Monthly Archives: March 2021

PhD Change Agents: make an impact

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A 6-week interdisciplinary, data driven design thinking programme bringing together PhD researchers to tackle challenges supporting Scotland’s economic recovery and growth post COVID 19. Challenge yourself to problem solve with others, learn from different perspectives, build your network and have real-world impact. 

PhD Change Agents is a brand-new pilot ideation lab for postgraduate researchers doing a PhD, building on the success of, and brought to you by the team behind Students as Change Agents (SACHA) in collaboration with partners from across the University and the Region. The programme is part of the Data-Driven Entrepreneurship Beacon Programme – supporting Scotland’s economic recovery and growth post COVID 19.

Using different online discussion and project collaboration tools, PhD researchers will work together to tackle challenges. The 6 week programme will take place from 9 May to 17/18 June 2021. You must complete an application by the 18 April.

More info and how to apply: https://www.hub.ed.ac.uk/students/events/Detail/760906

The challenges are:

1) How can local businesses be supported to lead the regional economic recovery in Edinburgh?

Partner: The Global Open Finance Centre of Excellence (GOFCoE) is uniquely pioneering a data-based services organisation to provide innovation capability, research opportunities and talent programmes to develop the benefits of Open Finance, and other data, about consumers, businesses and citizens.

2) How can we involve communities in inclusive growth post Covid-19?

Partner: Institute of Public Policy Research, Scotland (IPPR Scotland) is Scotland’s progressive think tank. We are dedicated to supporting and improving public policy, working tirelessly to achieve a progressive Scotland.

Students as Change Agents on Facebook

IOP Careers Panels: 1 – Climate change

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The Institute of Physics recent campaign LimitLess was aimed at encouraging young people to choose physics as degree.

However, the online careers panels feature 33 physicists sharing their expertise and experiences, talking about their roles and give great insight into different areas where physicists work. Q and A was great!

The first panel focussed on climate change. More panel videos to follow.

Hosted by Jonathan Lansley-Gordon, the Climate Change panel discussion featured Naaza Zimba, Allan Simpson, Dr Kristin Burmeister and Dr José Luis Ramírez Mendiola.

Credit: Institute of Physics

Featured job advert: Information analyst with Public Health Scotland

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Interesting opportunity to use the data skills developed through your physics & astronomy degrees and make a difference to public health.

Public Health Scotland is a new organisation between the Scottish Government and Local Government, working in partnership, to provide leadership to improve and protect the health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland.

Public Health Scotland launched 1st April 2020 with the formal status of a National Special Health Board employing around 1100 people, and with an annual budget of around £60 million, Public Health Scotland will provide authoritative information and services to support people and communities across Scotland. It will lead the national response to unforeseen health emergencies and will contribute to national and local government policy through its provision of robust data and intelligence.

They have an opportunity for you to join their team. As one of their Information Analysts you will:

  • Analyse and interpret complex data
  • Use a wide range of data sources and powerful analytics tools to provide insight that supports better decision making
  • Present complex data effectively through data visualisation techniques
  • Communicate insights in a customer focussed environment
  • Help core customers access and analyse our many data sets
  • Support academia to deliver state of the art research projects
  • Compile and present important statistics to a wide audience, including NHS Scotland, NHS Boards, Scottish Government, other partner organisations, and the general public

Closing date for completed applications is 19th April 2021

Find out more and apply here

Climate change – the IOP Environmental Physics Group

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Did you know the Institute of Physics (IOP) community has Special Interest groups representing discipline and the application of physics & astronomy across a wide range of sectors and contexts?

These groups play a huge part in influencing industry, government and global institutions.

For example:

The UN Global Climate Change Conference (COP26) will take place in Glasgow in November 2021 and the IOP wants to make its position on climate change clear and this will be published on its website as a precursor to more detailed comments and information to be provided later this year.

“IOP have asked the Environmental Physics Group Committee to review their draft statement, which you can download and read via the button below. The committee felt that the final paragraph of the statement needed more detailed and specific examples of how physicists have helped both to identify the existence and causes of climate change as well as providing mechanisms and motivation to address and reduce the human component of these causes. Given the huge wealth of expertise and knowledge within the group’s 1,650 members the committee invites suggestions from the membership to help IOP to create a very strong and clear statement about climate change.

So if you are interested in environmental physics or other other applications of physics:

  • join a special interest group
  • work with like-minded people
  • expand your network
  • make a difference

More on Special Interest Groups here

Grads in Games

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The Grads in Games Student Conference – https://gradsingames.com/grads-in-games-student-conference/

This free conference is open to anybody and will be an opportunity to hear from professionals from games studios such as Rockstar, Mediatonic, Epic and Cloud Imperium. Including in-depth discussion on:

  • what first roles are really like
  • how future game technology will influence the skills you need
  • glimpses behind the scenes on how leading games are made
  • and how to develop and improve your own ideas and approaches towards game development.

Registration is open now!

Astronomy Vacation scholarships

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The Royal Society of Edinburgh recently opened the call for applications for the RSE Cormack Undergraduate Vacation Scholarships, aimed at supporting undergraduate students studying astronomy who have a class record indicative of good research potential and who would like to further their skills and experience by undertaking a period of research at a Scottish Higher Education Institution over the summer holiday period.

Deadline Friday 16 April 2021. 

These Scholarships support undergraduates further develop their skills and experience – as demonstrated by a recent case study:

“The research skills and experience I have gained from the project will help me undertake my Master’s project next year, and when I do a PhD.”
– Hannah Sanderson, RSE Cormack Undergraduate Vacation Scholarships awardee 2020

Success for SoPA Universities Business Challenge team

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Well done to the SoPA team who achieved 2nd place in their semi-final, then 3rd place in the grand final of the IBM Universities Business Challenge on 12 March!

The SoPA team competed against over 100 student teams, mostly from business schools and universities across the UK, and consisted of the following students:

  • Yousra Ali (BSc Physics Yr3)
  • Euan Ferguson (MPhys Astrophysics Yr3)
  • Marsya Irdina Mohammad Karim (BSc Astrophysics Yr 3)
  • Euan Newlands (MPhys Astrophysics Yr4)
  • Joseph Sleiman (MPhys Computational Physics Yr4)

The IBM Universities Business Challenge offers undergraduates a unique opportunity to improve knowledge of the business world, put theory into practice and develop team-working, leadership, employability and entrepreneurial skills by participating in a team-based competitive challenge. It is designed around online business simulations as a competitive experiential learning challenge to develop employability skills required for the new virtual workplace.

I have recruited and supported teams from SoPA over the last few years and they have done really well, making it to the final and in the top 3 on several occasions. The teams are mentored by mentors from a range of organisations who are interested in in physics & astronomy students including Waterstons tech consultancy, DataLab and Standard Life Investments.

e-Placement Scotland

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e-Placement Scotland is a joint venture partnership between ScotlandIS and Edinburgh Napier University although opportunities are open to students as along as:

  • You are registered at a Scottish College or University (preferably in an IT-related subject – so physics & astronomy counts!)
  • You will be returning to University or College after your placement

Over the last 9 years they have created over 2500 paid, digital technologies focussed placements and are supported by industry, academia and backed by the Scottish Funding Council to create opportunities for you to kick start your career.

Their paid placements cover everything from data science to software development, mobile apps to telecoms…and everything in-between! 

All of their placement opportunities are paid at least the National Minimum wage and can be either full or part time, anywhere from 3 – 12 months and in various locations across Scotland and beyond.

e-Placement Scotland