Blog posts

Second Set of Stripes

Week 1-2

Pitch Side Banners

IMG_3891 spikes april 2014 1

In June 2014, London Tigers Sports Complex was opened – a £2.2m state of the art facility which offers training, sports, youth, intergenerational and community facilities. As the centre of all of London Tigers’ sporting activities, it is home to:

  • 2 tennis courts
  • 2 cricket pitches
  • 3 lane cricket nets
  • 11-a-side artificial grass football pitch
  • Athletics running track

The park sees over 600 people pass through the complex daily and during summer it sees up to 1000 people per day. One of the ways in which the organisation could make use of these facilities and generate an additional income, is by displaying banners on the pitch side which local businesses could advertise on.  The sports complex facilities are available for hire so this location is great for attracting not only pedestrians passing through to Southall Broadway, but visitors from across London.

Using my trusty aide Google, I compiled list of local businesses, franchises and banks to approach in relation to the pitch side banners. For each one, made a contact sheet with the relevant person’s details. I then wrote a specific proposal letter in relation to just the banners, which could be emailed as a follow-up to somebody after the initial phone call.

Annual Achievement Awards

This will be held in October 2015 and aims to recognise the achievements of the young people from the past year. For it to be able to take place, we need to secure both corporate and small businesses as sponsors. Whilst looking at local businesses for the pitch side banners, I made a separate list of potential sponsors for the Awards Dinner. This included local supermarkets.

I also put together a Sponsorship Package as a PDF that could be either emailed or printed so that businesses have the flexibility in how they choose to support us.

 

Week 1 at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability

If you’re reading this as a fellow engineer, I have a challenge for you. Strike up a debate with a doctor about which of your two professions is best, and I guarantee you that the doctor will rebut with the indisputable repost: ‘the human body is the ultimate engineering’. Try and counter that one!

This is exactly the realm I entered upon starting my first day at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability for my Charity Insights placement this summer. I received several slightly surprised looks as I introduced myself not as a medical student eager to delve into the world of neuroscience, but as a student of mechanical engineering with no inclination to becoming a doctor. A valid question arises; what am I doing in a hospital?

As the name implies, this is not your typical multi-purpose hospital. It was established over 160 years ago as a service ‘to give permanent relief to such persons as are hopelessly disqualified for the duties of life, by disease, accident or deformity’. Today its beautiful 18th century buildings remain and it cares for hundreds of patients suffering from a variety of severe neurological diseases. Its most important motive is ‘Finding Ability in Disability’, and that’s where I come in.

My task during the placement is to examine the current design and prescription of wheelchairs for hospital patients, and investigate new designs and processes that more effectively meet the patients’ needs.

My first day began with a tour of the hospital and its facilities by the Principal Medical Officer and the Associate Director of the Institute. They demonstrated how several currently used wheelchairs work and pointed out what they had gathered about their design flaws. Due to the unique requirements of many of the patients, some of the components of the standard wheelchairs had been replaced with parts custom designed and built at the hospital. Even these bespoke components needed improving in several ways. I was introduced to the biomedical engineering staff at the hospital and shown around the on-site workshop they use to manufacture parts.

A typical carer-propelled bespoke wheelchair including moulded foam seat and seat tilting mechanism
A typical carer-propelled bespoke wheelchair including moulded foam seat and seat tilting mechanism
A simpler wheelchair design with standard seat and manual self-propulsion using large wheels with grips
A simpler wheelchair design with standard seat and manual self-propulsion using large wheels with grips

Much of the remainder of the week involved getting up to speed with the latest developments in wheelchair design and outlining the improvements that can be made to existing designs as well as exploring fresh ideas. I look forward to seeing what path the research takes!

Roaring to go at London Tigers

1/4 done…nearly! I am currently in the process of designing and putting together  a sponsorship brochure to send out to corporate firms. This then can be used to obtain sponsors for the Annual Achievement Awards as well as for pitch side banners.

So, what is London Tigers?

UK Asian Community Cup 2014
UK Asian Community Cup 2014. Annual festival organised by LT in partnership with professional football clubs to promote Asian talent and tackle racism in sport.

LT is an award-winning charity based in London that targets young people aged 9-25 from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities who are socially or economically disadvantaged. They engage with young people through sporting activities, youth clubs and offer employment and training to young people. They are also involved in international development programmes having opened two cricket centres, a football Academy and fund a school in Bangladesh.

London Tigers in Bangladesh
London Tigers on tour in Bangladesh

I decided to carry out my four-week internship with the Tigers because it’s a community based charity and there’s nothing better than seeing your work having a monumental impact on people around you first-hand. I do have a soft-spot for the organisation for a number of reasons – one being the excuse to come back to the area of West London I grew up in! Any excuse to reminisce, I know.

