfaces are seen lying on the floor, waiting for the engineers to attach them once again. The work, that has already been completed, is incredible, the usual attention to detail that the museum prides itself on is clear in its display at all levels of refurbishment.

From a previous visit, it was in bits!

I had already seen the aircraft in its constituent parts, laying in the corner of the 'War in the Air' hangar at the rear of the site, Just like that time, I was answering questions from my 5 year old, only this visit, I had an additional 6 year old learning the Cosford ropes. The questions came thick and fast, asking me about the outline of the aircraft and details that belonged to the artefacts shown in their glass tank.

Explaining the controls surfaces was interesting. Why are they on the floor? What is that pipe for? I would like to say that the pipe was integral to the JU88's questioning, but this came up throughout the visit, I am sure it was even asked in relation to a tank!

Again I am reminded of the gem that sits so close to home. The memories are always important, and form a major part of my 'joy' for this local attraction. The revelation this time, was understanding the knowledge that I have for both the displays, and the general science and engineering of flight. For this, I am grateful for all the experiences that I was given as a young boy, and the knowledge that is offered to me in my adult life.

Visit the Junkers, it is remarkable and a piece of rare history, at least in such a complete form, anyway. Seeing it in the mechanical flesh, it is a sight to behold.

Happy flying...or building if applicable!

Written by G.Rudd.

Find articles and more at www.beingstem.uk.

Building? Building what?

As I 'build' my website, ready for the STEM-Revolution, I am reminded of the word 'build'. Seeing that I have adopted the slogan, 'Think, design, then build!', I can assume that I need to truly understand the definition of this word.

What do we build? Everything? Just houses? What about knowledge? If you read the 'About' pages on my site, you will notice that most of my interests, for there is a lot, have an essence of building about them. The creation of anything is paramount to human progress. Every new lesson that is offered to a young child, or just the refreshing feeling of holding your new mobile phone, are all 'built' feelings or ideas at some stage in their processes.

Google Definition Search - 8th April '2017

build

bɪld/

verb

1. 1. 

   construct (something) by putting parts or material together.

   "the ironworks were built in 1736"

   synonyms:

   construct, erect, put up, assemble, set up, raise More

2. 2. 

   make or become stronger or more intense.

   "we built up confidence in our abilities"

   synonyms:

   boost, strengthen, increase, improve, invigorate, augment, raise, intensify, enhance, escalate, multiply, swell;

So, looking at this, what can be noted? Even the second term describes it as size, strength etc. Moving past the obvious, we are constructing all of the time, and that makes me think!

What if we can use this as a means of STEM encouragement? Imagine that we have 10 people in a room, without gender being a focus, there would be at least 7 of those 10 that saw no interest in the creation of structures or everyday items. This could be out of bricks made from clay or plastic, it wouldn't really matter. So, can we take, from those 7, some creativity? If I am stating that we ALL build in different ways, then surely each of those do too?

It's an odd concept, but I am sure that there is a shred of plausibility in this concept. With that, I am going to produce a basic survey, a simple click of a radio button will suffice. Let's look for the smallest of creativity in all, we may even find a small number that find a niche in a role that is much needed to be filled. 

What are your opinions? Fill out the survey dots for me, you will find it in the research tab in the menu. 

This post has been written by Gavyn Rudd, Operator of @beingSTEM. You can find out more, register to be an Insider, or just say hello at www.beingstem.uk. @beingSTEM - Think, design, then build!

Is it the 'Advent of True Home Automation'?

There's been a buzz for home automation for years, BBC's Tomorrow's World showed us in the early 80s that we could turn the lights on with a request made to a crazy robot voice in the walls. They were even highlighting the advances in touch-screen units in 1981. (As an amateur inventor, Tomorrow's World was the staple BBC show for me at that time. I can honestly say that I miss it! CNET would later take over, though this was only syndicated through cable channels at odd times of the day.) In the past few years, we have accepted the use of personal assistance in the forms of Siri (October '2011), Google Assistant (May '2016), and Cortana (2014). Newer still, is the creation of Alexa, an Amazon fuelled techno-blob that will do minor tasks for us.

What is the point in Alexa? Well, if you read the outlines for both the taller Echo and the stubby Echo Dot, they offer features such as:

• Music on demand
• News and weather updates
• Search facilities
• And other things that have been done for some time now!

This sounds a little degrading, but I am not aiming for that. I am a little taken with the Echo system, I am not sure how much is being done to make this the true future living, but movies have made a good job of showing us that automation will be the norm in the nearest years to come.

