Science Students Awarded The Gold Standard

22 January 2010

A group of science students from Salford City College were recently presented with Gold Crest Awards by the British Science Association for the work they did in summer 2009, as part of the Nuffield Bursary Scheme.

The Nuffield Science Bursary scheme is a national scheme run by the Nuffield Foundation, which was originally set up to attract young people into science based careers. The scheme allows students to take part in science based projects, which take place in universities, industry or research institutions during their summer break.

Alison Westcott, from the Eccles Centre, applied for the bursary scheme and landed a 6-week placement at The University of Manchester, working with engineering researchers on science games for the classroom. Meanwhile, Hussein Sharif and Arinze Aneke, from the Eccles and Pendleton Centres, were placed with PZ Cussons in Swinton, where they carried out pharmacological research into different household products.

As part of their placements, the students submit a formal report and give presentations to a panel of judges from the British Science Association which resulted in the students from the college gaining the Gold Crest Award. This is testament to the hard work they put into their projects and the quality of their science knowledge and skills.

Hussein Sharif, ex-Harrop Fold student, commented on his time with PZ Cussons, “It was great to get some hands on experience in the work-place and to be able to use my own initiative on the project. I have already been accepted on a Pharmacology degree at University so this has given me a fantastic insight into the career I wish to follow.”