This week, A-Level Physics students had the incredible opportunity to attend Science Live: A-Level Physics, a series of talks by leading scientists at the forefront of their fields. The event was hosted at The Great Hall, University of Birmingham.
Students heard from:
- Dr Emma Chapman (University of Nottingham), who discussed the James Webb Space Telescope and its discoveries in the early Universe. In recent weeks, the telescope has found evidence of dark matter stars, which could help explain the origin of supermassive black holes at the centre of most galaxies.
- Dr Hannah Sargeant (University of Leicester), who explored the challenges of powering space exploration – vital knowledge as humanity ventures further from Earth.
- Prof Frank Close (University of Oxford), who reflected on pioneering physicists and chemists such as Marie Curie, Niels Bohr, and Ernest Rutherford, whose work at the turn of the 20th century laid the foundations for modern nuclear physics.
- Prof Trevor Cox (University of Salford), who demonstrated how acoustic engineering can create unusual effects in concert halls, train stations, and even mausoleums, highlighting the fascinating intersection of physics and architecture.
- Prof Jim Al-Khalili (University of Surrey), who shared insights into quantum physics and the early physicists who developed ideas such as quantum entanglement. He explained how the next quantum revolution could transform our lives even more than artificial intelligence is currently doing.
Students also benefited from a session with an examiner, learning about common mistakes in exams and how to prepare effectively.
Reflections from our students highlight just how inspiring the day was:
“I absolutely loved the entire trip; getting to listen to experts from such a wide range of fields was truly inspiring. I’m excited to read Jim Al-Khalili’s Life on the Edge, about quantum biology, which unifies my favourite areas of science. Each talk was equally intriguing and helped me realise there is so much more to learn beyond our studies. It really sparked my interest even more!” – Renée, Y13
“The A-Level live science event was honestly one of the most interesting trips I’ve ever been on. The amount of new information in just half an hour per speaker was astounding. I now have a newfound passion for acoustic engineering after Prof Cox’s talk, and I’d love to explore this further as a potential career.” – Grace, Y12
“The trip was a fantastic experience. It gave insight into the many branches of physics and how each contributes to understanding the universe. Dr Chapman’s talk on using technology to look far into the past was fascinating.” – Rayhan, Y13
“What I enjoyed most was how complex physics was explained using simple, understandable metaphors, allowing a full grasp of the key concepts.” – Ed, Y12
“I found the astrophysics and quantum physics talks particularly interesting. There’s so much left to discover, leaving room for curiosity, thought, and new theories.” – Jack, Y12
The day left our students inspired, motivated, and excited about the endless possibilities in physics.
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