I don’t come from a background in science – my Bachelor’s is in History and I’ve spent the past five years working in marketing – so I often get asked how I’m coping with doing a science degree like Public Health.
And the answer is: not too badly, so far. At least judging from my results for term 1, especially statistics and epidemiology.
Part of this is definitely down to pure elbow grease: extra hours rewatching lectures, consulting YouTube tutorials and making sure I got all the homework done. But thankfully, it’s also because postgrad education is more about the application of technical knowledge to the real world than whether you can memorise formulas. For our assessments, for example, formulaic calculations only accounted for a small percentage. Instead, we were mostly tested on how we would apply what we’d learned to given healthcare scenarios.
The truth is that in Public Health, the science is often only the beginning. Healthcare issues typically involve a huge variety of stakeholders whose interests aren’t always scientific. Finding solutions to these problems depends on people being able to go beyond the science.
Over the past few months, we’ve learned that knowing how to plan a social marketing campaign can be just as important as understanding a disease model. Engaging stakeholders over a cup of coffee can be what determines the success of a health promotion programme. Last week, a concept from operations management – the Moving Range – was introduced as a way to understand hospital quality.
So if like me, you’re wondering if you’re cut out for it without a science background, don’t worry. The fact is that public health (and perhaps other science disciplines) needs people from all over for it to work.
I’m glad I gave it a go and I’ve learned loads in the process.
I can’t believe we’re now already 5 weeks into term (6 if you count exam week)! So far I can say that I’m somewhat enjoying my degree (the lecture part at least, not so much for the exam/ assignment part) but there are times when I feel like I am so done with Geology and *flips table, throws papers/ notes everywhere*
When those times come, I know that I need a short break from all the rocks/ reports/ looking through polarising microscopes/ lectures and just take a breather. So what else can you do when you’re not going in and out of lectures? Well, there are a few options and here’s what I usually do in those times…
Visit the museums
I’m lucky that South Kensington is home to three museums in London: the Natural History Museum (NHM), Science Museum and Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum (they’re all very good museums). V&A is all about decorative art and design stuff while NHM and Science pretty much explain themselves. I’ve been to all three, although I can’t say that I went to all the exhibitions yet since the building is so big (and there’s too many exhibits to see \(>.<)/ )Good news is that since they’re so close by, I can visit anytime I want. I’m aiming to explore everything by the time I graduate (go me)
Oh, and the Science Museum organises these themed monthly lates on the last Wednesday of every month which are free to attend (some events require tickets though). They’re pretty cool but you need to be over 18 to attend. You get to see how everything is at night (sort of like Night at the Museum) and the lighting gives off a different vibe than how the museum usually is so you should try going to one.
2. Clubs
Who says you need to leave campus to have fun? You can still get involved in a lot of things on campus. I talked about the clubs I’m in in a previous post and there are still hundreds more to choose from if none of those strike your fancy (but seriously how hard to please are you? Kidding). So yeah, a lot of people I know join at least one club even if they never go to any of the meetings.
3. Sports/ exercise (aka take a walk in Hyde Park)
I don’t do sports (or even exercise yeah, I’m a couch potato cat) so I don’t know much about sports club and stuff (I do know that there are a lot of these though). But, I generally like taking walks. Unless it’s winter and/ or raining. In which case, you’ll probably find me baking something in the kitchen (see 6). Anyway, Hyde Park is quite a nice place to just go for a walk. It’s big and green and there are a lot of birds and squirrels (at least there was when I went there last year). From what I see, quite a number of sports clubs do their practice there too (so don’t visit on Wednesdays if you don’t feel like bumping into an Impy student and having to say hello).
Also, if you feel like playing sports but don’t want to commit by joining a club, you can take advantage of taster sessions thanks to Give It a Go) and try out different sports. I went to frisbee taster before and I ~sort of~ like it, but finally didn’t join because the membership was too expensive for me. There are also other things like taekwondo, karate and fencing but they tend to run out of places quickly and there aren’t as many as them anymore since we’re getting to the middle of our academic year.
4. Volunteering
Imperial offers you a lot of volunteering opportunities whether it’s a one-off no commitment volunteering or a longer affair. You can get involved through your department (I was a student helper during PalAss 2017 last December- and got a free t-shirt yay), clubs (I’m helping out for ICSF Picocon 35 this Saturday so pls come!) or Union/ Imperial Plus.
Imperial Plus lets you log in your volunteering time and you’ll be awarded a certificate when you reach a certain number of hours. You can even attend Imperial Plus skills workshops that helps you gain understanding on various qualities like Emotional Intelligence, Leadership, etc. They typically last around 1 to 2 hours and you get fidget toys to play with during the workshop. You have to sign up online to attend these though, and they get booked pretty quickly so be fast if you’re interested. I attended 3 workshops last term and they were quite interesting as you’d have to engage in a number of discussions with the other attendees there.
Whatever issue it is that you’re passionate about, I’m sure you’ll be able to find a community that are involved in it. For instance, SoupRun collects food from various shops and distribute them to the homeless. Pimlico Connection tutors (which I was a part of last term) provide tutoring to school (primary to secondary) children to help them achieve in STEM subjects (and are reimbursed for their travels). There’s even online volunteering opportunities like through Zooniverse.
