Curriculum Programme

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Celebrating bursary projects in Edinburgh
Fri, 27 August 2004

Nuffield Curriculum Centre

Projects on display at the Scottish Bursary Celebration 2004There were over sixty bursary projects in Scotland and most of them were on display. The students and project providers were welcomed by Professor Boulton who is vice principal of Edinburgh University.

Students carried out their projects in a wide range of institutions including the Environmental Research Institute in Thurso, the Department of Surgery at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, the RSPB in Shetland, the Scottish Crop Research Institute in Dundee, the University of Strathclyde Department of Physics, the University of Stirling Institute of Aquaculture, the University of Edinburgh School of Engineering & Electronics and the University of Aberdeen Department of Applied Computing.

Students devised ways to make helical nanotubes, monitored the incursion of grey squirrels into a red squirrel stronghold, analysed water samples round the Western Isles, commisioned a measurement device for monitoring doses during radiotherapy, studied the benefits of laser technology during manufacturing and observed the behaviour of Bactrian camels.

Students taking up the challenge at the Edinburgh Bursary eventAfter the lunch the students faced up to an 'egg race' challenge. Then they heard from Linden Webster how her project to study violins in 2003 led first to the BA Science Fair at the Royal Society, thence to the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair in Oregon, USA and finally to a well-paid internship this Summer.

Andrew Hunt was present to hand out the certificates; to congratulate the students on their projects; and to thank all the project providers. There were special presentations to Dr Eric Caulton of the Scottish Centre for Pollen Studies at Napier University and to Professor John Kusel at the Glasgow University Institute of Biomedical Sciences. Both have given generous support to the bursary scheme as project providers for several years.