Energy lights and heats our buildings, feeds our transport systems, enables business and industry and fuels the global economy, and yet in the twenty-first century over a billion people worldwide still live without electricity in their homes. We are facing our biggest challenge; how do we develop an infrastructure which can give us the energy services we want, and make them accessible to all, without undermining the ecosystem which sustains our existence? This Headstart course will give you an opportunity to explore some of the ways in which scientists and engineers are working to tackle the problem of ensuring we all have ‘power for the future’.
 
What’s it all about?
 
This Headstart course will give you the opportunity to learn more about how science and engineering are being used to ensure we maintain global power supplies at the level needed for the 21st century. You will have the opportunity to learn from University researchers who are leading these developments, and you will get the opportunity to work with them on practical activities and challenges. The course will give you experience of what university life is like, and will enable you to experience university level teaching in science and engineering. It will also give you the opportunity to explore just some of the exciting range of career opportunities that are available to you after studying science and engineering at university.

What will I be doing?
 
Headstart at the University of Birmingham will provide you with experience of different areas of engineering including electrical, power, nuclear and materials. By attending the programme you will experience what undergraduate study of engineering is like through a range of lectures, demonstrations, laboratory and practical activities. You will also explore how scientists and engineers are working successfully with those from other disciplines to tackle one of the most significant challenges facing the world in the 21st century.
Would this course suit me?
 
If you are interested in exploring how science and engineering skills can be applied to tackle global challenges then this course is for you. Equally it will be suitable for you if you're interested in any of the following disciplines:
• Electrical and Power Engineering
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering
What do I need to be suitable?
 
The University of Birmingham is an internationally renowned research-intensive university that has been challenging and developing great minds for more than a century. Characterised by a tradition of innovation, research at the University has broken new ground, pushed forward the boundaries of knowledge and made an impact on people’s lives. This Headstart course is designed to reflect our beliefs and values, and is designed to enable you to explore what life at our University is like.
This course will suit you if you have an interest in science, engineering and mathematics, particularly if you are taking Mathematics and Physics at A level (or equivalent) and are interested in applying your skills and knowledge to tackle global problems and challenges. 
 
Course code: BIRHS20
Course dates: 10.00 on Monday,  20 July 2020 to 16.00 on Thursday,  23 July 2020 (4 days residential)