Anyway, you get the point. There’s no excuse to not volunteer in Imperial. We take community service pretty seriously here 😀
5. Travelling
Travelling is popular among students here. Especially during Reading Week (technically you’re still expected to be here during RW but since there’s no lectures, some of my friends take this time to go travelling instead). Even your department don’t have RW, you can still go on a weekend trip somewhere and come back on Sunday evening/ Monday morning (perks of not having a 9am on Monday 😉 )
I went to Budapest about two or three weeks ago for a weekend trip (it was organised by Linstead and the tickets were subsidised so how could I resist?) and it was a good experience. I’d blog about it but then you’d be seeing not-so-good photos of the breathtaking sights so I’ll just refer you to Constança’s videos instead (day 1 and day 2).
Friendly reminders: Keep your tickets save and bring enough money! Also, you’re travelling by plane, make sure you get the luggage measurements right (for economy, if you’re having trouble with cabin luggage sizes and happen to have more than one bag, consider stuffing everything into the smaller bag and leaving the other in lockers, or post/ ship it back. The overall cost is usually cheaper than paying to check it in).
6. Baking
Well, this is what I do when I’m stressed or upset. I find it comforting that when I mix together flour, eggs, oil/ butter (softened/ melted), sugar (and a personal favourite is vanilla essence) in different proportions and orders and tadaaa… I’d end up with either some cake or cookies or pancakes. Plus, more dessert is always welcome. And sharing those is a good way to make people like you (unless they’re on a diet in which case they will probably hate you)
Oh by the way, I baked chocolate chip cookies today for Valentines (yayy)! My floormate, Sam baked brownies for Valentines (he’s a baking nerd too).
Anyway, if you need a recipe, or some science-y facts on the various types of flour (cake flour, bread, all-purpose, etc) or the difference between baking powder and baking soda or effects of using brown sugar and white sugar to make cookies or you want to hear about my Math IA project on the effectiveness using real egg white and egg white-substitutes in making meringue (complete with normal graph distribution and some statistical data), you know who to come to. Sometimes I wonder whether I should have became a patissier (or a food scientist) instead I mean, I even wrote a mini-paper centred on meringue… but then I did write one about minesweeper (yeah, the old default Windows game. I used to be obsessed with this thing) and two on geology/ environmental science, so geology won in the end (and I just revealed how weird I am… Shhh it’s a secret k) Don’t let those fool you, they’re definitely not as impressive as they might sound (they were all IAs for IB requirement after all)
7. Hobbies
Everyone has hobbies, right? Or at least something they tend/ like to do in their pastime. For me, it’s baking (see above), reading (plus maybe a bit of free-writing like this blogging gig) and anime. Well, I told you how much into anime I am before. And I told you about the story/ book me and my friend are working on. So, reading… I read anything really, although I have a preference for Fantasy/ Sci fi/ Young Adult books. Hit me up for book recommendations and feel free to suggest some too pls:3 (I’ve always wanted to say that!!! but am too much of a shy kitty cat… blame my social awkwardness/ anxiety)
I’m also trying to do artsy stuff (I dabble in painting but am just average at it). BTW, the Blyth Centre offers visual art classes and they even have open studio afternoons on Wednesdays. They’re free to attend for Imperial students and you can email Naomi for access. They also have practice rooms that you can book if you play any instrument (which I sadly don’t, as much as I would love to play the piano). They offer music lessons that cater to a wide range of levels from beginners to advanced too; but considering the fact that I don’t even recognise musical notes… I’ll pass on those, thank you very much.
So yeah, that’s it for now. Next time you’re feeling like banging your head against the wall or regretting your choice to come to Imperial, maybe go visit the NHM or Hyde Park or if it’s too cold or raining outside, come have a chat with me aka sitting together in comfortable silence (sorry, my mind tends to go blank in the presence of actual human company). Thanks listening (reading?) my ramblings… especially if you got through to the end (woohoo you deserve a cookie). Til next time. Bye!!!
P. S I’m curious… how many people even read these?
Going for a swim at the St Mary’s pool after a long day of classes has become something of a ritual for me now that I’m almost two thirds through my course. There’s nothing more therapeutic, and it’s also a bit surreal remembering that Alexander Fleming used to do laps here, as have generations of students since it first opened 80 years ago.
That’s why I don’t want to see it closing down this July. To save it, I’ll be swimming 22 miles – the width of the English Channel – at St Mary’s over the next 12 weeks as part of the Diabetes UK Swim22 Challenge. It’s a chance to show how big a splash our pool can make while raising funds for diabetes care at the same time.
If you can, I’d love for you to join me. The more of us, the more of an impact we make. Just click here to sign up or share our event to help us go the distance. See you in the water!
