Balca Balabaner, a pupil from Year 10 at Burgess Hill School For Girls attended a Smallpiece Trust Materials Technology Course at Cambridge University from 5^th to 8^th January 2009.

Balca attended the University together with several other students from different schools for a four day experience to explore the crucial role of materials science in modern engineering.  They were assigned various projects including building weighing scales and a mousetrap car.

The students attended lectures at the University's Materials Science Department covering subjects such as "Materials For Aircrafts", "Biomaterials" and "Power To The People".  This stay also included a visit to Duxford, part of the Imperial War Museum, reportedly one of the best aircraft museums in Europe.

Balca described the series of 2 hour lectures as "astonishing" and went on to explain that it only felt like 5 minutes as she was enjoying herself so much.  She also described the lecturers as "polite", "enthusiastic" and "passionate about their subject". 

The four day experience was finished off with a formal dinner and speeches.  Balca described her time at Cambridge University as "an amazing experience".

Smallpiece Trust Materials Technology Course at Cambridge University