Anyway…

It’s nothing new when we hear about the negative press of young people for whatever reason, so it’s immensely rewarding working for a charity that keeps young people busy and engaged. As with any charity, they need funds to carry out their aims so I hope by working with the Business Development Director, we are able to secure sponsorships and increase awareness and support for the big cats!

 

20 students taking part in Charity Insights 2015!

After a competitive application and interview process, we’re delighted to announced that 20 Charity Insights bursaries are being awarded to students this year! With a very high standard of entries, successful students will be heading out to complete a 4-week project with their chosen charity over the summer vacation. Yesterday saw a number of the students going out on Charity Insights attend a preparation workshop to meet fellow participants and to learn more about making the most of the experience (plus just a little bit of admin).

This year’s participants are:

  • Albert Miquel (Computing, 1st Year) – Lambeth Elfrida Rathbone Society
  • Alhasan Al-Habib (Life Sciences, 2nd)  – Kensington and Chelsea Foundation
  • Anna Lawson (Chem Eng, 1st) – The Long Well Walk
  • Benedict Conway-Jones (Earth Sciences, 1st) – Collegiate Academy Trust
  • Chris Worsfold (Physics, 2nd) – Sense About Science
  • Daniel Gordon (Medicine, 3rd) – Samaritans
  • Farzana Islam (Biology, 1st) – London Tigers
  • Hossein Rezaei (Civil Eng, PhD) – Birmingham Friends of the Earth
  • Jodie Denmark (Chemistry, 2nd) – Rosa
  • Jonathan Dong  (Chem Eng, 2nd) – Wild Hearts
  • Mollie Gupta (Life Sciences, 2nd) – Bedfont Lakes Country Park
  • Nathan Cheetham (Physics, PhD) – Carbon Disclosure Project
  • Philip Sayer (Mech Eng, 2nd) – Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability
  • Ryan Sandhu (Civil Eng, 2nd) – FitzRoy
  • Sandra Okala (Medicine, PhD) – Public Health England
  • Scott Tyler Hobbs (Chemistry, 2nd) – YMCA LSW
  • Stephanie Mellor (Physics, 2nd) – Schistosomiasis Control Initiative (SCI)
  • Vaibhav Krishnakumar (Computing, 1st) – Asha for Education
  • Visakan Balakumar (Physics, 3rd) – Centre for Community Development / Tamil Women Development Forum
  • Xenia Karlsson (Life Science, 2nd) – Pro-Cancer Research Fund

Finally, I’d just like to issue a well done and good luck to all our participants!

Barnaby
Placement & Internship Adviser

Attendees at this year's preparation workshop for Charity Insights.
Attendees at this year’s preparation workshop for Charity Insights.

Week 1&2 at the Collegiate Academy Trust

I came into the CAT (Collegiate Academy Trust) wanting to inspire young minds and show them that there is a world behind the geography and geology they study, and I have left everyday with the same urge. My time at the CAT, based at their flagship school, is to be spent creating resources and developing connections with the geological community; as well as getting a feel for teaching on a day to day basis.

I spent my first few days being introduced to the latest resource creating software and settling into life in a school. Once I got over the novelty of seeing a school (and teachers) from the other side, its a place I felt right at home. With everything set up, I began work on creating resources for GCSE and A-level students. A week later and my first couple are finished; polished revision tools and tests which I am (and my department are) proud of. Many skills are being called into play, from graphics and coding to simply remembering my GCSE geography – I feel like its a fantastic consolidator for what I’ve learnt over the past few years.

resource

My plan for a rock loaning scheme has just begun. I soon found that GCSE and A-level students have barely enough time to cover the specification, never mind diverting to look at rocks. However, I am currently in talks with teachers of lower years (7&8), and hopefully from here the scheme will begin to take shape.

I have spent some time immersing myself in the school. I have been put in charge of the rock collection, which is in desperate need of sorting, with which I will also produce and provide resources. I have been assigned a group of gifted and talented students with the task of ‘stretching their minds’ next week – a chance to trial run my resources, as well as getting my first taste of solo teaching. Had a fantastic experience so far – roll on the next few weeks.

 

Statistical Internship Opportunity at SCI

131122_imp_scholars_danr_042Based at Imperial on St Mary’s Campus, the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative (SCI) works to improve the health and development of the world’s poorest populations. SCI is offering an internship for Imperial students, which is eligible for the Charity Insights bursary from the Careers Service.

Working with biostatisticians, the internship will involve data analysis using R, providing an excellent opportunity to develop programming skills. Depending of the statistical and programming experience of the post holder, the role can be further extended to test impact analysis recommendations and determine how these can best be applied in ‘real world’ settings using linear mixed models and sample size calculations or simulations.

For the full job description, and for details on how to apply visit JobsLive. To be considered for the bursary you will need to submit a Charity Insights application form and go through the application process for this – see the website for details.

If you have any questions in regard to this opportunity please email  michelle.clements@imperial.ac.uk or myself and Barnaby via internship.unit@imperial.ac.uk.