Hi everyone. So, my mentor had us do this time-management activity where we have to take note of what I get up to every 15/ 30 minutes and I thought it’ll be interesting to share the findings? results? with you guys. I actually did the original assignment last week over two days (Thursday and Friday), but I wanted to share my schedule on Monday instead as a message that, ‘Hey, Monday’s not too bad after all even if it’s the start of another week of lectures…’ and also because Friday’s baking day (because what better way to celebrate the end of schooldays other than a fresh-out-of-the-oven baked goods). Anyway, enjoy 😉
Thankfully, my Monday lecture for this term is in the afternoon so I don’t have to worry much if I overslept or something hehehe. Although that also means that I have a tendency to stay up late on Sunday nights doing random (sometimes work-related and sometimes not) things.
Around 7:30 to 8:00 am-ish Wakes up, shower (+ getting ready takes me 30 minutes; is that bad?), breakfast (the usual). Also cooks food for lunch and dinner so I can just microwave it later.
9:30 amChecks emails and social media, typically checking that any plans I made don’t clash with lectures and/ or other plans. Makes note of it so I don’t forget (because I usually do, sadly)
10:00 am Reads material for my 2:00 pm afternoon lecture. Usually this involves reviewing last week’s lecture (Panopto + lecture notes + practical sheets) and (sometimes) looking over this week’s lecture notes. I like searching for definitions of terms I don’t get beforehand…
1:05 pm Is bored. WhatsApp-ed random friends and family in Malaysia since it’s like 9:00 pm over there and everyone is off work/ school.
1:40 pm Heads out to lecture at RSM 1.51 (thankfully I live in Linstead so that’s only a 5 minute walk away). Before, this would be Paleontology 1 but starting this week, it’s Optical Mineralogy and Petrology instead. Takes notes, finds seat, sets up microscope (we use a petrological microscope which is different from the light microscope you’d use in biology since it uses polarised light- either plane polarised (PPL) or crossed polars (XP).)
2:00 pm Lecture starts. There’s a short break in the middle before we continue with the second part of the lecture. And another break before practicals. I usually just stay in the lecture theatre and maybe stretch/ chat around a bit.
Around 5:00 pm Lecture ends. I usually get hungry again at this point so I grab a quick snack and drink either on campus or back at halls. And proceeds to play with my phone for about half an hour or so.
6:00 pm Anime time. Anime club organises regular screenings on Mondays where we watch the first episode of three different series with the same theme and vote which one we want to watch the second episode of. They send out weekly newsletters with the theme and series they’ll be showing on Sundays so I can decide whether I want to attend or not. I usually go if I haven’t watched 2/3 of the series. If not, I’ll stay in and watch the current airing season instead (it’s almost like watching in real-time… BTW Gogoanime is a good site to watch subs online for free). I usually watch 3-4 episodes and one episode is around 25 minutes while shorts are max. 5 minutes so that’s about an hour and a half of anime. (Yes, I take my anime seriously. I even consider different things like plot, drawing/ art styles, graphic style/ quality, sometimes even op and ending songs when choosing what to watch. Although I’m not so picky about genre because it’s good to see how different references attract to a variety of audiences)
7:30 pm Dinner (+ some socializing with my floormates).
8:15 pm Free time. Usually involves me reading random fiction/ young adult/ fantasy books. Or free-writing (a friend and I are ~sort of~ writing a story together). Or sketching (although I’m terrible at it :’) ). Or looking up recipes to cook/ bake.Or watching random videos on YouTube (because hey, everyone does this). Or a combination of those, could be all of those. While listening to music.
10:00 pm Starts prepping for tomorrow’s lecture and/ or tutorial. Involves doing the same thing I did for my afternoon lecture.
12:30 am Gets into bed. From this point on, it’s a definite no to all electronic devices (because it’s never a good idea to play with your phone when you’re trying to sleep). Although I mostly can’t go to sleep immediately, so I tend to roll on my bed, reflecting on the day’s work and everything I could/ should have done better (or sudden inspirations on how to solve practical problems) until I eventually fall asleep.
So, that’s how I spend my Mondays. I usually don’t stay up later than 1:00 am on weekdays because I have 9:00 am lectures every single day except Mondays. Did I spend my time wisely? IDK ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It works for me at least. But everyone has their own way of doing things so there’s no ‘right’ way to do it. As long as you’re keeping up with things, I think you’re good to go.
Moral of the story, don’t worry too much about what others are doing and focus on your way of managing your time. Because we’re all different.
That’s all for now. Peace out See you next time (lol I sound like Dora the Explorer or something). Bye!!!
27th January was the date, Imperial College Union was the stage – for one of the biggest events of the year; the 2018 Imperial vs UCL eSports Varsity. I decided to pop along and see what was going down. Admittedly, I know little/nothing about eSports but luckily there were enough avid fans that explained the rules and procedures that I gained some understanding!
The varsity event was hosted by the Imperial eSports society (https://www.imperialcollegeunion.org/activities/a-to-z/esports), a relatively young society. However, their membership is growing, and so are the size and quality of their events – this was their second ever varsity event and it was an impressively professional set up.
