As part of a monthly series featuring the eight finalists in this 2020 competition, Andy Gladman (PhD student of Dr Dave Chandler) and his Leamington Spa allotment are the subject of March's edition.

I don’t believe I could have reached this position without the the invaluable problem solving skills from my degree combined with the encouragement from Warwick to explore different areas of study.

A team of students called The Warwick Boring Team are heading to LA this summer to compete in Elon Musk’s the Boring Company’s tunnelling competition. They will build their tunnelling machine and test it against competitors to get top spot.

The search for 30 people to take up new PhD pandemic research scholarships has begun thanks to philanthropists donating to the University of Warwick’s newly created Institute for Global Pandemic Planning. The 30 new doctoral students will research the best ways for global leaders to respond to pandemics and more details on how to apply are available here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/igpp/applicationform

You will have lots of support available to you, great facilities around you and the opportunity to make life-long friends.

I think it is a very, very interesting course that I did and a very, very exciting environment, which gives the students the opportunity to actually try.

Ann Caine (Divisional Manager for Biomedical Sciences) tells us about what she and the team have been working on.

"I feel very proud of our admin team members who are supporting our staff and students to the best of their abilities, and our dedicated clinicians and talented scientists who have stepped up to help fight this unseen enemy."

Jordan (MB ChB) shares his experience as a Medical Student Clinical Support at University Hospital Coventry.

"As a former historian, I feel as though we are watching history unfurl before us – a turning point as real as the world wars, the nuclear age, the bubonic plague. As before, the solution is courage in the face of adversity."

Abbie (MB ChB) reflects on her experience as a medical student during the pandemic.

"Covid-19 has truly changed our lives, and we as medical students are no different."

Anj Kang (MB ChB Phase I Secretary) signed up to the NHS Volunteer Responder initiative and tells us what her role involves.

"Both the patients and the pharmacies have been extremely grateful for the help I and lots of others are providing for those who are unable to get out at the moment."

Roopak Khara (MB ChB, 2013) tells us about her role working as medical lead on a psychiatric inpatient Covid-19 ward.

"Overnight I went from working as a general adult psychiatry registrar on a PICU (psychiatric intensive care unit) to medical lead for the UK’s first psychiatric inpatient COVID-19 ward in West London."

Shirley Rigby (PG Award, 2004) tells us about her role working as a consultant on a Covid-19 ward.

"It was a rapid learning curve, learning how to diagnose and treat a new disease that none of us had seen before."

Jessica Nolan (MB ChB, 2019) reflects upon her experience as an F1 working on a Covid-19 ward.

"When starting work as an F1 this year, I never thought that I would be facing anything as challenging as the Covid-19 pandemic."

Arriving at Warwick, I knew I was at the right place and that my desires would be met.

I studied physics at Warwick after enjoying the subject at GCSE and A-Level. I enjoyed the challenge of the subject and thought it could help me end up in a job where I got to answer real world questions and make a difference.

Warwick is a great university. I enjoyed my time over there. I have met so many inspiring people and good friends.

It was amazing. What I really liked about Warwick is that there's so much support given to you, everyone wants you to succeed

It expanded my network and I was given the chance to work with an industry partner.

When I chose to study Maths and Physics at Warwick, I never expected to end up where I have or taken the journey I did to get there, but it has all felt very natural.

I've got very fond memories of being at Warwick. I would 100 per cent you know, if I had to do it again, I'd do it again!