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Year 11 Trip to Cavendish Laboratory
On Wednesday, 18 September, Mrs McGrath took thirty enthusiastic Year 11 students to Cambridge for the annual Physics at Work exhibition at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge. The exhibition is run in a similar way each year, based upon interaction between active scientific researchers and potential scientists. The aim is to spread the excitement of modern physics research to students who will soon be making career and examination choices and is a vital component in encouraging the next generation of scientists. It was here at the famous laboratories, that JJ Thomson discovered the electron in 1897.
It was a glorious sunny day and the city of Cambridge looked magnificent with the autumnal colours displayed. The morning involved a tour of Sidney Sussex college, where our trainee teacher Dr Kitchen studied for his PhD. Here the students enjoyed touring the grounds and hearing about the story of Oliver Cromwell’s head being buried in a secret place in the Chapel.
We then moved on to the Cavendish laboratory where the students enjoyed a series of Physics workshops from Rolls Royce, Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) and Medical Mavericks, as well as exhibitions from Research groups within the laboratory. Most of the workshops were interactive, and the students were able to take part in various practical sessions. They particularly enjoyed the Medical Mavericks sessions where they participated in ultrasound scanning, endoscopy, pulse oximetry and retinal imaging. They also enjoyed learning about plasma at the AWE work shop and carrying out experiments with a plasma ball. The Domino printing services gave students the opportunity to print their names on stationery items such as pens and pencils. All students took advantage of these interactions and they enjoyed many discussions with the representatives during and after the workshops.
The workshops were designed to motivate and inspire students to study Physics beyond school, and to hear about the many Physics-related careers that are available to them.
The students thoroughly enjoyed their experiences in Cambridge and a large number of them have plans to study Physics A Level next year.
