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A unique programme for local school pupils from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds to support their progress into STEM careers

Some of the students and supervisors at the celebration event

This year we are pleased to announce the further expansion of our partnership with in2scienceUK 

in2scienceUK is an award-winning charity that inspires and supports secondary-school pupils from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds by giving them opportunities to work alongside scientists, and to receive the advice and information they need to successfully progress to university and STEM careers. Since its foundation in 2010, in2scienceUK has worked in and around central London to empower hundreds of young people to realise their ambitions in education and working in the STEM sector.

The pupils enrol on a 2-week programme (non-residential) during which they are given:

  • Personalised mentoring from scientists
  • Opportunities to gain a wide variety of practical experiences as well as exposure to key concepts and challenges in research
  • Integrated workshops with in2scienceUK, where the pupils receive guidance on university applications, wider information about STEM careers, and training in transferable skills.

Oxford’s partnership with in2ScienceUK has been championed by Peter Magill, working closely with Rebecca McKelvey (Founder and Director of in2science UK) and the first few placements were hosted by the MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit (BNDU) in 2016.  Having shown how successful the scheme was, the scheme was expanded to include 30 placements in 2017.

This summer 48 young people benefited from placements in 11 university departments spanning 2 Divisions across the University. As always a significant number of the placements were in the area of Neuroscience including the MRC BNDU, the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Physiology Anatomy and Genetics, Experimental Psychology, Psychiatry and Pharmacology.

The scheme was a great success and the contribution of the organisers, students and mentors was celebrated at an event at Trinity College on September 19th. Our aspiration is to expand the scheme further next year.