1. Dr. Paul Bartlett Physics and Astronomy
Working towards the Connected Curriculum: Laboratory Challenges and Opportunities in Physics
Dr. Paul Bartlett
Physics and Astronomy

2. What will be discussed
What we have done in the 1st Year teaching labs in the past
How students are changing
Examples of how we are breaking the distinction between the Teaching and Research labs
How students are contributing to each other’s training and research efforts
How this is reflected in changes to what we can supply as a training package

3. Traditional Physics Laboratory ‘Training’
1st Yr Labs
2nd Yr Labs
3rd Yr Labs
Group project
Final Year Project
MSci
BSc
Traditional laboratory-based training over 3/4 years
Industrial Group Project in the 3rd year
4th Year research project (for MSci students)
‘Laboratory’ work tailored to sub-specialisation

4. What students want
Since £9k fees were introduced, some students seem to want to get much more out of their time at UCL.
They now approach laboratory teaching staff in regarding ‘research opportunities’ (even 1st years).
As the 1st Year laboratory co-ordinator, I can help to direct students to researchers and their groups.
Teaching lab staff know the students concerned…

5. What we did and what we are doing in the Teaching Laboratories
In the past, it was thought that 3rd years+ would be the only ones that could contribute to research efforts.
Few (none?) seemed to actively pursue this.
I now have a process to help some students to gain the experience they desire. Even 1st year students.

6. Three examples of students that want to get involved
Dear Paul
I would love to work on that project. I would like to start working on Tuesday the 4th of June.
Is there any literature I should read in advance so I could work on a project more efficiently? (2013)
Hi Paul, just reminding you to speak to Prof. Renzoni about getting some summer work experience with him. Thanks again for all your help. (2014)
Teaching Labs seen as a ‘gateway’ to other academics
Dear Paul,
I would like to enquire about the possibility of a summer project, paid or unpaid from the middle of June to the beginning of August.
If there is no option of a project this summer with you, would you know anyone else that would be happy to support such a project (2015)

7. Example Projects coming next…
These show how
4th Year researchers
Group Project teams
Volunteer researcher students
Research Groups
Can be integrated to blur the borders between the Teaching Labs and Research Labs
Which is desired by UCL under the Connected Curriculum initiative

8. Project 1: All Optical Material Characterisation
2.5 Year programme thus far
‘Zap materials with lasers and analyse the hot plume with another laser’
Research Team:
Academic Staff
PhD Research Students
Volunteer Researchers
4th Year MSci project students
Industrial Liaison
Facilitators: Teaching Laboratory Staff
System initially developed by
1st year volunteer students

9. Integrated Programme Process
Traditional project students
Volunteer Students
Step 1: Obtain support of
Academic Researcher (Prof. F Renzoni)
Step 2: 1st Year volunteer researchers
create the experimental system
Step 3: External Industrial Partner is
attracted to support the work
Step 4: 4th Year research project student
Works to gain initial data
Step 5: 2nd Year volunteer researchers
investigate improving data acquisition
Step 6: Next 4th Year research student
extends the work
Enrichment: The volunteer students link their studies
with their research work and interact with industry

10. Extra outcomes for students
The first set of 1st yr students returned in their 2nd year.
They worked in the same Group in this 2nd summer and
earned a paper from their efforts.
It seems that the enhanced experience is allowing them to
operate beyond what was previously expected of 1st/2nd year students.
They became integrated into the research ‘team’…

11. Project(s) 2: Magnetic Imaging
4 Year programme thus far
‘Use magnetic fields to image and
characterise materials’.
Research Team:
Academic Staff
PhD Research Students
Volunteer Researchers
3rd year Industrial Group Project students
Industrial Liaison
Facilitators: Teaching Laboratory Staff

12. Project(s) 2: Magnetic Imaging (Peer Support)
3.5 Year programme(s) thus far
Step 1: Obtain support of
Academic Researcher (Prof. F Renzoni)
Step 2: External Industrial Partner is
attracted to support the work
Step 3: Create Industrial Group Project
Step 4: 3rd year volunteer researcher
extends the project
Step 5: Create new Industrial Group Project
Step 6: Old 3rd year volunteer researcher
supports new team
Step 7: New 3rd year volunteer extends
the project further
Step 8: Work from the project(s) students
feeds into research programme

13. Non-metallic magnetic imaging scanning system (pan-year student interaction example)
Physical system and software
Developed by volunteer summer student
Scanner redeveloped by following 3rd Year
Group project team
Research volunteer acted as a
‘consultant’ for the following project team
(when in 4th Year).

14. Traditional Physics Laboratory ‘Training’ 2008
1st Yr Labs
2nd Yr Labs
3rd Yr Labs
Group project
Final Year Project
MSci
BSc
This is the only training model that we used to have…

15. Traditional Physics Laboratory ‘Training’ 2015
Teaching Labs Interface
BSc
MSci
1st Yr Labs
2nd Yr Labs
3rd Yr Labs
Final Year Project
Industrial
Group project
Research Volunteer
PhD Research Projects
Industrial Sponsors
Limitation: Not all students can take part in volunteer process.

16. Typical response from a Student Volunteer

17. That is all!
Any questions?