The MINT STAR – Creating the STEM Future

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The MINT STAR – Creating the STEM Future

Applications are now being accepted for the MINT Star award in Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, and Rhineland-Palatinate, looking for teachers who have done effective MINT promotion over the last year. The MINT Star award in Baden-Württemberg and Hesse is €4,500 for materials to further develop plans within the winning school, while the award in Rhineland-Palatinate is €2,000. 

„MINT initiative“ is the largest German STEM network comprising the majority of initiatives and activities of German companies, designed to win more qualified professionals for the subjects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The initiative was founded in May 2008 under the patronage of German Chancellor a. D. Dr Angela Merkel and then Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Since 2022, the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (DK7DQ), has held the patronage. It offers a platform for STEM activities and numerous initiatives. MINT’s goal is to present changes in STEM-related topics to the wider public, to inspire and interest young people in STEM and lend weight to political demands.

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Award Recognises Dxpeditions with Remote Operations

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Two recent DXpeditions that featured remote radio operations have been recognised by the Northern California DX Foundation, which is presenting both activations with the DXcellence Award, now in its fifth year.

The criteria included the DXpedition's complexity, its impact on its "Most Wanted" ranking on ClubLog and, of course, overall performance.

The foundation's board of directors chose the KP5/NP3VI Desecheo DXpedition and the PJ6Y Youth DXpedition to Saba Island. Both adventures included remote radio operations. The KP5 operation was 100 per cent remote, as well as being solar powered. The team's media officer, Steve N2AJ, said in a press release that having the first fully solar-powered, fully remote DXpedition was a "groundbreaking achievement", adding that "advanced technology and careful planning can deliver world-class results while maintaining an exceptionally low environmental footprint." The team of operators was required to follow strict guidelines from the US Fish & Wildlife Service to ensure a minimal impact on the environment. That means no generators, no amplifiers and no traditional beam antennas.

The PJ6Y Youth DXpedition was chosen for its involvement of young operators from around the world who spent two weeks on the island of Saba. This more traditional style activation featured some first-time DXpeditioners. It was supplemented with radios operated remotely by as many as 30 young amateurs from around the world. The technically complex arrangement was considered a success on many levels, most especially as an investment in the future of amateur radio for the next generation.

RSGB Awards Manager Announces a New Awards Series

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The RSGB Awards Manager has introduced a new awards series for amateur radio contacts with stations across all UK country and crown dependency prefixes.

The Worked All UK and Crown Dependency Prefixes Award offers several different sub-sets with the rules varying slightly for each. The idea for the award was put forward as a way of encouraging, or tapping into, intra-UK activity as well as encouraging contact with UK amateurs.

Get involved with this new award by going to the awards web page and selecting ‘Worked All UK and Crown Dependency’ from the right-hand menu. You can find details of other awards offered by the Society using the same link.

Worked All UK and Crown Dependency - https://rsgb.org/main/operating/amateur-radio-awards/worked-all-uk-crown-dependency-prefixes-awards/