Last half term, the Year 12 students at Imperial College London Mathematics School had the opportunity to present their research projects at the Royal School of Mines at Imperial College London. The event brought together parents, peers, teachers, mentors and invited guests, creating a really supportive and exciting atmosphere to share our work.
At the start of the year, we were placed into groups based on our interests, with each person bringing different perspectives, strengths and ideas. Each group was paired with a mentor from academia or industry, who challenged us, guided us, and pushed us to think beyond the classroom. Through regular meetings, we learned how to ask better questions, approach complex problems, and turn ideas into something meaningful.
Over time, these ideas developed into full projects. We wrote detailed reports, created posters, and prepared presentations so that we could communicate our work clearly. By the time of the event, everyone had built a strong understanding of their topic and the confidence to explain it.
The projects themselves covered a wide range of areas across maths, physics and chemistry. Topics included approximation theory, linear regression, modelling freefall, greener fragrances, and string theory, showing just how varied and connected these subjects can be.
My group’s project focused on approximation theory, which turned out to be a really broad area and gave us the freedom to explore different ideas and take the project in our own direction. It was a challenging but really interesting experience, especially being able to shape our work around what we found most engaging. One of the most rewarding parts of the process for me was working with a different group of people who I might not have worked with before. I gained a lot not only from our mentor and teacher supervisor, who guided and challenged us throughout, but also from my peers since we all had different strengths and were able to share our different perspectives through discussions and problem solving.
The projects also exposed us to concepts far beyond the A Level curriculum, introducing us to more advanced ideas across maths, physics and chemistry. It also helped us develop important skills such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving, and gave us a real insight into what research at a higher level can look like.
The event itself was a real highlight. It was a great experience to present in front of such a large audience and to share what we had learned over the past months. Being able to answer questions from the audience also pushed us to think more deeply and really test
our understanding. Overall, it was a rewarding way to bring all of our work together and celebrate everything the year group had achieved!
Ritisha
Chair of the Imperial Maths School Student Council