Imperial vs UCL eSports Varsity 2018. Photo credits: Imperial eSports Society
I arrived fresh faced and clueless about both the event and the industry it was promoting. It got me thinking, what are eSports? Well, after some research and questioning I found out that eSports refers to competitive multiplayer video gaming, usually on PCs between professionals. Popular video games include real time strategy, first person shooter and multiplayer online battle arena games. The genre was supposedly first played at Stanford University in 1972 where students competed by playing the game Spacewar. Later, Atari held a large scale eSport competition in 1980 called the Space Invaders Competition. Since these humble beginnings, eSports competitions have become a global phenomenon, amassing both a huge global fan base and prize money.
Chatting with the Imperial eSports society Chair Roy Lee, I learnt that, in his opinion, eSports have gained massive popularity thanks to their ability to provide constant action and audience engagement. Game publishers have sat up and taken notice, promoting to their loyal fanbase and using broadcast media outlets like YouTube and Twitch (a video live-streaming platform) to promote both games and the wider phenomenon of eSports to the masses.
The event itself was very well attended, with all tickets sold out beforehand. Approximately 170 people bought tickets – an impressive number for such a small society! There was a huge range of things to try out; from an HTC Vive VR experience, driving simulator, sponsor stalls and of course both large and small arenas to watch the different eSport competitions happening throughout the day. The schedule was packed – running from 10am all the way to 7.30pm – including Overwatch, League of Legends, Starcraft 2, DOtA 2, FIFA and many others.
The event was well attended, complete with a hypeman MC and classic varsity crowd segregation. Photo credits: Imperial eSports Society
I rocked up right about the time the Overwatch competition was raging. I took my seat in the spectator area of the big arena; there was the typical segregation at a varsity event – UCL on the left and Imperial on the right. There were no mesh fences between us though – this isn’t football. In front of me sat a tiered set of computer screens and competitors, their gameplay instantly broadcast onto the big projector behind them for the spectators to enjoy. Within 30 seconds, there was a roar of approval from the Imperial spectators, something good had happened. As I looked at the screen, I realised I had no idea what was going on – where was I supposed to look!? Luckily, I started chatting to some of the other spectators and they helped me understand what was going on. Their enthusiasm was infectious, by the end of the round I found myself joining in with the crowd, still trying frantically to understand what had been achieved, until finally it was all over. Imperial won the Overwatch competition 3-1, leaving triumphant with trophy in hand. Next up: League of Legends.
The masterfully created trophies that were up for grabs… Photo credits: Imperial eSports Society
After perusing the other stalls and smaller competitions (Rocket League was one of my favourites) my time was up, I had to go back to the library to study, but there was a spring in my step. The amazing atmosphere and enthusiasm of the eSports varsity had left me buzzing.
Once all the other competitions had been played between Imperial and UCL, it was announced that the overall winner was Imperial, edging out UCL 4-3, taking the trophy for a second year running.
Next year, it will be UCL’s turn to host – game on. Will Imperial make it 3 years in a row, or will UCL triumph on home turf? Until then, I’m sure much intense training (and fun) will be had by the Imperial eSports society – be sure to check them out (https://www.imperialcollegeunion.org/activities/a-to-z/esports)!
…makes Jack a dull boy, or so they say.
What about exams though? Where do exams fit into that adage?
My first week this term was taken up with exams – my first for a few decades, so I was feeling a little rusty. However, I’m running far too far ahead of myself: before we get to the exams, who remembers revision?
I embarked upon my revision programme eagerly enough, drawing up a schedule for revising ten topics, spread over ten days or so, with slots for trial questions from past-papers, other periods dedicated to recap and summarising, and even timed mock-exams to complete entire past-papers under pseudo-exam conditions. Sounds OK? Sounds organised? Sounds great.
Oh what a chore!
I had completely forgotten what a pain revision really is – it was all about discipline and perseverance. Put simply: a slog. All work and no play for the first two weeks of January; no wonder I was a dull boy. Don’t worry though, it was all in a good cause, right? It was all worthwhile, yes? I mean the exams were a doddle after all that revision? Here’s another adage: “Exams are a just a measuring stick, the same as a ruler.” Stand up straight while I measure your height; take this exam while I measure your attainment. Exams certainly never worried me in the past; I generally enjoyed the challenge and looked forward to the outcome, whether that met my hopes and expectations or not. So why then did I feel under so much time-pressure this time around during the exams? In the absence of other data I might have concluded that indeed I am slowing down, the brain atrophying, knowledge and focus seeping away – maybe I should have stayed on the golf course last autumn rather than heading off to college? However, it seems I was not alone: many of my classmates also reported the same sensation of lack of time in the exams. So perhaps there is still hope for me after all.
Anyway the exams are over. I don’t think I have disgraced myself, even though there was one question in every paper which I made a mess of (at least a small mess) – time will tell. Or rather the grades will tell, when they’re published.
More importantly, now the exams are over (for now) I’ve had time to redress the balance and bring some excitement back into the life of dull boy Jack. Time to get back into a more normal student routine, seeking out the interesting and following up on what takes my fancy, rather than the confines of a rigid revision programme. That was good for a couple of weeks, a necessary constraint and a means to an end, but studying really is more interesting when those shackles are cast aside and the mind is free to wander where it will. And doing other stuff – bringing back some play into life is not only more fun, it also makes me more productive.