Best wishes,

Helen

Placement & Internship Adviser, Careers Service

Charity Insights Drop-Ins over Spring vacation

Your Placement & Internship Advisers, Helen and Barnaby, are running 20 minute Charity Insights Drop-In appointments Monday – Friday over the spring vacation. On the day, book a slot via JobsLive if you have any questions regarding Charity Insights or want some help with your application. We’ve already been helping students with their CVs, speculative cover letters and getting ideas of what type of project may be successful at application stage. These appointments are available Monday – Friday from 2 – 3pm in the weeks of the 13th and 20th of April 2015. We look forward to answering your questions and seeing your final applications!

Best wishes,

Helen & Barnaby

Launch of Charity Insights 2015

With the spring term in full swing, the Careers Service is very pleased to announce the opening of applications for Charity Insights 2015. This is an opportunity for returning UG and PhD Imperials students to be awarded a bursary to complete a 4 week long internship with a UK registered charity.charity insights - quotes

Last summer placements ranged across the charity & not for profit sector, including organisations such as Shelter, Barnado’s and RSPB’s Wild About Hampstead Heath. To mention a few, projects involved investigating the feasibility of renewable energy installations; analysis and research into coffee production; through to creating and launching social media campaigns.

We are opening applications for summer 2015 from Monday 9 February and the deadline is 12 noon on Friday 15 May.  We’re looking forward to reviewing details of new and exciting projects and making Charity Insights 2015 another successful scheme. Check out our eligibility criteria and more information on how to apply on the website.

Any questions, get in touch with your Placement & Internship Advisers on internship.unit@imperial.ac.uk or book an ‘Internship Consultation’ via JobsLive.

Best wishes,

Helen

Sense About Science – thoughts after 4 weeks

Here I am at the end of my 4th week at Sense About Science.

Last day: time for a group photo
Last day: time for a group photo. Left to right: me, Victoria, Max, Chris, Ian, Julia and Emily.

What can I add to what I have already said? This internship has been an incredibly positive experience, both from a personal and a professional point of view. I cannot say I am sorry it’s over because I don’t think of it as something that’s over for me. I have been rethinking much of my research work in light of what they do here. I believe it helped me deciding what I want to do next, where I want my science to bring me.

We all love evidence-based claims, don't we?
We all love evidence-based claims, don’t we?

So, here are my 2cents for any postgraduate student wondering whether the Charity Insights project is worth trying or not.

I know we all are very busy with our research, we focus on that. Have you ever stayed longer in the lab just to start a last batch of analyses to run overnight, so that you could get the results in the morning and “spare” some time? Pressing the “pause” botton on your thesis sounds like a foolish thing to do. We are always running out of time, we always need more results, we are always under pressure from our supervisors and (in my case, at least) from ourselves to finish on time since, to put it bluntly, scholarships tend to end and we need to live on something. I know my industrial supervisors were quite skeptical about me leaving for 4 weeks, for example.

My advice is to think about it as part of what makes you a good researcher. The literature reviews, the planning, the reactions, the analyses, the graphs, the presentations, the reports are all important but I don’t think they are the whole picture. Sometimes a step back puts things in a new perspective and can give us new energies. As a general rule I believe doing something different from our project is a good way to remind us how big the world is out there, and how many interesting things we can do as scientists, both in and out university. Then you can go back to your experiments knowing they are not just a solitary exercise of navel contemplation, but something really meaningful.

After last Friday afternoon, I closed the door behind me with a lot of thoughts in my head and a big smile on my face.

And a lovely goodbye card too.

All the best!
All the best!

Sense about Science – second half

At the end of the third week of this pleasantly sunny and warm September, while helping with packing some books for an upcoming event, I found myself mentally going through my to-do list, thinking what I have done and what still needs to be finished.

At the end of October Sense about Science will be awarding the Maddox prize I already mentioned, a recognition to people who are committed to clear communication of science despite adversity. The nominations for this prize were 55 this year and needed to be read through, their information checked and summarized. I had gone through the candidatures carefully, looked for the material on line, put together a summary of each profile, trying to be at the same time accurate and complete, but synthetic. Now that all the candidates have been scrutinized I am really looking forward to the future steps and what the judging panel will decide.

There have been plenty of other things going on in the office, including a revision on my Statistics presentation, and on an analogue past publication about Uncertainty, which needed a fresh eye to spot small slips and typos. And then organizing a workshop on Science Communication at the beginning of October, aimed at young scientists and researchers. I was putting together some reading material for the participants, it is going to be an exciting opportunity to have a look into science as it is reported in the media and what the contribution of researchers to the scientific debate can be.

This coming last week is going to be a collection of mixed feelings: fulfilment, satisfaction for the work done, curiosity for where it will lead in the future and of course a pinch of melancholy at the idea that I am (not so) slowly seeing the end of this experience.