A focus on health and medical physics at IOP technical careers fair

The Institute of Physics (IOP), Institute of Physics in Engineering and Medicine (IPEM), and British Institute of Radiology (BIR) have hosted a technical careers fair focusing on health and medical physics.

The one-day event earlier this week showcased science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) apprenticeships to GCSE and A-level students and their teachers from local and neighbouring schools, to help them make informed decisions about their future career paths.

The aim was to give the pupils a better understanding of what apprenticeships are and their entry requirements, what to look for when searching for an apprenticeship, and how to progress via a technical pathway.

Presentations, workshops, exhibitions, and demonstrations brought science to life and illustrated some of its applications in the real world.

The building was abuzz with excitement and chatter, as liquid nitrogen, radiation detectors and health and environmental sensors captured the imaginations of the attendees, with one pupil being heard to declare, “…apprenticeships are hella cool!” and a teacher stating, “…everything I’ve said to pupils has been backed up today.”

An abridged version of the day’s event was hosted in the evening for parents and carers.

Providing them the opportunity to better understand STEMM apprenticeships, how they can support their children to access them, entry requirements, and career opportunities and pathways from STEMM apprenticeships meant that everyone involved in these important decisions could benefit from the information available on the day.

Attendees were also given a guided tour of the state of the art IOP building by CEO Paul Hardaker and Deputy CEO Rachel Youngman, and former apprentice at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) Perdi Williams delighted them by freezing balloons and tennis balls with liquid nitrogen.

The day armed all who came along with lots of useful information about apprenticeships, and about the work of the IOP in raising the profile of the profession of physics – in all its guises.