The only crux is that we need to make this an all-round technology, that way, we can have the 'tech-talker' working wherever we are. Our mobile phones are grate at this, there is still work, but they are able to lots with just our voices.

Talking to a phone makes me reminisce about the nightmare of IBM's ViaVoice Suite (August '1997). This was an added software bed, that actively allowed you to 'talk' words into your word processor. There was also the Dragon Naturally-Speaking software (June '1997), this had a similar, and yet, still the unsatisfying operation of talking to Microsoft Word too.

The ideas were great, it was there to give those that couldn't, the chance to write on their computer, I don't believe that this was always the case though. you would often read about companies that used to buy it to replace their secretaries (old speak for a personal assistant), I am not sure what the overall success of this was though.

Are we feeling better about this kind of technology? We were once a species that felt awkward at the mere thought of talking into an answer-phone machine, what are we like now? How often do you see people walking around talking to there phone on speaker, rather than the more traditional at-ear approach?

I don't believe there's a big difference! The public can't interact anyway and headsets always made you look like you were talking to yourself. At least asking your phone for the nearest place that will sell you a pack of Rolos looks like you are on the speaker-phone, and you might even look like you have a friend too, which is quite nice for many in the community.

As a rule, we must progress to become a better society (whatever a better society is). We will create ever more impressive tech every ten years. The decade that opened up from the Millennium was one of great advancement. Everything from mobile communications to hair styling products took a rocket ship to new heights. I would like to think that, likely in the next decade, we will be able to create better technology for those with physical and mental disabilities.

Imagine a world that uses technology to make us better, there is a feeling that we are being less communicative in this decade, perhaps we are becoming distant from each other, up to the point that we live our lives in individual pods, sectioned from the rest of the world. Could voice technologies help us to communicate better? What if it is the answer?

'I hypothesise that talking to electronics could bring about a communication revolution. What if the need to be on our devices could be merged with good old fashioned person to person interaction (AKA talking!) If we can't free ourselves from our phones, maybe we could use it to open up connections before it's too late.'  (G.Rudd - 4/17) (This is only suggestive, what do you think?)

What do you think about the way we are talking to machines? Will there be a day that we are able to use machines as a true sound board? I guess we'll have to see. Please visit www.beingstem.uk to see my work with STEM. Become an insider too, you can offer suggestions and ideas.

Stand under the STEMbrella. Think, design, then build!

@beingSTEM 2017

The Big Bang Theory's Sudden Disappointment!

I have watched The Big Bang Theory since the very beginning, and apart from the most recent season, I have enjoyed it.

In the UK, E4 show episodes every day, this means that many of the older episodes are shown, whilst they still give us the chance to watch the latest offerings.

My disappointment came when I was casually watching the episode entitled 'The Fermentation Bifurcation'. (Season 9:Episode 22) There is a scene that involves the gang, minus Sheldon and Bernadette, attending a wine tasting event. It is there that they meet Penny's old boyfriend (and ex-husband), Zack. This is part of the dialogue that is spoken during the scene:

=-=-=

Zack: So how's the science world? What are you guys up to?

Howard: We've actually been working on a prototpye for a navigation system we invented.

Leonard: But we won't bore you with the details.

Zack: Are you kidding? I love science, Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Mike Degrasse-Tyson.

Amy: Mike Degrasse-Tyson?

Howard: Yeah, you know, the boxer who grew a moustache and became a scientist.

Zack: So what's your invention?

=-=-=

Post-viewing source: https://bigbangtrans.wordpress.com/series-9-episode-22-the-fermentation-bifurcation/ (I needed to make sure how it was scripted!)

We should invite everybody's ideas!

My problem is with the attitude of the dialogue that I've made bold. This is a simple matter of snobbery. The character of Howard is often mocked for ONLY being an engineer by Sheldon. So what was this for, especially as Sheldon's comments often hurt his feelings?

If Mike Degrasse-Tyson is, by an implied idea, not a proper scientist, then neither is Professor Brian Cox. Isn't he the 'musician that trimmed his floppy hair and became a scientist'? I disagree with this, I am a big fan of both scientists! They are not pretend! This is a problem for those who don't believe they could be a scientist. Children, when asked, still think of scientists as a balding, white, male, with a glacially toned lab coat that has been bleached to death. This idea is not the best thing when you are trying to give children the chance to believe in themselves.

I know this sounds like a rant, but I feel strongly about this. I was genuinely shocked. I have seen this episode before, but don't remember this scene! We should be pooling ideas, not passing off people as a weekend scientist, or even a hobbyist mathematician.

