South East Physics is a step ahead of the pack

Friday 26 November 2010

Thirty-one Physics undergraduate students, who spent the summer on industrial placements, celebrated the fruits of their hard work on Friday (19th November). In the magnificent surroundings of the home of British science - the Royal Society - the students from South East England presented 12 talks and 19 poster displays, to an audience of leading
industrial physicists, top academics and fellow students. 

Thomas Bird, a third-year student from Southampton University, even returned to the UK from Switzerland to take part. Thomas is currently undertaking a year’s research in CERN, and his SEPnet summer placement at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, studying data from the Large Hadron Collider with supervisor Stefania Ricciardi, gave him the experience he needed to secure his appointment abroad. 

Representatives of companies involved in the scheme, such as Qinetiq, the National Physical Laboratory, Xyratex, EADS Astrium and SELEX Galileo, and leading academics from each of SEPnet’s member institutions, joined SEPnet Chair Prof Sir William Wakeham and Executive Director Dr James West in congratulating the students for a very successful summer. 

Professor Sir William Wakeham, SEPnet Chair, said, “Undergraduate employability skills are very much in the Government’s agenda for higher education institutions. The SEPnet consortium of Physics departments is building on the success of its summer industrial bursary scheme year-on-year, and is already offering students from partner institutions added value to their degrees.” 

Supervisor Dr Alan Drew of Queen Mary, University of London said, “Both of my students are likely to have papers published as a direct result of their summer of research. This is almost unheard of for undergraduates – they were both absolutely excellent.” 

Supervisor Thomas Byrne of the National Physical Laboratory said, “We really value the opportunity to have students working with us over the summer. They bring fresh perspectives, enthusiasm and are an extra pair of hands at a time when many staff are on vacation. The SEPnet scheme really helps us with our graduate recruitment, too.” 

SEPnet Director of Employer Liaison Claire Potter, said, “The students have taken this opportunity to shine with both hands, and they can all be very proud of their excellent posters and presentations today. The SEPnet bursaries are now among the most sought-after funding opportunities for undergraduate physicists in the region.” 

Executive Chair James West said, “The SEPnet Students’ Expo was an excellent opportunity for the undergraduates to brush up on their communication skills, re-connect with their supervisors, and meet other supervisors and students involved in the scheme.”