Students Visit Queen Mary University of London
Posted on: 13/11/2023I know that Queen Mary is probably the university that is closest to our school but I had no idea just how easy it is to get to - only 20 minutes on the tube from Hornchurch and a short walk to the Mile End campus (Medicine and Dentistry), or about 35 minutes from Rainham with a change at West Ham.
We arrived between 10:30 and 11:00 at the Queen’s building, a beautiful Victorian building (1887). Despite a little rain we were excited to find out what the day would bring. Students were divided into Biology, Chemistry and Physics groups depending on their current career pathway and taken to their venues by very helpful QM students.
I followed the Chemistry group and our first session was in a biomedical lab where students were able to hook themselves up to equipment that produced their electrocardiograms. At first, evidence suggested that a few of our students were not actually alive … but after adjusting the wires we discovered that most were able to produce a reasonable pqrst wave (see right).
Session 2 allowed students to experience a typical University lecture where a Doctor of Chemistry demonstrated liquid Nitrogen (-195oC), its affect on balloons and what would happen if to put your hand in it for too long (when your skin peels off it is called ‘degloving’!). We also looked at dry ice seeing how it could be used in spooky theatre productions.
Finally the last part of the day was Q&A session which proved very useful because it involved two current students and a member of staff who led the discussion. Topics discussed were the structure of courses on offer, accommodation, societies and social clubs and the cost of attending University.
Overall students had a great day that proved informative as well as enjoyable… they were promised that the university looks better when it is not raining!
Mr Holland
Chemistry teacher and Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science Guild (MDV)
Students experience a typical University lecture.
Some students hooked themselves up to equipment to produce their electrocardiograms.
They learned about the structure of courses on offer, accommodation, societies and social clubs and the cost of attending University.