Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your background?
Hi, my name is Katie Barlow, and I’ve just finished my first year in Physics here at the University of Liverpool. I went to secondary school in Chester after attending primary school in Childer Thornton. I also spent a few years living in Surrey prior to moving back to the North West for the start of secondary school. I took Maths, Chemistry and Physics at A-level and applied to the University of Liverpool for an integrated Master’s in Physics.
Why did you choose to study at the University of Liverpool?
I chose to study at the University of Liverpool, having attended the open day because the facilities and the support seemed, and are amazing. I was initially unsure whether I should have applied here as I live rather close (just outside of the Wirral) but when I came on the Open day and met the lecturers, professors and support staff, I decided that being close didn’t matter if the University was right for me. That, and I could always send my washing home! The tour was really interesting, and we were given access to some of the labs, where the current experiments were shared with us. I managed to meet some lovely people on the offer day too who I stayed in touch with over the summer thanks to the University community app. We remain friends and sit next to each other in almost all of our lectures.
What interests you about physics and why did you decide to pursue a degree in it?
I have always been interested in physics. I was very curious about why the world existed and how it functioned. I was gifted a book by my grandparents charting the success of women in science when I was 8 and I knew that I wanted to answer all the questions I had about the universe. I found that the way to answer this was physics when I started learning the subject for the first time in year 7. I loved physics as soon as I was able to study it. I read about it in my spare time and wanted to continue my studies in physics beyond GCSE. As I went to an all-girls school, I didn’t worry about how many girls would be in my class at A level, so took physics as it was my favourite subject. At A-level I confirmed that this is what I wanted to pursue at degree level. Every topic went into much more detail than in previous years and I was able to apply the logic and calculations to real life situations, which is why I preferred it to maths, as I loved the real-world applications that physics offered. I particularly enjoyed learning about quarks and binding energies and am looking to continue to take both nuclear physics and particle physics modules while at the University.
What attracted you to the physics course here?
On my sixth form trip to CERN, while looking at the detectors in LHCb, I noticed a clear box around a sensor and engraved into it was the University of Liverpool, this was extremely exciting because I was not expecting to see something from the University I’d applied for in CERN. Since being here I’ve learnt that the University also makes parts for ALICE, which is amazing as I would love to end up working in CERN in the future. As previously mentioned, the labs at Liverpool are wonderful and modern and that made doing experiments every week so much more appealing as the spaces were very light and open which I find much more relaxing than the stereotypical dingy basement for scientists. I also appreciate that we are kept at the forefront of the research, and the experiments we do in labs allow us to prove things we were previously just told was fact.
How has your experience been so far?
My experience has been amazing so far! It has had its ups and downs as all new things do, but the support staff and lecturers have been so welcoming and helpful. It was a big change living away from home for the first time but meeting all our lecturers and other students in welcome week for the ‘Physics Olympics’ and ‘Mission to Mars’ made the whole environment feel much more familiar before starting lectures. I have also been lucky enough to be a course rep, so I get to go to meetings and express the opinions of my year and be involved in decision making for changes proposed and have very recently joined the Physics Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) committee. This has also helped my confidence greatly because I dislike talking on my own in front of people, where I feel like I am the centre of attention. However, doing this has allowed me to push myself out of my comfort zone and positively impact how physics is taught here at Liverpool. I also can’t talk about my experience here without mentioning the nightlife which definitely lives up to expectation. I have joined the Physics Netball team too which I discovered in welcome week, we play at a campus level against other subjects who have their own netball teams. This has been amazing for me to meet other girls doing physics in different years and still play team sports which I have always valued.
Have there been any challenges you’ve faced and, if so, how were they overcome?
About a year before starting at the University I was diagnosed with anxiety. Therefore a few weeks into the first semester I scheduled an appointment with someone on the disability team. I was extremely nervous about talking to someone, but it was worth it as I was given extra time in exams and asked about what triggers my anxiety so that changes could be made to reduce this as much as possible. This made the biggest difference to me during the group presentations as part of labs. I learned this on the morning of these presentations because I hadn’t noticed the email telling us this would be happening the week prior, so I probably looked like a deer in headlights when I found out in the briefing that morning. I was nervous about the idea of giving this presentation in front of half of our year and the lab coaches at the end of the day. I spoke to Jon who was helping in labs that day (as he runs our course rep meetings) and told him about my support plan and within an hour I was informed that my group could present last just to the people marking and not the rest of the cohort. This was so reassuring, and my group were able to do our presentation last in a much better environment for me. I have also had meetings with Carl, our physics disability contact, as I currently have therapy to help me manage my anxiety at the same time weekly and this clashed with one of my modules last semester. Carl and the student support staff got me in touch with the lecturers and helped me find a plan where I could catch up before the workshops and not feel like I’d missed anything. I have found this support so generous, and I am so glad that I decided to get in touch with the disability team to see what could be done for me.
What has the environment at the University of Liverpool been like?
I think the environment is very warm and friendly here, I would be happy to email anyone for help and have already knocked on a few of my lecturers’ doors. I feel very comfortable especially with all the support available to us as students. I do still think progress can be made in terms of EDI, which is why I’m excited to be on the committee and a course rep to try and improve inclusivity so everyone can feel as comfortable and as looked after as I have since joining last year. I was not expecting to meet so many lovely people and make friends so quicky, one of my biggest concerns when starting university was how I was going to find friends who I’d want to live in a house with so quickly. However, after being here for just two weeks, I was already spoilt for choice. I think University is a place where people who would describe themselves as shy can really grow in confidence and the environment here has enabled me to do that. The last thing I’d be described as now is shy! I do still feel anxious about speaking up, giving presentations and taking exams, but I feel like I have the support now where I can voice my concerns and there will be a positive outcome.
Is there anything you’d wish you had known before starting the course?
This is a super hard question! I wish I would have known that University is only as scary as you make it. Instead of being terrifying, as I thought it would be, it is an opportunity to meet new people and try new things all while studying the subject you are most passionate about. Keep an open mind and take every opportunity that comes your way because there is no harm in trying.
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