I am a 14 year old boy and I attend Heysham High School in Morecambe, Lancashire. I was very fortunate to be able to do my “work experience” in the Environmental Science Department at Lancaster University.

Two weeks before I started the placement I received an information pack through the post explaining all the Safety rules and various job descriptions relating to the different jobs that I was going to be involved in during my two weeks in the department. I found this very helpful and this knowledge took away the initial nerves that I had regarding the placement.

On my arrival to the placement, I need not have worried about it, as everybody in the Environmental Science Department made me feel very welcome and had endless amounts of patience with me whilst I tried to settle in.

I was issued with a white “Lab coat” and I was given the safety talk, then shown around the department. It was fascinating, so many laboratories, instruments, data, and students! I was given my timetable, shown what to do, then the moment had arrived – my first task – checking practical equipment to see if it worked before putting it away.

I progressed with my learning and the next day I was weighting out salt for a student trip to White Scar Caves. During the first week I continued to do various things around the department and towards the end of the week I started on the “Met observations”. This was to become one of my favourite tasks, I found this very interesting and enjoyed collecting the data and recording it.

Before I knew it the second week had started!!

In the second week I did “Met Obs” every morning at Hazelrigg, and sometimes I converted the old data that was stored in texts files to Microsoft Excel. I was shown many different aspects of the department, from explanations on the importance of clearing fridges and delicate scientific equipment, to re-arranging Vials and glass jars. The whole two weeks were a real eye opener for me, I learnt so much, and I can assure any person looking to do a short placement or long time study in the department that they will thoroughly enjoy it. I did! The Environmental Science department is not just Environmentally friendly – it’s people friendly too!! On closing I would like to thank Prof. Pinkerton for allowing me into his department and Vicky Burnett and all the staff for making my work placement so wonderfully enjoyable.

Work experience placement 16th – 27th May 2005