Second year’s agenda

The first half of November has passed, and the third semester of my studies is almost over. This year’s arrival in Edinburgh was vastly different from last year’s – instead of an exciting mix of expectation and uncertainty, I had a good feeling of returning to familiar places. However, this year has certainly been anything but boring, so I will write about things which take up most of my free time this year.

The first one is taking part in research in Professor Eleanor Campbell’s group, the topic of which is developing methods to analyse nanomaterials. My motivation for doing this was to obtain experience of scientific work, so I could make informed decisions regarding my future studies. That has been a success – in the lab, I assist one of the PhD students, under whose supervision I have had the opportunity to familiarise myself with all the experimental procedures involved. My current task is the preparation of samples which are used for further work, but I am getting to know what the rest of the department is working on as well. I am also planning a small project, which would be ideal for spending a part of the summer vacation on.

The work is of course very beneficial for me in terms of knowledge and skills, although what truly surprised me was the way I got involved in it. I originally assumed there would be some sort of a programme or an advertised opportunity. After finding neither, I simply checked the School’s webpage, found a project I thought I would enjoy working on, and asked the professor in charge through e-mail. A positive response and an incredibly welcoming attitude showed me that a little initiative can sometimes go a long way.

Another activity of mine this year is engagement in SCI-FUN Roadshow – the University’s project, which seeks to spark passion for science and technology in high school students. In practise, this involves a lorry full of various exhibits, from countless animal bones to a bicycle-powered dynamo (often made from old junk donated by one of the faculties) and a couple of volunteers. Their job is to transform a high school gym into a science exhibition for an afternoon, show the pupils around and explain the background to them. That is no easy task – the attention of rowdy 12 year olds is surprisingly hard to get, but the reward is well worth it. Once curiosity is awakened in them and they start asking questions, the work becomes a truly motivating and meaningful one.

I must also mention the fact that, although I have completed almost three semesters, I have not yet made a final decision as to what my degree programme will be. Thanks to the Scottish university system, I have been able to enrol in elective subjects and as a result, I now have three degree options open ahead of me – Chemistry, Chemical Physics and Physics (I am currently deciding between the latter two). Although I am being painfully indecisive, I am grateful that I am able to study in Edinburgh. If I was in the Czech Republic or England, changing degrees would mean going back to the first year, which would be an incomparably larger dilemma.

The last thing I want to mention is The Kellner Family Foundation. Without their support, my concerns would be of an entirely different (and much less pleasant) nature. I thank them very much for that.
 

More blog articles

All news