The Insights Work Experience programme was launched by the Outreach team in the Physics Department at Imperial College London in 2012. The programme was created with the aim of providing an opportunity for Year 12 students, who had no link to Imperial College London, to undertake a work experience placement in the Physics Department. In 2012, 20 students took part in the scheme and in 2013 this number doubled to allow 40 participants to take part.
The programme for 2013 was advertised on the departmental website and applications were submitted online from September 2012 until January 2013. Approximately, 300 applications were received and 40 students were offered a place on the programme.
The placements took place from 30th June – 4th of July and 7th July – 11th of July and 20 students attended each week. Students travelled from England , Wales and Ireland to attend the work experience placement. About a quarter of participants joined a residential programme to enable them to stay in an Imperial Halls of Residence for the week.
At the beginning of the one week placement, the students were put into pairs and were seconded to one of the department’s research groups. The students met and interviewed a variety of staff members from the research group and gathered information about their work. Using this information, the students designed a conference poster to portray the work of the research group.
During their time in the Physics Department, the students also attended lectures and seminars, conducted experimental lab work and undertook research work. The students also had the chance to speak to the Head of Admissions and get advice regarding their University applications.
Many students commented that they enjoyed the freedom to undertake laboratory work outside of the constraints of the curriculum.
The students worked in groups to prepare short presentations which summarised their week in the department. The presentations were delivered to participant’s guests and staff members from the Physics Department on the last day of the placement. The conference posters which the students had made were also displayed at the showcase.
Feedback from the students who attended the programme was extremely positive and many of them now intend to apply to study physics at University. One student said: “The programme was an incredible opportunity to study at a world class university for a week- it has exceeded my expectations.”