Ella is an expert in the mechanical design and operation of the NOC's Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV's) She ensures new technology designed integrates on the AUV's and operates the AUV whilst at sea.

Ella read Mechanical Engineering at Cambridge, graduating with both Bachelors and Master's degrees. She...

Practical Action is a development charity which uses simple technology to fight poverty. The learning resources in this collection look at how issues such as climate change and the need for renewable energy can be tackled. The resources contain background information, teachers' packs, classroom activities, stimulus...

A collection of STEM challenges created by Practical Action to support primary and secondary STEM Clubs and curriculum activity.

Teaching resources on the subject of Energy, suitable for KS2 - 5. Materials draw from Practical Action's renewable energy work in developing countries around the world. 

Teaching resources linking to issues around food and global food security. Based on Practical Action projects in the developing world. Suitable for ages 7-16.

A range of materials to support pupils' engagement in the Global Goals.

The Global  Goals (also known as the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs) were put together by the United Nations in September 2015. These 17 goals aim to end world poverty  by 2030. We have produced a range of different materials to...

Practical Action's series of resources for primary teaching.

Teaching resources from Practical Action which help students to understand sustainable development. They explore aspects of contemporary issues. Suitable for classes in science or technology, ages 7-16

Practical Action teaching resources which embed sustainability issues into all aspects of D&T. They unpack sustainability terms such as the 6Rs’, present a range of design briefs/STEM challenges set in global context and evaluation tools. Suitable for ages 11-16.

Technical briefs are documents produced by Practical Action which are freely available to people in the developing world. They provide detailed technical information on a variety of subjects ranging from how to make jams and pickles to how to build a flood-proof house or an aerial ropeway.

Students can use...

Teaching resources covering a range of issues around water e.g. cleaning water and hygiene set within a global context. Based on Practical action projects in the developing world they are suitable for ages 7-16.
 

This Catalyst article looks at 3D printing, a new technology which is rapidly finding applications. Although probably too slow for mass production it is useful for producing prototypes and tailor-made items. In a 3D printer, layers of polymer beads are printed one on top of the other. Heat melts the polymer beads...

This resource looks into making a prototype of a treadle pump. 

Suggested learning outcomes include:

• To be able to manufacture a working prototype of a treadle pump for people living in a remote village.
• To be able to select appropriate materials, tools and equipment for a manufacturing...

In this project, students use Autodesk Homestyler to design a living space for a disabled client. The design must include a ground floor living space with outdoor landscape. The overall plot must not exceed 25m x 60m and the living space must not exceed 10m x 40m. Students create a customer profile to base their...