Science bursary students work with 3D modelling and robots

Two students from Rushden Community College and Bishops Stopford Sixth Form, Kettering, are undertaking four week placements with The University of Northampton's School of Science and Technology.

The placements are through the Nuffield Science Bursaries scheme.

Ben Durrant (Rushden) and Hayley Stevenson (Bishops Stopford) were awarded the bursaries from The Nuffield Foundation, a national organisation which provides independent funding for research and development in education, law, science and social policy.

Ben, aged 17, has been working on 3D modelling and creative design with the NVision team; NVision is a state-of-the-art facility with specialist services to help companies develop and promote their products using the latest 3D modelling and visualisation capabilities, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The placement is perfect for what I want to do - I'd like to study computer games design at university - and it gives a real insight into what could happen at university.

Ben Durrant

Hayley, also aged 17, has been working with Dr Scott Turner, Senior Lecturer in Computing, and Dr Margaret Bates, Manager of the Centre for Sustainable Wastes Management, on the award-winning Junkbots programme. Junkbots is a challenge for schoolchildren to use waste materials to create, and then programme, simple robots, and the scheme has reached out to hundreds of children across Northamptonshire. Hayley has been designing specific programmes for the Junkbots and commented:

I've been putting together step-by-step instructions for using the Junkbots. I've created a 'Picassobot' which makes different patterns by adjusting the angles of its legs. I like being creative and designing things, this will look good on my CV and I applied as the placement sounded entertaining and fun.

Hayley Stevenson

Dr Scott Turner added:

Both Ben and Hayley are working really hard and making a great contribution to the projects we have set them. We are pleased to support the Nuffield Bursaries Scheme each year and the young talent of the future in science and technology.

Dr Scott Turner

Nuffield Science Bursaries offer up to 1,000 funded places a year, so that students across the UK can get a practical insight into the world of scientific research and development. The regional co-ordinator for these bursaries is Sally Hollier, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and Enterprise Co-ordinator for Leicestershire Education Business Company.

...Nine bursary placements are taking place in Northamptonshire overall, with other students placed at Northampton General Hospital in Pathology and Pharmacy and at SATRA.

A celebratory event will be held after the placements finish at the British Geological Survey in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, to recognise the achievements of the 51 bursary students across the region when students, schools and parents will come together to showcase their work in an exhibition.

Sally Hollier