50 A-level students sponsored by the BRC have celebrated successfully completing summer lab placements at UCL at a special event in King’s Cross.
The event brought together students who took part in 2-week placements with scientists, mathematicians and engineers as part of the In2ScienceUK scheme, which gives gifted young people from disadvantaged backgrounds the chance to gain first-hand experience of working in a lab.
Scheme organisers congratulated students on the placements and gave out awards for a video competition held during the scheme where students filmed their experience.
The aim of the placements is to encourage students to study STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) at university, and to give coaching and mentorship on communication skills, interview techniques and completing UCAS forms and personal statements.
As many as 75% of students taking part in placements progress to university, compared to the national figure of just 23% of students receiving free school meals.
Khadija Ahmed, a student from Barking Abbey School attending the celebration event, said: “I did my placement at the Institute of Child Health. We carried out our research to see the effects of retinoic acid-induced tyrosine phosphatases on different neuroblastoma cells.
“I think the scheme is great because it allows state school students an insightful opportunity to see what the lab environment is like,” added Khadija.
Lynette Graver, who did a placement at the UCL Biochemical Engineered department, said: “Before the placement I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study in the future, but now I’d like to go on to study biomedical sciences. I am interested in particular in how vaccines are made, and during the placement I got to help on a project to make a new rotavirus vaccine.”
Tina Osadolor, Operations Managerat the BRC, spoke at the event to congratulate students on their achievements. She said: “It was wonderful to meet the students and see the enthusiasm they showed for getting into research careers. The In2Science scheme is a fantastic programme which gives students who might not have thought about getting into science the encouragement and motivation they need. The BRC is proud to fund for placements at UCL, and we will continue to provide this funding.”
The scheme, which started in 2011 and places students in London, Oxford and Cambridge, is due to expand from next year, giving more students from disadvantaged backgrounds across the country the chance to apply for a placement.
100% of students taking part in the scheme say they would recommend it to others. For details of future placements, visit http://in2scienceuk.org/.