So that’s my next focus: to live a little, to live it up a little.
This is about how I managed my time during first term (I didn’t).
So this is where I confess I may have missed about half – or more- of my lectures last term. So where did it all go wrong? I’ll be fine, I thought- I’ll just catch up over Christmas.And so on top of procrastinating plenty all term (it’s in my nature, sadly)- I dived head first into the wealth of extracurricular Imperial has to offer. From drama rehearsals, to paediatrics play team, giving campus tours, and attending German Horizons classes- I was all over the place.
Now this was the same mentality that I had all throughout secondary school- I would save up all the content to learn on my own over the holidays. I mean, at GCSE and A-Level- it was manageable, but I can’t quite say the same for my current degree. It all seemed fine in my head until I made a checklist and counted that I had about 64 lectures to get through. As you can imagine, my winter break was spent sat on my laptop going through lectures at the library most days. Not quite pleasant but you gotta do what you gotta do.
Now comes the silver lining-I would like to introduce you to our friend here at Imperial, Panopto. Our lectures are recorded (for all courses, as far as I know) and uploaded onto a platform called Panopto. Now with this holy grail of a tool, comes a bit of danger- picture this: You’ve stayed up late working on that last minute assignment (or more likely- you came back at 4AM from a wild night out), you could either push yourself to get to that 9AM or you could stay in bed and panopto it later. So it’s not great for general lecture attendance rates; but in all fairness, there’s not much of a point showing up then sleeping through most of it!
I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful Panopto actually is- it’s incredibly helpful to be able to work at your own pace as you can pause, rewind and skip forward whenever you need to. (You can even alter the speed- wahey!)
So obviously, I knew I wasn’t going to survive 6 years of medical school the way I did first term. With this revelation came changes for the new year. I’ve begun attending (most) lectures- but the main thing I’ve come to realise is that it’s okay to miss lectures if you genuinely feel like you’re going to get there and be zoned out or falling asleep- as long as you actually get around to panopto-ing them ASAP.
If you related to this in anyway, know that you are not alone and I sincerely hope this blog made you feel better!
Sending love and best wishes (as I Panopto today’s 9AM)!
Alex (:
Hola peeps. I know it’s been forever since I last wrote something (yeah, I know, I totally failed my resolution) and sorry about that, but I’m currently in one of my lazy moods:3 (and if that’s not a good enough excuse; which by the way, it should be; I have been pretty ~sorta~ busy with exams, a deadline coming up next week, a weekend trip to Budapest and beginning my journey into exploring the vast field of Geology and Earth History). I’ll blog more about Geology later on, but for now I’m just gonna tell you about clubs and societies at Imperial.
Now, if you’re one of those (including me) who looks up the list of societies Imperial has to offer, you’ll notice that we have literally hundreds of clubs to choose from. And if you don’t find one that suits you, you can always start a new one. In fact I’m pretty sure that almost every year someone will come up with something new (I think this year it was the Oenology Soc or something).
Anyway, the basic advice everyone always give you on Freshers’ Week is to sign up to the mailing lists of all the clubs which interests you (usually there will be dozens so be prepared to have an overflowing inbox over the next few weeks), then go to every taster you can (to shortlist them into just a couple) and finally commit to just one club.
~At least that’s what everyone says. Me? Well, I’m greedy in a sense, and when I’m feeling keen, I really am keen. By that I mean I have a ~somewhat~ tendency to go overboard/ overenthusiastic in my first year; being that I WANT to join EVERYTHING. Not to mention, I’m not the most decisive person ever, so I have a really hard time choosing only one club (in my defense, I do like to keep busy so that I won’t get bored/ keeps my mind off things). So, I ended up joining… seven clubs?
