Five students from the University of Ulster’s innovative Step-Up programme have secured highly prized Nuffield STEM Bursaries which will provide them with an opportunity to work closely with leading research scientists from the Centre for Molecular Biosciences during the summer.

Georgia McClintock (Lisneal College), Conor Irwin and Liam Roberts (St Brigid’s College) are carrying out investigations into the Alzheimer’s disease with the Neuroscience and Neurodegeneration Research group. Sara Butler (St Brigid’s College) and Daniel Ryan (St Joseph’s Boys School) have taken up placements with the FEI Centre for Advanced Imaging.

Commenting on her research placement, Georgia McClintock said “I was so excited when I was awarded the Bursary. I’m really enjoying the experience of working on the Alzheimer’s project and I am learning so much.”

Dr George McKerr, Director of the FEI Advanced Imaging Centre said that the group was delighted to be hosting the Step-Up students. “The Nuffield Bursary Scheme provides an excellent opportunity for students to gain some laboratory experience. Daniel and Sara have embraced their research projects fully and are working diligently to deepen their scientific knowledge and skill base. I would be delighted to be involved in this type of project in the future.”

The prospect of analysing tissues microscopically was initially daunting for Sara Butler. “When I was told I was going to be completing a project using microscopes, I imagined the light microscopes we use in school. However, on the first day of my placement, I was given a tour of the facilities at the centre and shown microscopes that filled entire rooms and cost more than £1 million. I was initially really nervous about using them but I have managed to capture all the images I need.”

Head of Access and Educational Partnerships, Dr Damian O’Kane said “This is a wonderful opportunity for Step-Up students to develop their research skills. Many of our pupils exhibit a keen interest and aptitude for laboratory based research and the Nuffield Bursaries provides an opportunity for them to be involved in pioneering work with leading research groups.”

The five Step-Up pupils will present their findings at the annual Nuffield STEM Bursary Celebration event hosted by Sentinus in September 2011 where they will receive Gold BA CREST Award.

Note:
Nuffield bursaries aim to provide pupils undertaking post-16 science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) courses with an opportunity to work alongside leading scientists and engineers.

Primary school pupils from across Northern Ireland were given the opportunity to impress Michelin Star chef, Professor Michael Deane, with their product development and cooking skills at the Product Development Suite, on the Coleraine campus of the University of Ulster.

Professor Deane chaired the expert panel of judges for the ‘Engaging Young Minds’ Product Development Challenge which was organised by the Department of Access and Educational Partnerships in collaboration with the school of Hospitality and Tourism. The aim of the event was to encourage primary school pupils to consider higher education and the ‘food industry’ as future career options.

The first stage of the competition involved pupils producing product specifications and recipes for an innovative lunch time snack based around the ‘Eat Well Plate’. A team of undergraduate BSc Consumer Studies volunteers visited the pupils in the classroom prior to the event to offer advice on product development. Almost two hundred entries were received and twenty teams were then invited to the University for the cook-off final.

After much deliberation first place was awarded to Bushvalley Primary School, Ballymoney, for their ‘Mexican Wave’ dish of spicy chicken tortilla wraps with caramelised banana pudding; and Saint Eithne’s Primary School, Londonderry, with their ‘Nutberry Delight’ cereal biscuits.

As part of their prize the pupils from Bushvalley PS and St Eithne’s PS secured a trip for all their classmates to Loughry College, to discover how a wide range of foods are produced on an industrial scale.

Dr. Damian O’Kane, Head of Access and Educational Partnerships said “the media would lead you to believe that young people are only interested in unhealthy fast food. The events here today show that with encouragement and support pupils can produce healthy food that they actually enjoy eating ”

The ‘Engaging Young Minds’ programme of is supported by the University of Ulster’s Access Agreement Fund and the Department for Employment and Learning.