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Britain Needs Scientists 2015

Students meet University of Exeter researchers.

Exeter researchers share their experiences with the next generation of scientists

As part of National Science and Engineering week, GCSE level students from all over the south west were invited to come and discover the cutting-edge research being carried out at the University of Exeter.

The “Britain Needs Scientists” one-day event, gave students the opportunity to meet postdoctoral, PhD and Master’s-level researchers. The students were able to interview the researchers in a “speed –dating” format, enabling the students to speak to scientists from a number of disciplines; this included Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ecology and Physics. 

Students had the chance to ask questions, not only about the research being carried out in Exeter, but about the scientists themselves; the students were encouraged to ask about routes through school and higher education, and personal motives for going into research. They also heard from undergraduate students studying Physics, Engineering, Biosciences and Natural Sciences about their motivations, and the exciting opportunities that science has afforded them, from spending a year in industry in the U.S. to being involved in robotics competitions.

“Britain Needs Scientists” organiser Dr Nicola King said of the event - “It’s important that students know that scientists are real, normal people, who come from many different backgrounds and that being a scientist is a career open to everyone regardless of gender, background or ethnicity. Exciting research at the cutting edge of science is going on every day in universities like Exeter and in just 5 or 6 years’ time these kids could be involved too.”

Date: 26 March 2015

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