Learning about what Research is and how Researchers do it

This case study was written by Cosette Crisan and edited by Abbie King.

What were the aims of the project?

This project had a joint aim of both connecting undergraduate students with the research wealth and research culture of the mathematics department while supporting postgraduate student to develop their skills of synthesising and communicating about their own research.

What happened?

Undergraduate students got together in small groups to meet their chosen researcher and through ‘interviewing’ the researchers helped ground their understanding about what research is and what researchers do. They also discussed how their undergraduate studies could prepare them for moving into postgraduate studies/research.

Postgraduate students were supported by Teaching Fellows on the UCL Arena programme in planning and delivering a 10 minute presentation about their work, which they then gave to undergraduate students. The postrgaudate students were then able to communicate their own research, selecting an appropriate language and level of technicality for a specified audience.

““[The lead students’] 'inside' knowledge proved essential to the organisation and delivery of the sessions.”

What did you personally gain?

The project was a very enjoyable experience, collaborating with the two leads students to organise the sessions. Their 'inside' knowledge proved essential to the organisation and delivery of the sessions, and most importantly to the advertising of the initiative amongst undergraduates and postgraduates. 

What would you have done differently?

One of the optional but highly encouraged outcomes of the project was the production of an artefact by the small group of undergrads about their chosen researcher. Scheduling the delivery of the project such that it ends well before the start of the revision period for exams would have perhaps resulted in productions of more such artefacts.