Schools Liaison Activities at Imperial

Robert HillAdmissions Tutor

Dept of Materials

r.hill@imperial.ac.uk

Materials Department Royal School of Mines (RSM)

RSM - Older than Imperial!

Prince Albert Organised Great Exhibition of 1851Imperial built with the profits.

Henry BessemerFormer Head Of Department

Motivation

• Why do we want to promote materials?• We want to still be in existence in 5 years

time and even in another 100 years!• Improve and maintain student numbers.• Improve and maintain average points scores.• Most of the motivation came when our

student numbers dipped unexpectedly five years ago.

Starting NumbersStart of AS level

Schools Courses

Application Statistics

Application Statistics06/07

Average Points Scores

Promoting Materials Activities

• Courses to support Materials Option in AS level Physics.

• Taster Courses - WISE, CREST Head Start/Kick Start etc.

• Teachers Course RSC/IM3.

• Open Day.

Whose Involved?

• Myself.• Dr Stephen Skinner.

Whose Involved?

• Myself.• Dr Stephen Skinner.• Professor Robin

Grimes.• Fiona Thomson and

Emma Warriss.• Technicians and PG

students.• Choose PG students

carefully.

Laboratory sessions for A level Materials modulesDr Stephen Skinner, Admissions Tutor for the Department of Materials, has issued the following invitation to A level teachers:

Invitation to teachers of A-level Materials modules

We would like to invite you and your sixth form students to visit the Department of Materials here at Imperial College London. The aim is to provide you with support for Materials modules related to Physics, Chemistry or Design Technology A level courses.

Specifically, we offer the opportunity to carry out experimental work in small groups led by a member of the department. The experiments are described in laboratory scripts that will be provided to each student. The topics selected are those we feel would be difficult for you to provide yourselves but are directly related to the A level curricula available to us.

From Departmental Web Site

These topics include:

•Mechanical testing of a series of different metals

•Mechanical testing of steel as a function of temperature

•The resistance of a superconductor as a function of temperature

•Electron microscopy of fracture surfaces

•Glass transition temperature of polymers

•Shape memory effect in metals 

If other topics would be more appropriate to your needs we would be happy to discuss them with you.

The laboratory sessions will take place on a Wednesday afternoon in either the Autumn or Spring terms. Please let us know a suitable date to fit in with your teaching of this material. Although we do not provide lunch we will provide an afternoon drink. There is no charge for this service. Furthermore we recognize that travel costs can be prohibitive for some schools. Consequently we are attempting to secure some bursary funds to assist schools. Please ask for details at the time of application.

AS Level Physics• Take place typically on Weds starting

12.30 sometimes on other days in September.

• Short introductory 30 minute lecture on materials.

• Followed by two hands on 40 minute laboratory experiments.Tea break and one more 40 minute laboratory experiment.

• Choice of experiments vary, but are generally chosen because they are interesting and fun.

Laboratory Experiments• The Glass Transition

Temperature.• The Modulus of Rupture of

Glass.• Impact Testing.• SEM.• Tensile Testing of Polymers.• Superconducting Ceramics.• Shape Memory Alloy.• Barium Titanate.• Often adapted/shortened first

year laboratory experiments.

Who Comes?

• Typically 20-30 students (groups<6)

• Schools typically within 60 miles of London with large AS level Physics Classes.

• Most Schools come every year.

• Higher proportion of Public Schools.

• Virtually reached capacity!

Important Factors

• Good and enthusiastic lecturers.

• Good PG demonstrators.

• Interesting and fun experiments.

• Relevant to AS level course.

• Flexible approach.

Does It Improve Recruitment for Us?

• Yes - but only to a limited extent.• The numbers who apply to do Materials at IC

as a direct result of attending courses at IC are small.

• Many of the students choose other engineering subjects. Many don’t meet our admission requirements (A2 grades +subjects)

• Indirect benefits?

Admission Days

• December- March.

• Do it well!

• Talk on Courses, Careers, Taster Materials Lectures, Interview, Lunch with staff and existing UG students. Tour. Debriefing.

• Do it professionally and well.

Strengths at IC

• Strong International Identity - particular in Far East and former Colonies.

• Good reputation in Engineering.• Valued Degrees.• Often family connections. Sibling,

Father, Uncles etc often went to IC.• Good Dept• Space upgraded in recent years.

Weaknesses at IC

• Over reliance on students from Far East particularly China.

• Charge Top Up.• London - Expensive• High fees.• Home student population not strong

which emphasises our need to promote materials in the UK.

Costs

• Recruitment has been good, but taken up a lot of time and money.

• AS Level courses 20 afternoons/year.• Costs 5 Ph.D. Student demonstrators at

£10/Hr for 3Hrs £3000pa secretarial and technical support, academic staff + materials + SEM time.

• Well run and organised.• Does it justify the cost and significantly

improve recruitment?

Conclusions?

• The direct benefits of promoting materials to prospective students are small but still significant.

• Need to promote uptake of the Materials Option in AS Level Physics perhaps through a course for teachers?

• Need to promote Materials to Physics and Chemistry teachers in general.