Nuffield Science Bursary student contributes to Department's research

Sixth Form student Andrew Scull has joined the Department of Computer Science for four weeks to contribute to our research work, via a Nuffiled Science Bursary.

The Nuffield Science Bursary Scheme is a national initiative which enables students in their first year of an advanced or higher-level STEM course to carry out a 4-6 week project during the summer holidays in an area of science or technology that interests them.

The scheme provides students with the opportunity to work alongside practising scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians with access to state of the art equipment allowing them to gain valuable insight into the way scientific research and technological development is carried out.  It is administered in Oxfordshire by Science Oxford.

After a successful application, Andrew Scull who is currently studying for his A Levels at The Cotswold School (a Gloucestershire state school) was awarded a four week placement here at the Department.  He is working with the group lead by Daniel Kroening, that is conducting research into automated techniques for formal software verification. 

Andrew said: “This is a great opportunity to learn about some of the areas of current computer science research directly from the people carrying it out. Not only have I been learning about the projects but I have been able to help with some of the testing of the tools being developed. This was a challenge, putting the computing skills I have learned to the test in a real life situation. I’m really looking forward to my next two weeks here and will definitely be applying to study computer science at university.”

Unlike work experience schemes, students carry out projects which are well defined from the start and have an outcome that is achievable within the time available and which will make a contribution to the work of the host organisation.