Placements hosted by the School of Health & Social Care
Three teenagers have enjoyed the buzz of working on cutting-edge university research as part of an exciting placement scheme.
The trio took advantage of a Nuffield Foundation project which gives youngsters the chance to learn from professional scientists, engineers and mathematicians.
Between them, the three researched exercise facilities in deprived areas, students’ attitudes to people with dementia and public responses to statistics highlighting weight issues among nurses.
The Nuffield Placements – which gave Ciera Murray, Sophie McShannon and Esme Mulvey the chance to spend four weeks at our School of Health & Social Care - are particularly aimed at students with no family history of going to university, and are supported by universities, companies, research institutions and voluntary organisations.
Ciera, from Coatbridge High School, worked with researchers examining what encourages people with long-term medical conditions to be physically active. She used publicly available information to create a database of facilities in Fife.
She said: “I’m glad I got the chance to participate in this amazing experience. I had always been interested in sociology and I loved learning about how deprivation levels affect everyday issues such as health.”
Sophie, also from Coatbridge High, helped analyse student nurses’ attitudes before and after dementia training on equipment which mimicked poor circulation, hearing difficulties and vision impairment. She has now applied to study nursing at the university.
Esme, from St George’s School for Girls in Edinburgh, analysed responses to research about obesity among nurses in Scotland using published studies, news articles and social media content. Her findings will help the Nurses’ Lives Research Programme develop ways to communicate often controversial research findings.
She said: “Everyone I worked with throughout my placement was very friendly and of great help. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.”
Sighthill-based researcher Dr Coral Hanson, who worked with Ciera, said she had made a “real contribution” to current research. Coral added: “Working with the Nuffield Foundation is a great way to provide opportunities for talented students and help them make decisions about their future careers.”