mathematics biochemistry physics biology chemistry joint maths and computing to your RCSU \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ CONTENTS A warm welcome from Luke Mascots - discover the 01 Kanczes, President of the 08 peculiar historic traditions of Royal College of Science the RCSU! Union. RCSU Societies - every sub- There’s more to your RCSU - 02 ject has an academic society, 09 Jiajun Tan explains how the which offer support and RCSU can support you in your socialising in equal measures! studies at Imperial. What it’s really like - your Keeping Science Sexy -Zoe 04 Dep Reps give a glimpse into 12 Groom gives her guide to this student life at Imperial. year’s hottest RCSU parties! The Committee - introducing Science Challenge - the 06 your hard-working, fun-loving 14 biggest, most glamourous RSCU enthusiasts, helping to science writing competition make your time at Imperial of the year. Paul Beaumont the best it can be. reveals. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ PRESIDENT’SWELCOME Congratulations on securing a place at Imperial College London and a very big welcome from the Royal College of Science Union (RCSU)! Imperial College Union is made up of four Faculty Unions: the Royal College of Science Union, the City and Guilds College Union, the Royal School of Mines and finally the Medics! As an Imperial Scientist you’re automatically a member of the RCSU. So welcome to what is easily the best Faculty Union! Since its founding in 1881 by science-fiction writer H.G. Wells, the RCSU has aimed to represent your views, broaden your University experience and provide welfare support. The RCSU has a great deal of traditions that are as long as the Union itself. These include singing of the traditional song, the kangela, and protecting our cherished mascot Theta. Made up of a team of student volunteers, the RCSU organise a vast range of events, from Autumn and Summer Balls to Bar Nights and Guest Lectures. Our network of depart- mental representatives aim to voice the opinions of the student body and our dedicated Academic Affairs and Welfare Officers are there to help you out if things go wrong. So get involved! Run in the forthcoming elections to become a Year Rep, write an article for our Science publication Broadsheet, help raise money for charity with the RCSU Raising and Giving (RAG) team or enter our yearly essay writing competition, ‘The Science Challenge’. University is what you make of it, so don’t miss out and I hope you have a fantastic year ahead of you! Luke Kanczes President Royal College of Science Union [email protected] 1 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ RCSU SOCIETIES There is an academic society for every subject under the RCSU, but there’s plenty more to these clubs than studying science... BIOCHEMSOC We’re all about balance: not only will we be organizing tons of fun events such as pub/club nights, dinners, and trips, we aim to provide academic support as well. (Not to mention, we’re one of the few departments which have an equal ratio between boys and girls.) You’ll get help and advice from fellow Biochem Soc members from the upper years, alumni, and staff members. We hope to bring all year groups together to estatblish a solid sup- port network, but also to ensure you enjoy your experience at Imperial as you work your way up to becoming a Biochemistry or Biotechnology graduate. Be sure to look out for our emails to find out about events and talks that will be taking place throughout the year. [email protected] MATHSOC We organise many events throughout the year, both social and academic, such as the Freshers’ Party, Dinners and legendary bar nights. We also invite globally-known companies for presentations on campus. We are a society that tries to provide another side to maths and univer- sity life and we have lots of new events planned this year that we hope you will enjoy. [email protected] CHEMSOC Throughout the year, ChemSoc offers a great variety of events such as the Chemistry Quiz Night, in which both students and staff frivolously participate; the pub crawl; and the ever-competitive Tug Of War, in which us Chemists have traditionally taken on (and beaten) the Chemical Engineers. Over the course of the year, one-off promotional events by companies; field trips; and even collaborative events with other Societies are constantly planned, organised and offered by ChemSoc. [email protected] 2 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ BIOSOC BioSoc aims to improve interaction and integration between biology students of all years. We organise and hold several social events and trips throughout the year, giving biology students a chance to relax and unwind be- tween all that hard studying. We hold open meeting once a month in order for you to put forward ideas for future events and to get involved. All biologists are automatically members of BioSoc and