To be honest, it’s not that bad… Like I said, I like being busy so this works for me but if you’re not like me, I’d suggest sticking to one or two. Most of meetings don’t clash and you’re free to not go if you don’t want to, so it’s not one of those high-commitment things. But hey, I get to do stuff I’m interested in and it helps with my social awkwardness so what’s there not to like? (yeah, I’m a shy kitty-cat… probably doesn’t seem like one from my blogs huh?) I’mma do some club promotion now, k? Here it goes:
Anime Society (ICAS)
You can probably guess what we do here, huh? But wait! We’re not just a bunch of otaku shut-ins who meet up twice a week to watch anime together (popular anime series according to genre theme on Mondays and movies on Fridays), we do socials and drawing classes on Wednesdays and we also have special event nights! (like Halloween night with a pumpkin carving competition and inter-uni karaoke)… If you buy membership, you’ll also get access to the Anime library with over 500 items (ie manga, anyone?) and discounts to MCM Comicons and other conventions if you’re into that stuff. Plus you get food on event nights, so that’s one less meal to worry about (snacks count as dinner too, right?)¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Membership: £ 4
Me questioning my life choicesUs and anime-themed Jack o lanterns
2. Astronomy Society (AstroSoc)
Did I ever tell you I used to want to be an astronomer? Even though that didn’t come true, that doesn’t mean I’m giving up on astronomy… Here at AstroSoc, we not only do star-gazing activities (with snacks, of course), we organise astronomical-related talks/ lectures as well as visits to observatories and museums. We went to Greenwich Royal Observatory November last year and even to Mill Hill Observatory which is managed by UCL about two weeks ago. Tickets for members are usually discounted but you can still come along if you’re a non-member. It’s true that London is probably not the most ideal place to do observations, but it’s kinda fun when there’s a lot of people to chat to while you’re waiting for the clouds to pass so you can catch a glimpse at Altair or something (I’m kidding… mostly?) Joint events are also popular, typically with one of my other clubs
Membership: £ 5
3. Baking Society (BakeSoc)
One of the resolutions I didn’t mess up. I actually did do a lot baking this month (sugar cookies and lemon pound cakes, anyone?) We don’t actually do much for this club to be honest but it’s fine since this club’s free… we’ve only had a few meetings last term but one’s coming up this Thursday. Typically, we bake something according to a theme and bring it to our potluck where we eat it together. A general rule is that it’s free if you bring something and £ 2.00 if you don’t… and you get to enjoy baked goods as much as you like (as long as it’s not finished). It’s a great opportunity to share/ compare recipes and stuff (debating whether chewy or crunchy cookies are better) while you’re munching on cake. Spontaneous baking is also encouraged so you can bring your failed experiments for us to eat too if you want If you’re still not convinced, we arrange cake-hunting outings to bakeries and occasional cooking classes too.
Membership: Free
Ice-cream Making (I wasn’t there but it seemed fun)
4. De La Beche (DLB) + Geophysics Society
These are actually two separate clubs. De La Beche is the Geology club and Geophysics, well it’s self-explanatory… I don’t actually count them as real clubs because for me they’re academic/ departmental clubs, but I thought I should mention them as well. Basically if you’re a geologist, you’re automatically a DLB member and if you’re a geophysicist, it goes the same with the Geophysics Society. If you’re a Geology and Geophysics kid like me though, they count you as a geologist so you’re in DLB. But if you’re undecided whether you want to venture more into geology or geophysics (like me), or you’re just somewhat of a busybody who wants to feel included (also like me), you can join both. They’re both free anyway *waves hand*, and the events are open to everyone (mostly people in ESE but we’re welcoming people so if you’re interested, do join in the fun… PS if anything happens, kindly refrain from mentioning my name:3 don’t worry, I’m kidding again~). DLB and Geophysics Soc both organise talks on a semi-regular basis with snacks and refreshments usually around lunchtime or after afternoon lectures so feel free to attend. They also arrange field trips to sites which are of geological interest typically in summer (and a few weekend trips as well) but tickets are limited and typically get sold out within minutes so do be quick! Oh, and being departmental clubs, they have a lot more other events like bowling, paintball, pub crawls, etc. Also a good chance to get to know the senior years and network if that’s your thing (I’m a bit too much of a scaredy-cat to do much of this, though)
Membership: Free
This is coming up tomorrow. ~Kindly sponsored by BP~This was a trip to Devon that I sadly missed tickets for :’)
5. Science Fiction and Fantasy Society (ICSF)
The reason I joined this club was because they have an amazing library full of sci-fi/ fantasy books which you can borrow books from if you’re a member. Since I like reading, and the price of membership would be cheaper than the overall amount I’d spend on books otherwise, I figured “why not?” The membership is a bit pricey but bear in mind that it includes regular lunchtime meetups, ~weekly viewings, occasional discounted cinema trips and rights to borrow books, DVDs and graphic novels from the ICSF West Basement library. There’s also special event nights for Halloween, Christmas, etc where we watch/ sing sing-a-longs and munch on festive (and not so festive) foods. We are also the proud organiser of Picocon, ICSF’s annual convention and biggest event. This year’s is on 17th February so grab your tickets here– panel discussion, fun convention games, a bucket of liquid nitrogen, and a massive hammer borrowed from a friendly fire engine; it’s going to be epic!
Membership: £ 8
Halloween event
6. Islamic Society (ISoc)
Me joining this club was a bit of a coincidence, I guess… I wasn’t planning to go but I just came back from somewhere that Saturday and decided I didn’t want to go back to my accom yet so I went to their taster session instead… and decided that I liked it. Everyone was so friendly and it was nice to have others who were in the same boat as I am. You know, being a hijabi Muslim in London and all, it’s good to have someone I can depend on when I’m looking for new halal restaurants or just wanted to talk headscarf fashion styles/ designs/ tips (because a girl will always be a girl, after all) Besides, we have these fortnightly social events called Shake Breaks where we listen to some advice, play games and yes, drink milkshakes! Not to forget, sisters’ circle where we ladies get to catch up and discuss issues/ problems (plus hot choc sometimes if you’re lucky). We also do charity/ volunteering events where we raise money for various causes like the homeless, refugees, and many more.While we’re on the topic, Discover Islam Week is coming up soon this 5th-16th February so follow us at @DIWIMPERIAL #DIW2018
Membership: £ 2
So yeah, that’s most (if not all) of the clubs/ societies that I joined. The moral of the story is, Imperial is an open community where you’re free, and are encouraged to, pursue whatever you’re interested in (as long as it doesn’t get in the way of your studies, of course). So those rumours about Imperial students being nerds who don’t have a life; well, we ARE nerds (and proud of it) but we still manage to have a ~pretty~sorta~ normal social life. Because your life is up to you to live it… and you decide the amount of stuff you can handle going around. But don’t worry, in case you’re struggling (hey, everyone does at some point… it’s totally normal), there’re always people here who can (and are happy to) lend you a helping hand; whether it be fellow students or staff. So yeah, go forth. And since I’m done being inspirational and promoting Imperial/ my clubs/ myself lol?, I’m gonna sign off now.
