Team:Exeter/Outreach

Our ever helpful, extremely patient Sixth Form students

We have been lucky enough to be assisted by three sixth form students over this summer. Hector, Beccy and Gina spent a few weeks with us, learning about the University and the workings of a research lab. Beccy and Gina were given placements with the University of Exeter through the prestigious [http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/nuffield-research-placements Nuffield Foundation], whereas Hector managed to organise working with us through his [http://www.exeterschool.org.uk/ college].

We showed them how our project is expected to work, the history behind the concept and we worked together in the lab to learn new techniques and use a variety of technology and equipment. All three managed to get some good hours in the lab, learning how to make agar plates, gels, set up digestions and ligations and comforting the rest of us when things didn't really go to plan. We were incredibly impressed with how hard they worked, the speed at which they picked up new techniques and ideas, and their excellent questions about the project and University life in general.