Ten Lower Sixth Form Physics students had the opportunity to visit Imperial College London for an enriching afternoon of engineering exploration and space science insight. The trip offered a unique blend of hands-on learning and inspirational storytelling from two distinguished professors.
The visit began with a warm welcome from Old Albanian Professor David Nowell (OA 1978), an expert in vibration analysis. Meeting the group at the university entrance, Professor Nowell introduced students to a Rolls-Royce aircraft fan, an example of the cutting-edge engineering collaboration between the university and industry. He then led a guided tour of his mechanical engineering laboratory, where students explored a vacuum-sealed chamber housing a Wessex helicopter engine used to study material stress and failure. Students were particularly engaged by a demonstration of a friction-testing machine, which used a monochromatic laser to measure microscopic vibrations, too small to be seen by the naked eye.
Reflecting on the experience, Jan said: “Professor Nowell’s enthusiasm was infectious. Seeing real-world applications of what we’ve studied, like energy, power, and efficiency, made the subject come alive.”
The second part of the visit featured a captivating lecture by Professor David Southwood CBE, former Director of Science and Robotic Exploration at the European Space Agency (ESA). Titled “The European Space Agency – 50 Years’ Journey Through Space, 10 Years at the Top!”, the lecture offered a behind-the-scenes look at some of ESA’s most ambitious missions. Professor Southwood spoke about his leadership in launching missions such as INTEGRAL, Herschel, and Planck, and the challenges of managing complex space projects on tight budgets.
“It was a privilege to hear from someone who has led such influential space missions. The lecture was not only inspiring but also gave us valuable insight into careers in engineering and space science.” Archie, Lower Sixth Form
The trip concluded with a sense of awe and appreciation for the scale and ambition of modern science and engineering. The students returned to St Albans with a deeper understanding of their subject and a renewed curiosity for the world beyond Earth.
