Georgia makes a head start

Georgia Collins, from Berwick-upon-Tweed, has been talking about her first impressions of undergraduate life while taking part in the Science@Cam event.

The week-long summer school, part of the national Headstart scheme, is aimed at encouraging talented youngsters to develop their knowledge of science and technology, while also giving them a taste of what life at a university is really like.

Georgia, who finished her Highers a year earlier than usual back in May, hopes that good grades in chemistry, physics, biology, maths and Spanish will help her gain a place at the University of Cambridge in 2007. She hopes to read natural sciences for her degree.

Lunching in the grand surroundings of King’s College hall, Georgia is joined by Giles, Michelle, Matt and Katherine. It’s their first full day and none of them knew each other before they arrived, yet they are already chatting as if they are the best of friends.

“Everyone has settled down really quickly,” Georgia says. “We had some ice-breakers on the first night.”

“I realised that this summer school was a really good opportunity to meet the people who might be teaching me one day. It was my mum who found out about it, from the University’s website.”

The group have spent the morning in the University labs having a go at a number of practical experiments, including stretching plastic polymer sheets, shattering glass rods and making a battery out of lemons.

The table talk is all about the team project they will learn more about that afternoon. “It’ll probably be researching some Nobel prize winner’s work,” suggests Georgia. “No, it’ll be something practical,” says Giles knowingly.

The days are quite long – starting at 8.15am and finishing at 10pm – but there is free time each evening for the youngsters to socialise and meet the existing science students who are helping out. Everyone is looking forward to having a go at punting.

The Science@Cam summer school runs until 27 July and is organised by Dr. Rob Wallach and Lianne Sallows. Based in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, students also visit the departments of chemistry, physics and astronomy during their stay.