Quota Studentships
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sussex
Department Name: Sch of Mathematical & Physical Sciences
Abstract
Doctoral Training Partnerships: a range of postgraduate training is funded by the Research Councils. For information on current funding routes, see the common terminology at https://www.ukri.org/apply-for-funding/how-we-fund-studentships/. Training grants may be to one organisation or to a consortia of research organisations. This portal will show the lead organisation only.
Organisations
Publications
Pearson R
(2012)
CMB lensing and primordial squeezed non-gaussianity
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Frazer J
(2014)
Predictions in multifield models of inflation
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Falls K
(2013)
Asymptotic Safety and Black Holes
FALLS K
(2012)
BLACK HOLES AND ASYMPTOTICALLY SAFE GRAVITY
in International Journal of Modern Physics A
Anderson G
(2012)
Transport equations for the inflationary trispectrum
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Anderson G
(2014)
Optimal bispectrum constraints on single-field models of inflation
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
| Description | The Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Sussex runs an intense outreach programme, closely link to the research carried out within the Department. Our activities not only involve research talks, but also hands on activities that introduce the basics of our research to the public. During 2013/4, we worked with 16,000 people - 2,000 members of the general public, 5,000 school and college students at our stands at various science fairs across the South-East, and 9,000 school and college students in a classroom-type setting (including our travelling planetarium). Breakdown by number: Public = 1943 KS1 = 395 [key stage 1; 5-7 year olds] KS2 = 2306 [aged 7-11] KS3 = 4256 [11-14's] KS4 = 3932 [14-16, GCSE] KS5 = 3287 [16-18 A-level students] Total = 16,119 Total children = 14,000 |
| First Year Of Impact | 2009 |
| Sector | Education |
| Impact Types | Cultural |
| Description | Research-based Outreach |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | At the University of Sussex, we run a major outreach programme within the department of physics and astronomy, originally set up as part of the SEPnet initiative. The program involves members of the department at all levels, from taught undergraduate and postgraduate students, research students, post doctorial researchers and faculty. We have a wide range of practical activities available to take out to local schools, which are boxed up with a detailed lesson plan for department members to take to take out or use on site. The majority of our outreach activities are linked to our research. Our annual reach is to 5,000 students per year, working with approximately 800 primary school students, 3500 secondary student, and 700 A-level students, in addition to the 2,000 members of the general public that experience our events. We currently run 130 events per year, reaching school and college students at 60 different schools. We have both schools visiting the University of Sussex campus in Brighton, and we also go out to schools. Around half of our events involve communicating the research carried out at the University direct to schools, colleges and the public. 25% of our events involve describing our particle physics research, usually consisting of a research talk (about the Large Hadron Collider, SNO+, etc) which is reinforced by practical activities (such as building cloud chambers, or visiting our research labs). 20% of our events directly describe the astronomy research carried out at the University, usually as a research talk (about the Herschel Space Telescope, for instance) alongside practical activities, such as day-time or night-time astronomical observing. Every week during the school terms, we run a School's Lab day, where a group of students visit the University for as full day of experiments specifically designed for the GCSE, AS and A2 level syllabus. During those days, the students visit a research lab, and get the opportunity to talk with our research students about their work. In addition, visiting A-level students also have a research lecture, and get to here the latest research being done here at Sussex. Every year, we offer masterclasses in both astronomy and particle physics, with one day aimed at GCSE students, and another at A-level. These days involve research-level talks, visits to labs, as well as hands on experimental experience. We have developed links with local schools and colleges. Teachers frequently approach us to request research related outreach activities (talks, lab tours, practical activities), ask for advice or to borrow equipment for teaching. In 2013, we ran the Institute of Physics sponsored Physic Update weekend conference for teachers. Since we began our outreach program, undergraduate numbers has risen significantly within the department, from an intake of 40 students in 2009, up to the current (and sustained) 140 students per year. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014 |
| URL | http://www.sussex.ac.uk/physics/outreach |