Monthly Archives: November 2022

24Nov/22

SEPnet Expo 2022 celebrates its summer placement students!

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89 students showcased their summer placement projects through an exciting and energised face to face Expo event to employers, academic tutors and peers at SEPnet’s 14th Expo on the 23rd November  in London.

Students described a range of varied and exciting projects with large and small employers across different industries and research areas including data science, engineering, energy, IT, satellite communication, defence and scientific research.

The event was chaired by Professor Sir William Wakeham and an inspiring keynote address “Why Fusion” was delivered by Dr Chantal Nobs. Chantal studied Physics as an undergraduate at the University of Surrey (MPhys) and went on to study a PhD in experimental nuclear physics at the University of Brighton. Chantal joined UKAEA (Atomic Energy Authority) in 2018 in the Nuclear Technology Group. Her work looks at R&D for novel radiation detectors that can be deployed to challenging environments, the measurement of radioactive materials and the activation of materials for research purposes.

A “Physicists like me”  employer panel including representatives from Aquark Technologies, University of Surrey, Framestore, Thales and NPL  shared tips and advice with students on career opportunities and skills needed within their fields. They were also brutally honest around tips they would have given to themselves as they embarked on their careers.

The IOP generously provided prizes for the 6 best posters. The winners included:

  • Ollie Kemp, University of Portsmouth and his project “Machine Learning Applications for Satellite Earth Observation” with eOsphere
  • Emma Piazze, University of Southampton and her project “Working our way to high-precision space situational awareness” with Lumi Space
  • Mitchell Broad Queen Mary University London and Project “Numerical simulation of multiplex holograms with rigorous coupled wave theory” with Trulife Optics
  • Roberta Vieliute University of Southampton and Dhairya Kataria University of Herts and their project “Assembling the Pristine Relics of our Universe’s Infancy” with the University of Surrey
  • Ethan Cooper, University of Herts and project “Cognitive Bias, the Psychology of Recruitment” with MeVitae
  • Mark Ludlow, University of Surrey and his project “Interpreting XRF data to read Herculaneum” with STFC RAL
10Nov/22

From SEPnet PGR to CEO at OQC!

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Dr Ilana Wisby, Founding CEO and Director, Oxford Quantum Circuits, (OQC) a former SEPnet postgraduate researcher at RHUL was invited to talk at this year’s Alexander Stavrou Innovation Lecture on Wednesday, 9 November at the University of Surrey. 

Over the last 4.5 years, Ilana has taken OQC from a patent, to Europe’s leading Quantum Computing as a Service company.  Whilst deep technical roots and priority IP is certainly a core part of OQC’s USP – technology and inventions alone do not make successful companies. OQC’s Value-led Leadership and focus on people are equally, if not more, important.

Ilana shared the lessons she has learned as a deep tech entrepreneur, with a focus on crafting high performance, elite teams and employing considered Value-led Leadership. 

Thanks Ilana for encouraging Surrey undergraduates and postgraduate researchers to undertake a SEPnet summer placement and for endorsing GRADnet’s training programme from your personal experience during your PhD at RHUL!

10Nov/22

Why is developing knowledge and skills in Public Engagement important for PGRs?

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GRADnet’s online workshop: Developing knowledge and skills in Public Engagement was delivered on 9 November 2022 on Zoom by Dr Claudia Antolini, The Ogden Trust Senior Officer for Outreach and Public Engagement, Royal Holloway University of London.  Over 25 PGRs attended the online event and were given the following tips on how to do public engagement:

  • Identify a target public group/community and think about what your target group might be interested in and link your research to this.
  • How can you reach your target group and what do you feel comfortable doing: teaching? Performing? Speaking in public? Running a workshop? Designing a resource/class/audio-visual asset?
  • Do you have any hobbies that you could incorporate into your PE activity?
  • Activities you’ve heard about – do you find any of them interesting? Would you like to try your hand at them?

Claudia outlined the current SEPnet Strategy:  Core Programme 1: Schools’ Outreach Aim; Core Programme 2: Teacher Continuing Professional Development Aim and Core Programme 3: Public Engagement with Research Aim.

Delegates were made aware of the importance of “public engagement impact” for REF/KEF and how “the sector needs to recognise and challenge the processes that maintain and perpetuate the elitism of STEM. Widening participation in STEM requires changes in power relations and cannot be achieved by continuing with ‘business as usual’.”

Attendees found the workshop “really intriguing” and that there were “a lot of important topics to think about!”

Claudia and the Outreach team look forward to seeing SEPnet postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers at the next session to be delivered on Wednesday, 22 March 2023 at 12:00-15:30.  This will be in the format of an interactive workshop at the IOP in Kings Cross, London for 25 SEPnet delegates and will allow space to discuss their own research and form ideas for engagement. SEPnet Outreach and Public Engagement officers will lead and facilitate this session, using their experience and working with attendees to create impactful engagement plans. There will also be guidance on how to evaluate and evidence engagement, which is particularly important in the context of REF.  SEPnet PGRs can register here by 10 March 2023.