will receive email updates about upcoming events. However non-biologists arealways welcome. [email protected] PHYSOC Physoc is a society for physicists at Imperial. It aims to hold events and gatherings throughout the year that allow its members to network with others in the department and many external companies and universities. The society is one of the largest in the country, and has over 800 members, including undergraduates and postgraduates. Physoc arranges guest lectures throughout the year, on some fascinating current research, particularly research that goes on in house. In addition, trips are organised to international conferences and research centres (fingers crossed), as well as BBQs, an Outreach Programme, a Freshers’ Ball, networking events with graduate-seeking companies and bar nights. Non- physicists are welcomed to join the society as well and with no membership fee either! [email protected] JMCSOC The Joint Maths & Computing (JMC) Society organises events for students of Mathematics & Computing Science. These range from theatre trips and end of term dinners to technology talks and our very successful Ca- reers and Courses event in which students share their experiences of internships and courses. 3 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ WHAT IT’S REALLY LIKE Forget the shiny prospectus and buzz of the open day - the Dep Reps (Departmental Representatives) offer their insights into real student life at Imperial. MATHS - Jacklyn Nagle To put this into a nice friendly equation: maths at imperial = fun times. But seriously, in first year you’ll get weekly tests, they forget to tell you they count for nothing, but you’ll take them seriously and feel heart broken when you realise a good mark is 12/20. Coursework’s come every now and then. Having smart friends is recommended. Problem classes are useful, the first few will be rammed but they die down after the 3rd week and start becoming helpful. Finally just try to remember one thing, there’s more to life than equations! So try to mix and match analysis with absinthe. BIOLOGY - Philippa Skett & Emma Sherling Biology is obviously the best course at Impe- rial! Contact hours are filled by tutorials, labs and lectures. Lectures can be quick paced and sometimes difficult to follow at first, but you will soon develop a note tak- ing method that suits you. Labs are a lot more interactive; you learn as you go along and with a (luckily) decent lab partner, you shouldn’t find them a problem, especially as they start with the basics. With a broad range of subjects covered in the first year, it really lets you explore what in Biology you enjoy most and may choose to specialise in later. 4 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ CHEMISTRY - Doug Hunt Within the first year of Chemistry you will develop a foundation within a range of fundamental concepts and basic lab techniques which will be prove to be invaluable for the rest of your degree. My advice to all chemists is to start revising early for exams so you will know this essential material within the later years of your degree and take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way while studying Chemistry at Imperial College London. PHYSICS - Victor See Physics at Imperial College - It’s a lot of hard work. You shouldn’t turn up here with the impression that it isn’t. Don’t let this scare you though! You will also find that it is immensely satisfying and the lecturers are (usually) quick to help if you ask. During your first year, there is also a certain amount of leeway as you ease into university life. You are, of course, always welcome to ask me about anything to do with physics! BIOCHEM - Faris Mustafa The course is much more diverse than its name suggests and touches on various life science fields at the various molecular, genetic and cellular levels. Lab techniques and probing methods constitute a considerable element in the course with more emphasis placed on showing how you obtained results rather than the results themselves. You’ll find the lecturers dedicated and approachable but in times difficult to follow so don’t shy from asking them to repeat or explain. 5 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ RCSU COMMITTEE LUKE KANCZES PRESIDENT Hello! I’m Luke, a fourth year mathemati- cian and RCSU President! Once again congrats on getting into one of the best Universities in the World. But being 3rd in the League Tables comes at a price, you’ll soon figure out that Imperial is one word. Difficult. It’s pretty likely you’re not going be top of the class anymore and the days of walking into exams with no revision and still getting an A* are all but gone. But don’t despair! That’s what we’re here for! You’ll find me around campus, in the RCSU Office and without doubt down the Union most nights, so feel free to come and say “hello”! The RCSU is your Faculty Union, so talk to us.