Nuffield Research Placements provide over 1,000 students each year with the opportunity to work alongside professional scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians. Students in the first year of a post-16 STEM course at state-maintained schools are eligible to apply.
We were pleased to have had four Northampton Academy students take part in the programme this year. Ria-May, Anne-Marie, IBK & Jacob all successfully applied and carried out research in their specific areas of interest. Projects take place in the summer holidays and have a broadly scientific or technical content, but they don't have to be based in a laboratory. They might be office-based or include fieldwork, or they might focus on engineering, data science or computer science. Placements take place across the UK and are administered by a network of Nuffield Coordinators.
Ria-May and Anne-Marie attended a presentation ceremony, designed to celebrate the achievements of all participating students. It provided the students with an opportunity to show off their research results and network with other STEM Research ambassadors from around the country.
Undertaking and completing projects such as the Nuffield Research Project really provides an opportunity for students to enhance their skills, to meet new people in their field of interest and see where their studies can take them.
You can read more about Ria-May's project on the effect of trees on climate change here >>>