LIYSF 2015: Day 9 – Trip to Oxford!

Today was the day I was looking forward to the most, a trip to the Oxford Biomedical Research Laboratories. We left early this morning for an hour and a half drive to Churchill Hospital. In order to beat the London rush hour traffic we arrived over an hour early. We then walked over to the research laboratory where we heard a lecture on Malaria from a PhD student working there. It was very interesting, he went over the life-cycle of the plasmodium that causes Malaria, as well as the current developments towards new vaccines! Very interesting lecture, which was then followed by another Doctor/PhD student who talked a bit about his career path and gave a rather inspirational speech about taking job opportunities when they arrive etc. Following this, we were split into groups and rotated through playing a matching game, playing an interactive tablet game about malaria, making mosquitos out of pipe cleaners, and finally getting a tour of the lab there. I was actually rather disappointed with the visit; I was really looking forward to actually seeing the labs and getting some detailed information about what they were doing there, however the tour portion only lasted a total of 6 minutes and the guide didn’t have time to explain very much.

Lecture about Malaria
Lecture about Malaria
This was our group matching various diseases with their descriptions
This was our group matching various diseases with their descriptions
Our collection of mosquitoes! The best-looking one won an iTunes gift card. Mine didn't win unfortunately.
Our collection of mosquitoes! The best-looking one won an iTunes gift card. Mine didn’t win unfortunately.
Tyler and I during the tour
Tyler and I during the tour
Here is a window into a containment level 3 laboratory where they work with pathogens such as Typhoid Fever.
Here is a window into a containment level 3 laboratory where they work with pathogens such as Typhoid Fever.

Since this lab was located near the hospital rather than the main Oxford Colleges we then drove to the more central campus. It’s tough to call it a campus, because the buildings are all scattered in the town. We were dropped off and left to wander and explore for the rest of the afternoon, which was very pleasant, there was so much architecture to look at there!

In Oxford, there are colleges interspersed where students are housed during their studies
In Oxford, there are colleges interspersed where students are housed during their studies
This was really cool, in a small stationary shop there was a fountain pen with five tips. Can you guess what it is used for?
This was really cool, in a small stationary shop there was a fountain pen with five tips. Can you guess what it is used for?

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Absolutely stunning architecture all over the city!
Absolutely stunning architecture all over the city!

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The day was pretty long and exhausting, so after dinner back at Imperial, we played a small ping-pong tournament and then I decided to get some sleep.

2 thoughts on “LIYSF 2015: Day 9 – Trip to Oxford!”

  1. I think that special pen is for musicians and especially composers! A quick and easy way to draw a staff!

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