The problem with the water of the area
is it comes from the ground, it is really contaminated
the system collects rainwater
some pipes are installed in the roofs, water is taken
to a filtering system with silver ions
this technology was developed by UCL engineering labs
you are, as a student, more than
a simple observer. You get the chance to have the skills
and the resources you need to make a difference in the world.
I remember when the first system was finished
the children, they just ran to the tap, and they just
pushed each other, you know, to be able to have water.
It was amazing because you could see an immediate positive impact in the lives of people
UCL, in different departments and faculties
works together with, not just with research centres, but also
big business and enterprises.
Therefore, its research answers, directly, the needs
of the world nowadays.
I think the amount of research I got to do here
was quite surprising. I didn't expect to be able to get involved in actual
science quite this quickly
by the time I was doing my third year I had already done things that nobody had done before
I was actually generating new knowledge.
I got to work with everybody from an undergraduate to a post doctoral level and also
Prof. Perkins who has doing this for decades.
I've been studying the interaction between two proteins and hopefully
understanding these proteins better will help us tackle diseases like
age-related macular degeneration.
Initially I got into it because I thought
knowledge for its own sake was worth going after but the more I spent in labs here
The more I've done research and done lectures I think I'm getting more more toward stuff
that has practical application.
I know UCL is a leader in the research they do here
, and research is very important. And UCL, obviously, in the heart of London
is a great place to live and a great place to work.
You almost can't really be an archaeologist
unless you've actually done some proper digging.
You get lots of opportunities with UCL that you don't at other unis. I've been funded
70 days worth of archaeology field work. My biggest find was these smooth polished stones.
It was really amazing to actually like pick them up and realise that you're the
first person
to have touched that in twenty thousand years.
There's a basement full of artefacts and things and it is really exciting
that you can use them in your work. I know the archaeology department here is really
into public
outreach. UCL has three museums you can go into.
So a big thing UCL is based on is the fact that they believe anyone should go
to university.
That was a big thing that I identified with. I'm the first in my family to go to university
so they are really proud of me.
I know a lot of doubts that people have is financial, that was a big one of mine.
But if you actually look into how the student finance system works and how bursaries,
and the loans and the grants work, anyone can afford to go to university
There are still times when I'm sitting in the lab and I think it's amazing that I've come from
high school chemistry set, realistically, to working with
analytical ultra centrifuges down here.
After visiting UCL, I realised that if I didn't get into UCL I didn't want to go anywhere
I think studying here gives you the opportunity to find out what you have to do
and gives you the skills and the tools to do it.