Students use work experience to get the competitive edge

24th August 2010

From space robots to potential climate change solutions: students use work experience to get the competitive edge

Students from schools across the United Kingdom have spent part of their summer holidays programming robot prototypes designed to explore other planets and researching solutions to combat climate change.

The 70 GCSE and A-Level students have been taking part in work experience placements which are run by the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC’s) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) in Oxfordshire.

The placements which run each year from June to August range from space science, particle physics and laser science to photography and science communications, and provide unique opportunities for students to contribute to high tech science research to help prepare them for the competitive work place environment.

One of the placements involved producing a series of interactive, hands-on classroom activities using a prototype robot or ‘rover’ to help primary and secondary schools learn more about science, computer programming and technology. The rover which is controlled by a laptop was programmed by three teams of work experience students to perform tasks such as detecting types of liquids on a planetary surface.  The students also worked on the design of the robot adding equipment to measure temperature and an infra-red range finder to tell the robot how close it is to an object.

“The work experience at STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory has been a really great experience and I’m glad I had the opportunity to work here. It has definitely made me consider a career in Space Science as I would love to have the knowledge of some of the top scientists here,” said Jessica Heath from King Alfred’s School, Oxfordshire.

Each person works alongside STFC scientists and engineers and is assigned a placement supervisor who also acts as a mentor.

“One of the key things we want to do is to motivate and generate interest in science and engineering for the next generation, said Brian Maddison, Placement Supervisor and Project Manager in RAL’s Space Science and Technology Department. “Science and technology bring huge benefits to our society and economy. In a recession this message is more important that ever. Young people not only want to find a job or a place at university, they want to learn new skills and be inspired into career choices – this is a step in that direction.”

“Most of the students are thinking about their future careers – what A-levels to do, what subjects they would like to study at university or what jobs to apply for,” said Jo Lewis,  Education and Public Outreach Manager at STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.  “By working in groups made up of students from different schools and parts of the country, they learn key project management, communication and team work skills much sought after by employers and universities. This also helps the students gain in confidence. It’s not easy meeting tight deadlines, and giving presentations to teachers, scientists and peers – the students have to do this from 8.30-5pm each day for two weeks or more! Having this kind of work experience on their CV can give someone the edge over other applicants.”

The work experience projects not only equip the students with new skills and confidence, but can be invaluable for scientific research.

The GeoEngineering for Climate Change (GE4CC ) work experience project is one such example. Working together intensively over a two-week period, the students investigated carbon capture and other technological ways of combating the build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The students’ report will feed into STFC’s Futures Programme which looks at where research can be best applied in areas which make a difference to peoples’ lives.

 In addition to programming robots and investigating carbon capture, some of the students worked on designs for a prototype beam monitoring device for ISIS, one of Europe’s leading particle accelerators specializing in novel research in areas such as medicine, energy, security and the environment.

“Work experience at STFC Rutherford Appleton laboratory has been one of the best experiences I have ever had,” said Vyoma Shukla from St Dominic’s Sixth form College in Middlesex. “Working on the beam monitoring project at ISIS has been a very challenging and enjoyable task. I have learnt the importance of analytical thinking to design and execute a programme, and working in a team under supervisors at ISIS has been enriching and has helped me to improve my communication skills.”