At the beginning of August the Year 12 Physics Summer School gave 22 local A-level students a taste of life in a physics department. This popular annual week-long event provides hands-on placements with our researchers and technical staff. This year the placements included upgrading critical software for one of our key undergraduate experiments, using data from NASA's x-ray observatory to study the properties of a black hole and studying the physics of DNA nanostructures in our state-of-the-art biophysics labs.
Sharing their work
Scientists must communicate their work at academic conferences, so at the end of the week, participants presented their work to their peers in a poster presentation. More than 30 researchers and technical staff from across the Department of Physics came to see the posters and discuss the week's activities.
A passion for physics
Participants were from state schools across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire and many were from disadvantaged backgrounds; they all had a passion for physics. As well as working on their projects, students also took part in a central programme of activities such as departmental tours, career talks and sample lectures.
'The aim of our Y12 Physics Summer School is to help participants to build skills, knowledge and confidence, and give them an insight into working in physics,’ explains Dr Sian Tedaldi, Outreach Programmes Manager. ‘This year’s cohort were really dedicated and the standard of posters was particularly high. However, as well as working hard, the students also made new friends and bonded with like-minded people with a love of physics. We wish the students the best of luck in pursuing the careers of their dreams.’
"Our supervisors were amazing and taught us a lot, not only about our projects but about their work environment and studying at university as well"
Student
"The people were all really nice and friendly and we all felt very connected"
Student
"I have gotten a taste for programming and now hope to pursue this as a hobby"
Student
"I think it helped me gain confidence both socially and academically, and I feel as though it improved my curiosity"
Student
