WHERE DOES YOUR MONEY GO? The Springboard Grants Programme provides awards of up to £1,000 to students and staff at the University of Brighton to help fund unique activities that enrich and enhance the student and staff experience. This grants programme has only been possible because of the generous support of our alumni and friends.
During the 2012/13 academic year allocation period, we saw another increase in the numbers and quality of applicants; over 150 individuals and groups applied with 37 awarded grants ranging from £200 to £1,000. Since the scheme launched in 2009, grants worth nearly £100,000 have been made possible because of your donations. Professor Julian Crampton, ViceChancellor of the University of Brighton, who is also part of the Springboard grants assessment
panel commented: “I am hugely impressed with the range of projects that we see each round. Most of the applications we receive are extremely creative, innovative and will have an impact beyond the applicant. I am proud that we have been able to support so many projects and would like to say thank you to the alumni, staff and other supporters who have made this possible.”
HANDS-ON SCIENCE
Dr Angela Sheerin, a senior research fellow in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, was awarded £400 for a project with primary school children. The programme engaged primary school children from all backgrounds and gave them a hands-on opportunity to explore science. In small learning groups children completed experiments to investigate ‘what we are’ and ‘what we are made of’. The children compared different cells under the microscope and explored how our bodies are made, using a life-size torso with removable parts Angela commented: “Thank you to the Springboard Grants Programme for supporting my outreach work with primary school children. The monies awarded by the grant will allow me to buy essential tools for the children which will have a great impact on their learning while visiting the school and teaching them about science. Thank you!”