On Wednesday 15th July 2015, the second annual Portsmouth Ogden Schools Physicist of the Year (SPOTY) awards ceremony for Year 9 and Year 12 students was held at the University of Portsmouth. This year 23 talented young physicists from schools and colleges across the region were put forward for the award by their teachers, who nominated students based on their hard work, contributions in class, and progress over the school year.
The award-winning students, along with their families and teachers, were invited to last week’s event where they were presented with a certificate and £25 book token. Attendees also had the chance to chat to staff and students from the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation and Applied Physics, listened to a talk by Professor Will Percival about the ICG and his research, and found out more about physics careers from Dr Jen Gupta, the ICG SEPnet/Ogden Outreach Officer.
The 2014/15 Portsmouth Ogden Schools Physicist of the Year award winners with Professor Will Percival and Dr Jen Gupta from the ICG. Credit: Dario Scovacricchi – University of Portsmouth.
The Schools Physicist of the Year (SPOTY) awards is a nationwide initiative sponsored by The Ogden Trust, with additional support from the South East Physics Network (SEPnet) for the Portsmouth awards. The Portsmouth awards were organised by Dr Jen Gupta, the SEPnet/Ogden Outreach Officer for the ICG, with help from the university’s Education Liaison and Outreach Team. Nominations for next year’s SPOTY awards are expected to open in May 2016.
The 2014/15 Portsmouth Schools Physicists of the Year are:
Year 9
Abigail Benton (Charter Academy)
Raphael Bori (The Costello School)
Aaron Gould (Ryde Academy)
Dominic Hanley (Oaklands Catholic School)
William Jubb (Cowes Enterprise College)
Ayesha Lee (Admiral Lord Nelson School)
Alice Leonard (The Portsmouth Grammar School)
Ester Lumsden (Henry Cort Community School)
Ethan Nicholson (Brighton Hill Community School)
Kieran Ralph (Cowplain Community School)
Sophie Ray (Fareham Academy)
Jack Restall (The City of Portsmouth Boys’ School)
Charlotte Rust (Portsmouth Academy for Girls)
Sophie Sanderson (Portsmouth High School)
Ella Windle (Bohunt School)
Year 12
James Ferrier (Richard Taunton 6th Form College)
Jacq Gant (Isle of Wight College)
Nadiya Ikonnikova (Chichester College)
Reuben Mitchell (The Arnewood School)
Tia Pratt (Portsmouth College)
Henry Pritchett (Cowes Enterprise College)
Sam Shingles (The Portsmouth Grammar School)
Charlie Smith (Portsmouth High School)
