| 2003 |
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YEAR BOOK |
Queen's University Belfast
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Erasmus Intensive Programme in Belfast
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Queen's has a long history of world class research in this area, and many of the overseas lecturers on the course had spent time working in the Queen's Department, and had developed on-going research links with QUB scientists.
The format of the Programme consisted of lectures in the mornings, covering the underlying theory, and practical sessions in the afternoons. These sessions enabled the 20 students to gain hands-on experience of running state-of-the-art research codes to undertake simple projects chosen to bring out specific aspects of the theory. A particular feature was the web-based access to these codes.
Students worked on practical projects in groups of two or three, and the international dimension of the course was emphasised by ensuring that no group contained more than one person from any country. This international collaboration, which is seen as an important benefit of an IP, culminated in the joint oral presentation which each group made, based on different features of their work, on the final day.
The IP incorporated this year's David Bates lectures, a series of five lectures given each year by an eminent scientist in honour of Professor Sir David Bates, FRS, formerly head of the QUB department. This year's lecturer was Professor Donald Lynden-Bell, FRS, until recently Director of the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge. He provided five fascinating lectures on various aspects of astronomy, thereby broadening the scope of the course for the IP participants.
The IP was coordinated from Belfast and, although renewed annually, is expected to run for three years, with Lund and Rennes as the venue in subsequent years.
Contact: Professor Alan Hibbert, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Queen's University, Belfast;
Tel: +44-2890-273171; Fax: +44-2890-239182; E-mail: [email protected]