What do you think, are YOU that bothered? I understand that it is just light entertainment, but I do wonder how Mr. Degrasse-Tyson felt about it.

Make sure you check out my online presence. www.beingstem.uk / @beingstem / YouTube: Meegosh Media

Thanks for reading.

By: Gavyn Rudd.

A Triumphant British Science Week in Staffordshire

With a hectic schedule, and much going on in life, it is easy to give blogging a miss. It's a hard thing to deal with, not having the chance to get those oozing STEM thoughts out of my mind.

This week has been very busy, British Science Week 2017 got under way with a bang. This year was about creating opportunities for the children to, da da dahhhh, BUILD! I created the 'We're All About Wheels' ideas so that all children, in each year group, could be a part of it. For the past couple of years, I have slowly built up the foundations for BSW, bringing in more year-groups each time. This year was the big one, all around the school, you could see the stress of building, designing and debugging their original ideas.

With the younger members of the school looking at the act of pushing and pulling, the Key Stage 1 children built cars, ones that would go a further distance than their opponent's. Key Stage 2 were set up to build their power-pullers, ready to join the arena in a tug-of-war scenario affectionately named 'Chug-O-War'..

What a great week, there have been builders that don't normally build, some builders that are made to construct, and there are those that managed to create a vehicle, with effort, determination, and the will of the competition.

All-in-all, a great event, building is what makes us unique, building is what fires imagination and brings us new technologies. Tech that builds our homes, mobile phones and televisions all come from the foundations that are set in events such as this.

Here's to more STEM based events everywhere. Watch this space for more about STEM in Staffordshire, we need to pull resources to give children a chance to develop their choices and shine through potential clouds of despair.

For more information and a video, check-out my YouTube channel at MeegoshMedia, or visit the @beingSTEM website at www.beingstem.uk

STEM - RAF Museum Cosford

I am currently sitting amongst a multitude of aircraft. The Victor looks over me with its menacing glare. The Vulcan's wing sticks out over the gantry, reminding us of a time when we were close to mutual destruction.

RAF Museum at Cosford, UK

I spend a lot of time at RAF Cosford, looking closer at a different plane each time I visit. There are those that never fail to astound me; I fail to understand how some of them can hang on wires as if made of cardboard and feathers.

The general look of this museum is great. When the Cold War hall was added, it created a lot of additional room to house their impressive collection. I can remember, a few years ago (add cough here), spending time at the museum, Hanger 1 still holds those memories, and, not surprisingly, it still smells the same too. A friend from my street in Shropshire was the son of one of the Museum's managers. I still reminisce about the birthday party that he held here, sitting in the cockpit of that red jet, what a joy.

A recorded memory - so cool.

I love it here, I feel at home with all the machines, the ghosts that still move around them, and the feeling of wonder that all visiting children have in their possession. The historical values that come with the Comet and the design principles that align the rare and concept builds like the TSR2 fill me with inspiration. I always admire those that spend time restoring each aircraft, those that create the stories and those that keep the museum in tip-top condition. A moment of satisfaction must fill their tanks, not unlike the early flights of their rebuilds.

Go down to Hanger 1 and look for James May sitting next to his 1:1 Model Spitfire. Look at how many aircraft, you can spot, that you may have seen fly? The roar of the Vulcan and the popping of the Hercules' propellers leave an eternal ring in my ears, more memories from being here for many of the annual air shows.

James May with his 1:1 Model Spitfire

If I was to ask for anything, I would love to see the Victor a little more clearly. It is such a demonic looking aircraft, the cockpit looks like it wants to hurt you, staring with it's small eyes and protruding spike. A chance to go into the open aircraft a little more often would be great. I would love to sit in the cockpit of one of the big aircraft, I like the thought of sitting in the Comet's seat, absorbing the miles of decision making and runways it will have looked over.

There is so much to see, you will be shocked at the vast array of units here, with other vehicles sitting at their feet. As a place for STEM learning, it has a lot of information, you may as well put the £4 in the parking meters, I'm sure you'll need it.

For school's, there is much to consider. Just the presence of these creations, the leviathans, and the twee beauties, give you a feeling you will rarely find anywhere else. The World War 2 display harbours some German and Japanese birds, taking their spot by our own heroic machines. The museum allows for you to admire the technology of our old enemies, I see this as an important lesson. We can grace our service people with the respect that they deserve, but a lot of technology, used by the other side, saw the end of so many enemy lives too. War is harsh, this place helps you with that in a way that films, TV and the classroom's whiteboard just aren't able to achieve.

