Celebrating the best of Bucks

Can you imagine what your future may hold? That was the daunting question posed to the 49 secondary school students who we welcomed to our Buckinghamshire Young Scientists of the Year celebration evening in November.

Held at the prestigious Bucks New University, the students were shown a potential vision of that future. Their minds were taken on a sweeping journey from the infinite reaches of the Universe, down the rabbit hole of the potential advancements in artificial intelligence and finally to the opportunity to make a true difference in the next generation of energy and battery storage.

Leading the students on this journey were speakers (and Science Oxford partners) from the Bucks New University, the Institute of Physics and The Faraday Institution, all of whom shared their memorable journey into their chosen career.

The most dramatic talk of the evening was a staggering glimpse at the future of computing technology by Richard Jones and Richard Bacon, who showcased the process of augmented reality through the dramatic use of a VR headset. With no slowdown in the rate of information being produced, transferred or redistributed globally via the internet, our student guests were made very aware of what the future they are striding into would look like, but also the incredible opportunity they could make an impact on that future.

No celebration is complete without the gentle fizz of prosecco and delicious canapés, and as the students stood to receive their awards they were greeted with riotous applause for such attributes as dedication, enthusiasm and a willingness to help and support others around them.

Andrew Kensley, Head of Education Outreach said: “It was a fantastic evening, and a wonderful opportunity for Science Oxford to work with some excellent partners to really capture the minds of already outstanding students, and help give them a glimpse into their potential futures”.