London, known to many as “The Big Smoke” has historically, and still today, been synonymous with air pollution, traffic jams and intense urban hustle and bustle. BUT, there is another side to the city – its “greener” side. London, despite the nicknames and assumptions, actually boasts 8 Royal Parks and countless smaller green spaces. So, if you need an escape from city life – the parks are a perfect saviour!
Hyde Park
Hyde Park Italian Gardens. Photo credit: Panos Asproulis from London, United Kingdom / Wikimedia.
In my opinion, probably one of the best known parks in London for multiple reasons. Found in the Paddington area, this park is HUGE – 142 hectares to be exact. Hyde Park is home to many events including an annual music concert and the popular winter attraction; Winter Wonderland. Speaker’s Corner is an especially famous spot in the park – filled with soapbox speakers talking (often at the top of their lungs) about a huge variety of things from religion all the way to free hugs – if you want controversial/unique views then this is the place for you. Hyde Park is wonderful in the summer; pull up a deckchair with a good book and an ice-cream, enjoying the sun and heat in central London – what could be better! Plus, if you fancy it, you can hire a pedalo on the water amongst the swans and other birds.
Kensington Gardens
Sunset over Kensington Palace – taken by yours truly
Adjacent to Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens is the definition of a Royal Park – home to Kensington Palace which has been/is home to some of the Royals. Imperial students are also well acquainted with the park, often walking through it to get to campus from Paddington. In the early morning, it is often filled with dogs and their owners frolicking around (the dogs that is, owners not so much) which certainly makes the bleary eyed walk to university a little better – bringing smiles to many. The colours of the trees in summer and autumn are truly stunning, as are the parakeets that fly around, often perching on individuals that hold their hands out. Interestingly though, no-one I’ve met knows where they came from, there are many different theories…
Holland Park
And breathe…Holland Park’s Kyoto Garden, where I go to escape when the city gets a bit too much!
HANDS DOWN MY FAVOURITE PARK IN LONDON. Found around High Street Kensington, this park is another favourite with dog owners (no surprise really – it’s a park in a city…) Home Opera in Holland Park in the summer, this park is full of little surprises. My personal favourite is the Kyoto Garden, complete with a small waterfall, pristine colourful trees and koi carp, this little slice of Japan is my favourite place to take time out when it all gets too much. Also, the park has peacocks! Beautiful, especially in summertime when the males are in full plumage often displaying at passers-by. Honestly, they act like celebrities in front of the paparazzi – unbelievable!
Regent’s Park
Regent’s Park bandstand. Photo credits: Wikimedia user Ed g2s
Found in the Camden area, this park is home to an open air theatre and ZSL London Zoo. I haven’t properly visited, but it is on my to do list! It is also home to Primrose Hill – a huge hill at one side of the park with legendary views of London – perfect for a romantic summer evening picnic 😉
Richmond Park
Richmond Park deer…before Fenton arrived. Photo credits: Wikimedia user Amertner
The largest of the Royal Parks (edging out Hyde Park for the top spot) at 955 hectares – HUGER. It is also home to a large amount of wildlife, therefore rightly designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, National Nature Reserve and Special Area of Conservation. Richmond Park is famous for its fallow deer (and a pug called Fenton, but that’s another story…) and many rare beetles. On another interesting note, for those who aren’t nature nerds – it is also home to the Royal School of Ballet.
So that’s a round up of the many green spaces in London, of course there are many more parks – all steeped in history and cultural significance, but since I’m not a historian I won’t discuss that here…
When I first found out I’d be based at the St Mary’s campus instead of the main Imperial College stamping ground of South Kensington, I was apprehensive.
“I’m going to miss out on college life.” was my first thought.
“Does this mean they only serve hospital food?” was the other.
After a term here, I can happily say that I have not had any cause for FOMO, nor had to eat from any hospital canteens. I am also a bit better qualified to give you an insider’s look at life at St Mary’s. If you’re going to be starting a term here soon, this is your jam.
About St Mary’s Campus & Hospital
St Mary’s Hospital was built in 1845 and, by London’s standards, is actually pretty young. These red bricks have seen a lot of history and it can feel like things haven’t changed in a hundred years. At least until you see the mobile MRI machine in the courtyard and start connecting to high speed WiFi.