A very rare Sopwith Pup

Hats off to all that are a part of this, you do an amazing job, all machinery and buildings are in fine condition. As a place for all to come, it serves as a star on the UK's landscape. Saying that, the Cold War building looks quite interesting when you ride your bike over the hills towards the back of Albrighton, a cross between an enormous satellite dish and a giant's mirror.

If you visit, let me know what you think. Do you have memories of here already? Please share them with us. For now, may you all have a safe flight!

@BeingSTEM

How 3D printing could change STEM in Primary Schools

Engineering is a difficult subject to teach in Primary education. The lack of resources and space will keep any Science to a minimum, often following the plan that has been set down by others.

With a keen eye, you can spot some areas that STEM can be championed. With obvious ideas like a design festival or weekly challenge, there is little room for manoeuvre beyond that. We can find small tears in the school timetable, ways that are so subtle, they don't appear to exist.

Teachers have become akin to the cross-curricular possibilities, moving Literacy into their learning journeys and Mathematics into Design and Technology. This is quite simple. The fact that number work can be used in Design is quite obvious, creating writing opportunities for topics is normal too, what about the Engineering aspects from STEM?

So, what am I aiming for here? With the challenge of finding new engineers to fill the void, the heat is rising to a point where society will suffer. I have always been eager to see children given the chance to try out new ideas that spark those that are drawn to it. Tasks that are new and innovative, work like a radar, locating these individuals for teachers to hone in on.

3D printers are an incredible innovation. It is likely that they could work as one of those radars in Primary. Imagine that children are given the chance to plan, design and watch the layers of their creation grow. They look upon it like a god, waiting for the filament to form a little soldier, car or dinosaur. This concept is possible, the reality is that the draw of such a new technology will lead those to swarm toward it. With the likelihood of 3D printing becoming a 'normal' skill, just like computers in the 90s, there is a ticking clock for those that will inevitably move into an engineering field.

School could operate a share in a printer, grants or funding could purchase one of them. With minor tuition, there is little for teachers to learn about them. The future is definitely bright, 3D printers are now moving over to full-size construction, filament being exchanged for a flow of concrete. Imagine the possibilities, the creation of usable cars or a cheap way to produce shelter for those in need.

TinkerCAD - A free 3D design studio by Local Makers.

What could happen to the future if we were able to offer this or other technologies? With the price of these printers falling, the existing laptops will manage the software. Free downloads are available, so licensing is not a major issue. I hope that we can see this right now, whilst targeting those in the zone, we can be changing everybody's future for the better.

Extreme? What do you think? With funding being tight, we need to find these opportunities as the prices fall. Until next time...

Moving on from the Obvious - Access to Build

Over the Christmas period, I was trying to push the idea that we needed to keep the aged concept of children being creative builders. The days of the Lego kit are still with us, but there is little to make children interested in the engineering prospects that come with them.

Unlike the kits of the past, they are more toy-based now, the meaning has moved across to a play-centred approach. With that, I want to target those that will still see these kits as a source for their future, allowing them the opportunity to become engineers in the years to come.

This review is about the new kits on the 'block'. I have recently had a look at Wilko's Blox. They offer a range of models from spacecraft to a nifty little velociraptor. As strange as that is, they sell some very efficient designs. The model that I built was that of a snail. I am still amazed at the build quality, even in the youngest of hands, the blox hold together with an undeniable grip.

Quality for £2!

On the whole, the quality of the pieces is impressive, unlike the early days of replicating Lego, these bricks hold together very well and the instructions are easy to follow. There is a clear comparison between the aesthetic of each model offered by Wilko against 'the leading brand'. The end results look great but lack the detail that the designers at Lego are able to achieve. Saying that, for the price point on show, they are more than adequate.

The kit that I adore the most, is that of the hot air balloon. The kit is very sweet and allows for a generic option for both boys and girls. As an aviation enthusiast, the airport is also a must buy at some point. At a price of £14, these would set you back at least twice that price for Lego. There are times when Wilko has sold these at half-price. I was able to purchase five sets, of varying sizes, for less than £10! It looks like there is a block-building toy that is in most people's price range.

Potentially bridges the gender gap.

Major STEM points to consider are the fact that the components are fully compatible with Lego, and the boxes are printed with both the dimensions of the resulting item, and a reminder that you can build anything you want. A must if we want to inspire those that are open to it.

Accessible pricing for all.

Look out for my extended-kit-review, in more detail, on my YouTube channel at MeegoshMedia. I will be covering the 5-in-1 Spacecraft Kit, Robotic Motorcycle and two bonus mini-kits.

Happy Building to you all!

NOTE: Images are property of Wilko.com.