An introduction to Psychology

Have you ever wondered why people around you act the way they do? Or why you respond in a particular way to events in your life? These are some of the questions that typically arise when we think about psychology in everyday terms- but in reality, psychologists look at behaviour in a far richer and deeper scientific way. From the action of chemicals in our neurons, and the function of specific brain structures, to perception, emotion and complex behaviours like falling in love or making friends; all of this is included in what psychology explores as a discipline. Whether you have studied psychology before or not, this taster will introduce you to the way that we uncover the ‘secrets’ behind human behaviour at degree level, the techniques we use as psychological scientists, and the brain and body structures that make us act the way we do.

An introduction to Engineering

This session will introduce students to the different Engineering disciplines and their career prospects. We will then focus on an ‘interactive’ session on “Materials for Engineering” and explore different materials that form the backbone of engineering and discover how these concepts translate into various fields, such as automotive, civil, electrical etc. We will briefly explore the reasons behind the ease of breaking certain materials like Steel and Aluminium and the inherent strength of others. During this session, we will employ ping-pong balls to facilitate the visualisation of the atom's fundamental role in materials' properties and behaviour.

An introduction to Computer Sciences

Technology is a fundamental part of our lives. Every day, new devices are available to simplify our daily activities, from a simple sensor that turns on the light to a smartphone app that can control all the appliances in a building. Have you ever wondered how digital systems and sensors can communicate between themselves to share data and control commands?

We will cover basic concepts about digital and embedded systems and how they can be used to automate processes. For this purpose, you will be able to develop basic digital systems using a microcontroller-based board in a simulation environment. You will be introduced to microcontrollers, electronic devices, and software programming and how they interact.

This course will give you the opportunity to learn new concepts, develop basic skills in the Engineering and Computer Science fields, and apply them in a simulation environment. Besides, you will be introduced to the ideas and the world of the Internet of Things, where the internet enables the communication of different devices.

An introduction to Life Sciences

There have been three major waves of plague. The second wave (The Black Death 1346-1353) killed somewhere between one-third and one-half of Europeans, and resulted from what would now be regarded as a deliberate act of biological warfare. Why was it so deadly? This session explores the events that led to the entry of plague into Europe, the complex epidemiology of the bacterium that gave such a high death rate and finish with some recent developments

An introduction to Maths and Statistics

The session will give an overview of the nature of Mathematics and Statistics as disciplines: their importance, relevance and elegance, and how they have evolved over time thanks to the work and influence of various brainy individuals. There will be an introduction to a selection of topic areas that students may not have encountered as part of their secondary school studies and an opportunity for students to explore problem-solving by discussing interesting mathematical questions as a group.

Please note changes to the syllabus and teaching team may be made over the coming months before exact set of topics are finalised.