Kat O'Brien Skerry, Physics Access Officer at engage@physics.ox.ac.uk
This event is aimed at teachers supporting potential applicants for physics at Oxford or Cambridge.
In this 1.5 hour, online, event we will discuss the application process and admissions criteria for physics and how teachers can support students through this process.
The event will include presentations, exercises, problem solving and time for questions from participants.
Speakers at the event
Kathryn O'Brien Skerry: Kat is the Physics Access Officer in the Department of Physics, University of Oxford. Kat runs of a programme of activities that support young people to make strong applications to the Department. Outside of Oxford, Kat runs an award-winning science education outreach enterprise in south London working with schools and with home education groups. Until recently, Kat also studied part time at UCL in the Institute of Education. Her particular interests being science capital, cultural influences on science curricula and the communication of knowledge. As an undergraduate Kat studied physics at Oxford and went on to teach secondary maths and physics before leaving the formal education sector to study for a second undergraduate degree in history and to work in informal education, improving access to and engagement with science education.
Robin Hughes: Robin is a Fellow in Natural Sciences at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Robin has also been Chairman of the British Physics Olympiad for the past ten years and a UK team leader at the International Physics Olympiad for considerably longer. The BPhO is a charity that provides physics competitions for school students (40,000 in 2022) raising the profile of the subject in schools. He is also a member of the Isaac Physics team at the Cavendish Laboratory working on supporting physics teaching in UK schools through an online platform. His experience of the school-university connection in physics is supported by over three decades in the classroom, whilst maintaining his academic connections with university studies over many years. Setting stretching physics problems for school students, to develop their problem solving skills, encourages them to consider entering the subject and applying to competitive universities.