UCLan hosted Ogden Trust Lancashire Schools’ Physicist of the Year Awards
Some of the county’s most talented young scientists came together at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) to celebrate their abilities and achievements in physics at a special awards evening.
It was the seventh time UCLan has hosted the Lancashire Schools’ Physicist of the Year Awards which sponsored by the Ogden Trust, a charitable trust that aims to promote the teaching and learning of physics. Schools from around the region were invited to select their highest achieving Years 10 and 12 pupils to be recognised at the prestigious event.
Thirty Six pupils from 24 Lancashire schools attended the annual awards presentation. Recipients of the award are handed a book token and a certificate from the Ogden Trust but more importantly, were given access to a wide range of benefits including undergraduate scholarships and travel grants to undertake independent travel for voluntary work, studying abroad and taking part in research trips over the next few years.
UCLan lecturer Dr Joanne Pledger, from the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute for Mathematics, Physics & Astronomy, is an Ogden Science Officer alongside lecturing at the University and helps to organises the event.
She said: “It is fantastic to see hear about all the students’ amazing achievements and UCLan is proud to work with the Ogden Trust to recognise this and help open up new opportunities for the young people to explore and take advantage of.”
Barbara Grundy, a Consultant in university outreach for the Ogden Trust, commented: “The Ogden Trust recognises the talents and achievements of the young physicists of the year annually at the awards evening, where parents and teachers can join us in celebrating the students’ love of physics.
“As well as including this accolade in their UCAS applications, the young physicists can become members of the Ogden Trust Alumni Association and access a range of benefits. These include being able to apply for an undergraduate scholarship if they go to university to study physics or a physics related subject and can apply for Trustees’ Awards (Travel grants) whilst they at university.
“In addition they will be eligible to apply for an Ogden internship during their summer vacation, based in universities, schools and commercial organisations. The Ogden Trust offers a range of other experiences once these students become members of the ‘Ogden family’.”
The young scientists were nominated for a variety of reasons including producing outstanding coursework, a passion and enthusiasm for the subject and taking part in science-related extra-curricular activities.