The main entrance to St Mary’s campus (Daily Mail)
This is the place where Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, and that knowledge still gives me the chills. In fact, the great man’s original laboratory has been reconstructed and turned into a museum on campus. Less well known is the fact that this is also where heroin was invented, and that gives a slightly different kind of chill. Clearly, there is more to this place than meets the eye.
The Imperial College building at St Mary’s. Both penicillin and heroin were discovered here. (Images: 1, 2)
Get In
By Rail: St Mary’s campus is located right next to Paddington Station, which means getting here is super easy. Almost every Tube line goes through Paddington, as well as intercity trains from National Rail and Great Western Rail.
The Tube exit for the Circle and Hammersmith lines. St Mary’s campus is just a five minute walk from here and more than one Paddington bear will greet you along the way.
By Bus: No shortage of options but be warned, Praed Street is constantly busy so give yourself some buffer time if you’re taking the bus.
From GradPad Wood Lane, take 7
From east London, hop on 205
From Camden, the 27
From a spot of shopping on Oxford Street, take the 36
Sadly, there isn’t a shuttle bus to St Mary’s and that’s something we hope they’ll fix sooner rather than later.
By Bike: Bicycles are arguably the best form of transport in London. There’s loads of bike parking at St Mary’s and several Santander Bike stations located at Paddington as well.
Bike parking at St Mary’s. It’s usually more crowded than this but I’ve never had a problem finding some space.
If you’re looking for a sweet ride that won’t cost the earth, I highly recommend paying a visit to Recycling in Elephant & Castle. They rescue bikes from police auctions, fix them up and get you moving with a 30-day money back warranty.
My sweet single speed for £150 from Recycling
On Foot: The upside of not having a shuttle bus is that St Mary’s is only a 30 min walk away, and through Hyde Park at that. You’ll go right past the Albert Memorial and, if you’re lucky, catch a sunrise (or sunset) across the Serpentine. That said, do watch where you step as you walk. Horses are a common sight, and smell, along the route.
Hyde Park sunrise
Get Around
There are two entrances to St Mary’s campus, one for each wing. The main one is the one without the revolving door.
Here’s a whistle-stop tour of the places you’ll likely be visiting the most during your time here.
Go in through the main entrance and the main med school library is to your right. This is where you’ll find everything medicine and healthcare related. Lots of computers, study rooms and a second floor gallery full of large study desks. There’s also a little coffee machine hidden in the copy room where a hot cuppa is just £1.
G64, the MSc Room & the Committee Room
G64 on the left, Committee Room on the right
These are in the section directly facing the Library entrance. Turn left at the reception and they’re clustered around a water dispenser and some cosy couches that are sometimes used for small receptions.
Rothschild LT
This is where most of my lectures have been but getting here is like being a lab rat running a maze. Thankfully, past generations have put up laminated A4 signs for lost padawans. Just be prepared for some stair climbing. On the bright side, there’s your daily cardio quota sorted.
Gym
St Mary’s has its own, well equipped gym and after you get a look at the crowds in the South Ken one, you’ll see why this is awesome. There are treadmills, bikes, steppers and rowing machines, along with a couple of squat racks and one of those cable machines. There’s also a TRX hanging from the ceiling daring you to take it on.
Membership is just £45 for the whole year. The only problem is that it’s £45 no matter what point of the year you join, so plan accordingly. Note that membership here is separate from Ethos, the outfit that runs the rest of Sport Imperial. This wasn’t completely clear when I started school and some of my classmates ended up paying double.
Pool (closing down soon)
Possibly the smallest pool I’ve been in in my adult life but, again, it beats swimming at South Ken where 8 people in a lane is a common occurrence. Sadly the college has announced that the pool is closing down in July 2018 but a campaign is being set up to challenge the decision. I’ll be posting more details about this when I have them.
Okay that’s it for now. Next post: Tips on where to live and where to eat. Stay tuned.
yeah, I’m a couch potato cat) so I don’t know much about sports club and stuff (I do know that there are a lot of these though). But, I generally like taking walks. Unless it’s winter and/ or raining. In which case, you’ll probably find me baking something in the kitchen (see 6). Anyway, Hyde Park is quite a nice place to just go for a walk. It’s big and green and there are a lot of birds and squirrels (at least there was when I went there last year). From what I see, quite a number of sports clubs do their practice there too (so don’t visit on Wednesdays if you don’t feel like bumping into an Impy student and having to say hello).
)
I mean, I even wrote a mini-paper centred on meringue… but then I did write one about minesweeper (yeah, the old default Windows game. I used to be obsessed with this thing) and two on geology/ environmental science, so geology won in the end (and I just revealed how weird I am… Shhh it’s a secret k) Don’t let those fool you, they’re definitely not as impressive as they might sound (they were all IAs for IB requirement after all
See you next time (lol I sound like Dora the Explorer or something). Bye!!!
If you’re still not convinced, we arrange cake-hunting outings to bakeries and occasional cooking classes too.
