A search is on for local teenage science enthusiasts. Any local youngster in year 9, 10 or 11 is being invited to join Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) in Queen Square, Bath to join an eight month programme aimed at enabling young people aged 14+ to join doctoral and post doctoral students in a variety of real research projects. It is a partnership between University of Bath’s Research and Public Engagement Programme and BRLSI.
It gives teenagers a chance to find out what it is like to be a researcher by completing a meaningful research project and provides doctoral and post doctoral students with an insight into the effective communication of science, research and also acquire the skills of being an academic supervisor.
It is the third year of operation of this award winning programme.
“It is a unique programme. Nothing like it exists anywhere else in the country,” explains Drs Paul Shepherd, of Bath University, Marie Huxtable, of BRLSI and Caroline Kuhn, of the University of Bath Spa. The group is hosting a conference at the University of Bath on October 1st in lecture room 8 west 2:5, 1.30 p.m. for 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., when this year’s batch of teenagers and university researchers will be talking about their experiences and research.
“Anyone can come to the event. It is free, there are refreshments and we are especially keen to see teenagers, families and anyone who wants to see ‘cutting edge’ education and research in practice,” explains BRLSI Director, Paul Thomas, who coordinates the programme. “Just email me at [email protected] and I will send out more details.”
The eight month programme is modelled on the real scientific research process that takes place in university departments. This year, there were six, monthly, research workshops and two support sessions at which a joint research paper was written. Everyone designed an academic poster which explains and describes the individual projects. These will be on display at the conference. The participants visited research labs at the University, had individual meetings with senior research scientists and the chance to explain to over 2,000 members the public what they were doing at two events, Bath Taps into Science 2015 and BRLSI Heritage Open Day. They even had a session with the Mayor of Bath, Paul Crossley, to explain the programme.
One teenager summed it all up: “Before I went to the BRLSI Young Researchers, I didn’t understand how people got PHDs, but now I know, so that is something I would like to do when I am older.”
And a PhD student said: “As a researcher, I learnt that science is not only about the knowledge we conduct, but rather it is about the ability to explain and transfer complex ideas to other disciplines and to non-researchers in a simple form. It is not about the science itself, it is about presence, passion, enthusiasm, human interaction, sincerity and creativity.”
The Young Researchers programme starts again on October 8th. There are places available for any local teenagers. The October 1st Conference is open to anyone interested.
For more information on BRSLI Young Researchers, please go to: www.brlsiyouthgallery.org/youngresearchers
To book a place, email: [email protected] and leave name, date of birth and contact details.