Physics and Astrophysics Undergraduate Programmes for 2020 Entry 2020 Entry | Page 19
PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS | 19
Beyond the curriculum
There are opportunities for Physics and Astrophysics students at Keele outside of the set
curriculum, that can enhance and complement your skills, interests and employability.
On-Campus
Observatory
Keele has an on-campus Observatory,
which opens regularly to the public
and recently underwent a £250,000
refurbishment. It houses a 24-inch
telescope capable of research-quality
imaging, a 6-inch solar telescope and
a 140-year old, 12-inch refractor. The
Observatory is readily accessible to our
students, several of whom get actively
involved in its operation.
SPARK
SPARK is the official Physics and
Astrophysics society at Keele, and
winner of the Best Academic Society
for 2016/17!
There is a thriving Physics and
Astrophysics society (known as SPARK)
who organise activities and events.
The society was founded in 2015 to
create a support network for physics
students across all years and a platform
for students to develop their passion
for physics beyond their studies. We
are affiliated with the IOP (Institute of
Physics) and UKSEDS (UK Students
for the Exploration and Development of
Space). Through these ties, we have a
lot of opportunities for collaborations and
outreach with these institutions.
Each week we hold a revision session,
where students come for a quiet space to
work with other physics students.
Find out more about SPARK at
keelesu.com/activities/society/SPARK/
If you have any questions about the
society, or suggestions for what you’d
like to do if you choose to come to Keele,
please email: [email protected].
We regularly enter a team into a national
UKSEDS competition; in 2016/17 this
was the National Rocketry Championship.
During this competition our team was
required to design, build and launch a
mid-power rocket from scratch. After
months of hard work, we managed to
launch successfully and went on to win
this competition!
In 2017/18 we entered the Lunar Rover
Competition. Our team passed the first
two stages of the competition and was
invited to the final stage, where the
remaining teams gathered to test their
rovers in conditions similar to those
met on the lunar surface. For these
competitions, we welcome students of all
disciplines to enter (students in computer
science have been particularly helpful
when designing the rover!).
We host regular events including “socials”
in the student union, film and gaming
afternoons, and visits to Laser Quest.
keele.ac.uk/physics