Posted: 31st March 2011

Oxford University recently welcomed over 50 students and teachers to the Department of Computer Science for the Computing At School Sixth Form Conference.

The one day event, held on March 22^nd, saw students from across the region attending a series of lectures and practical sessions given by members of the University's Computer Science Department, as well as speakers working in the IT industry.

The conference was one of about a dozen similar events across the country during (or close to) National Science Week, that were supported by the Computing at Schools Group, part of the British Computer Society, The Chartered Institute for IT. The events were all designed to encourage students to find out more about the subject, and to consider studying at university and making a career in this exciting area.

Attendee Oliver Smith from Cirencester College described the event as “both inspiring and reassuring.” He added: “the students and I had a wonderful time and it is likely to have quite an effect on their future.”

The day included:

• An Introduction to Computer Science by Oxford tutor Mike Spivey
• Looking Backward to Look Forward – a session by Chris Yapp who blogs for the BCS
• My Digital footprint – a talk by author and entrepreneur Tony Fish
• A lecture on Philosophical Logic and Microchip Design from Oxford’s Tom Melham
• Geomlab -  a practical introduction to functional programming and digital art led by Oxford’s Jim Whitehead 
• Tour of an Oxford College.

Participants also had the chance to talk informally with Oxford tutors and current students, as well as ‘meeting’ some robots that are part of one of the Department’s many research projects.  

The team behind the CAS Sixth Form Conference are planning on running the event on an annual basis. To receive information on future events for school groups and prospective students please sign up here: http://www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/mailinglist/