Science outreach centre for North West of England launched

Professor Pete Nellist of Oxford University's Department of Materials gave the first talk in a science lecture series for students from the North West at South Cheshire College in Crewe.

The North West Centre for Science is a new outreach scheme run as a partnership between Corpus Christi College and Pembroke College and South Cheshire College. The Centre will bring Year 12 students across Cheshire and Greater Manchester into contact with university academics, industries and science institutions for a cross-disciplinary programme including lectures, visits to laboratories and the chance to attend a summer school at Corpus Christi College.

Professor Pete Nellist, Tutor for Materials Science at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, said: 'I am very excited about the opportunity to use university-based research activities as a resource that the Centre can use to enthuse and inform a new generation of scientists and to support them in their progression to higher education.'

Helen Hampson, Raising Aspirations Coordinator at South Cheshire College, said:  'The centre aims to raise the profile of the Sciences in the North West and the opportunities to study specialist courses at degree level that may not be typically considered by students. Students will benefit greatly from meeting researchers, be inspired to develop a strong passion and interest in scientific research and some students will hopefully go on to become specialists and researchers in the future.'

The lecture series will include talks from academics at Oxford University and other leading universities on diverse subjects such as 'brain imaging' and 'driverless cars', giving students an insight into the possibilities of studying science at a leading research university.  Students from Crewe and the surrounding area will have the opportunity to visit regional laboratories such as SuperSTEM at Daresbury Laboratories and to attend a competitive summer school at Corpus Christi College.

The scheme aims to reach as many students as possible. Each lecture can host 200 students, 60 will visit research centres and up to 25 students will attend the summer school in Oxford.