Submitted by Penny Peck on Mon, 17/07/2023 - 17:36
From 10-14 July 2023, the MBU participated in the Aspiring Scientists Training Programmme.
Led by St Catharine’s College and the Gurdon Institute, we collaborated with Pembroke College, Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research and Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science in an expanded programme funded most generously by the Isaac Newton Trust Widening Participation and Induction Fund.
Eligible participants are students in state (non-fee paying) schools, ages 16+ who are currently pursuing A-level/IB/Higher level (or equivalent) qualifications in biology and maths who are interested in higher education or a career in science.
During the week, our visitors spent a significant amount of time in a laboratory each day, learning and practising research techniques, attended interactive workshops with experts, and researched a scientific topic or technique and created a presentation that they delivered to peers and researchers. They met and networked with PhD students and other scientists to talk to them about their jobs and to get advice about careers and educational opportunities. At the MBU, the ASTP students were hosted in the research groups of Judy Hirst, Michal Minczuk, Julien Prudent - thank you all for your participation and support.
In addition, the ASTP students were given the opportunity to explore the University of Cambridge, to ask questions and to get advice from staff and students at St Catharine's and Pembroke Colleges - where they were resident during their stay in Cambridge.
We were all extremely impressed with by our ASTP students and their achievements. We all enjoyed the visit immensely and we wish each of our students a hugely successful and happy future.