Leicester Physics Headstart Weekend

The Headstart weekend is a three-day residential course over 17-19 April 2020 for anyone who has accepted Physics at Leicester as their firm choice. Friday and Sunday are spent at the University’s halls of residence, where attendees stay for two nights; Saturday is spent on campus in the School of Physics and Astronomy.

The weekend is an exciting mixture of science communication challenges, revision workshops, hands-on activities and socialising with University staff and current students. Each attendee receives a certificate of completion.

• If you have accepted Physics at Leicester as your firm choice, you can book your place now.

Weekend schedule

Friday (halls of residence)

Arrival and registration between 5.00pm and 6.00pm. After dinner, the first night focuses on teamwork, interaction and science communication activities. If the weather is good, there will be the opportunity to take a short walk to the University’s observatory to look at the telescopes available to University of Leicester students.

Saturday (on campus)

Up for breakfast, then the first revision workshop followed by a fun hands-on activity to rest your mind. Last year’s activity involved looking at non-Newtonian fluids using toothpaste, strawberries and cream! After lunch is the second revision workshop and then a competitive activity awaits to put that physics into practice.

The evening kicks off with an informal talk, followed by a social evening – a chance to mix with academics and students from the Physics Society (Physoc) over hot dogs and fries. There will be pool, table football and table tennis plus a movie night with takeaway pizza and wedges, ice cream and popcorn, followed by hot chocolate and cookies to conclude the evening whilst discussing the movie.

Sunday (halls of residence)

The final half-day kicks off with the last revision workshop followed by a research presentation from one of the schools academics, who will also join us for lunch.

After one last space engineering activity it is time to receive your attendance certificate – and pose for the ‘Class of 2020’ group photo.