Our Physics students take part in a group project in their final year of study. As well as research and education based investigations, many of the projects are linked with industry partners who set the research question based on their current areas of research. Some of the industries we have (and currently) work with are Airbus Defence and Space, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), Magnox Ltd (a nuclear decommissioning Site Licence Company), the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust, Swegon Air Management Ltd (a ventilating equipment manufacturer) and BAE Systems amongst others.
Below are two examples from this year’s projects set by our Airbus partners. We have a challenge for you based on each of these projects, to give you a glimpse of what it is like to be one of our Physics students.
Cryobot Project
Aims of original project
The aim of the project was to assess the feasibility of a cryobot – an ice-penetrating robot – which would travel through the frozen surface layers of ice (believed to be multiple kilometres thick) and explore or analyse the subsurface ocean of Europa.
View the Cryobot Poster on a larger scale.
Challenge
Our challenge to you is to create a poster yourself, explaining WHY we should send a cryobot mission to Europa or Enceladus. Space missions such as this are extremely expensive in terms of money and time and hence need to be justified. Your poster should explain why it is important to study below the icy surface of these moons.
NEO project
Aims of original project
The aim of the project was to perform a detailed analysis of different Near Earth Object (NEO) deflection techniques. Compare the different techniques on effectiveness, cost, time needed, collateral damage and feasibility.
View the Neo Poster on a larger scale.
Challenge
Our challenge to you is to create a poster yourself, explaining how one of the NEO deflection techniques work in detail. You could use one of the techniques mentioned in the poster, or you could investigate one not mentioned, such as the ion beam shepherd, LASER ablation or asteroid painting methods.
Your Poster Presentation
Hopefully the example posters give you an idea of what you might create, but you can find many free templates for posters online. It is important to include an introduction and conclusion section and to reference your work (for help with referencing take a look here https://www.kent.ac.uk/ai/students/whatisreferencing.html).
Please submit your work by 31 August 2020 to spsmarketing@kent.ac.uk. We will be announcing the winner shortly after!
Good luck!