Are you interested in learning about what studying Natural Sciences at York is like? Here I show you my experience so far in 16 pictures, ranging from the places around campus you could see to the awesome things you could study and do!
#01 Welcome!
Natural Sciences at York is a small, friendly community made up of students who are passionate about the interdisciplinary nature of the sciences.
#02 The Learning Studio.
This is a communal space exclusively for Natural Scientists. We use this space to meet up with each other, study, have a break, have lunch, or for anything else we’d like. Sometimes we also use this space for NatSci Hour, a weekly event where we hear from interdisciplinary scientists about their world-class research or from speakers discussing careers, employment and other opportunities. We also have end-of-term socials, which this past year have been a Christmas Competition, a Murder Mystery and a Big Fat Quiz. Check out @natsciatyork on Instagram for other NatSci Hours we’ve had. Did I mention we get free pizza?
We’re usually taught with single-subject students in locations across campus, but Natural Scientists tend to come together naturally (forgive the pun) and it’s usually quite obvious when we’re in the room. These are some of the places I’ve been taught in:
#03 B/T/005.
Here I’ve had really cool workshops about how we can use the basic principles of membrane trafficking to understand COVID and how signalling between neurons leads to our experience of reward.
#04 P/X/001.
Here I’ve had really interesting lectures about how to plan ahead for drug design (through retrosynthetic analysis) and how haemoglobin, which contains iron metal, binds oxygen in metal-ligand bonding.
#05 G/N/019.
This is a computer room in the Maths Department where the NatSci coding bootcamp took place. We learned to program in languages like Python and Fortran, and carried out projects like creating a machine learning classifier that interprets handwritten digits!
#06 B/R/112X.
One really fun practical I’ve had in the Biology Teaching Labs was to analyse the crawling behaviour of fruit fly larvae and dissect them to look at which proteins were involved.
#07 C/F/019.
I’ve spent many hours in the Chemistry Teaching Labs running something on the rotary evaporator.
The campus is very beautiful! I particularly like the greenery and wildlife on campus (and the city of York in general). I enjoy going on walks in between lectures and labs. These are some of the places I think are very pretty:
#08 Greg’s Place.
I used to have my packed lunches here because of the beautiful view. But somehow the bees know when I’m around and enjoy ruining my tranquillity (don’t worry, no one else seems to have this issue).
#09 Campus Lake.
The Campus Lake is situated in the centre of Campus West (where most science buildings are; the other campus is Campus East which is a 20 minute walk away).
#10 Greg’s Place from across the lake.
This shot was taken just outside the Maths Department. Across the lake is Greg’s Place and to the right of the picture (looking like a spaceship) is Central Hall.
#11 The field near Heslington Church.
This was where NatSciSoc held their last social, the ‘Summer Informal’, this year. Check out @natscisocietyyork on Instagram for other socials they’ve run too.). We first had lunch (and drinks) at the nearby pub, then we came here for a short award ceremony and rounders!
There are many places to study, eat or take a break in on campus. Here are just a few of my favourites:
#12 Study spaces with a view.
In the Morrell library, the top floor is perfect if you want to focus for a few hours. When you want a quick break, you can just look outside the window and enjoy the view!
#13 Eating on campus.
I once went to ‘The Link’ with some Natural Sciences buddies after our last Chemistry lab of the year. We celebrated with some noodles and bubble waffles (which I highly recommend that you try).
If the ‘I-want-to-study-more-than-one-science’ mentality that we have hasn’t been clear yet, Natural Scientists tend have a wide range of interests. This can also be seen when you look at what we do outside of studying:
#14 Musical Natural Scientists.
You’ll find Natural Scientists that are part of musical ensembles such as the University Choir, The Chimera Ensemble, and Jazz & Big Band Society. This is the ‘Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall’, where they perform from time to time.
#15 Sporty Natural Scientists.
You’ll also find Natural Scientists who also play netball, badminton, football, boxing, and volleyball as a few examples. Natural Sciences has been home to the president of Derwent College’s basketball club (@derwentbasketball), a few hockey captains (@alcuinhockey, @uyhc_official) and the president of taekwondo club (@uoytaekwondo). You’ll even find us in Ultimate Frisbee Club, Mountaineering Club and Sailing & Windsurfing Club. This is a picture of the Athletics track, situated next to the York Sport Centre.
#16 Many other interests.
Natural Sciences has also been home to the president of Swing Society (@uoyswingstagram), the president of Psychedelics in Medicine Society (@uoypsychedelicsoc), the secretary of Astronomy Society (@uoyastroduck), the treasurer of the Metal & Alternative Music Society (@thefringe_metal_society) and the treasurer of Technical Theatre Society (@uoytechsoc). This is a picture of the YUSU Student Centre, which is home to YUSU who organise the societies and clubs across the university. YUSU also organises the student representation within Natural Sciences. This means that you’ll have students representing your voice in important meetings.
One more thing. To me, no problem can be solved through the lens of a single discipline. Here at York, the interdisciplinary groups and research facilities are at the top of their game. For example, we have the ‘Physics of Life’ group who bridge together biology and physics, and the ‘BioArCh‘ research centre where archaeologists, biologists and chemists collaborate. Next year I’m really looking forward to my final year project studying neurons in both fruit flies and humans!
That’s it from me! My experience so far has been a lot of fun. I’ve made a lot of friends, including Natural Scientists, along the way that have really made my time worthwhile!
#17 A bonus picture.
Greg’s Place again. Goodbye for now!
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