From HEADSTART to PhD finish – the sky’s the limit
In 2003 Garnet Ridgway arrived at the University Of Liverpool’s School of Engineering for the HEADSTART summer school and 10 years later has now graduated with a PhD in Aerospace Engineering.
Garnet’s experience on his HEADSTART summer school had a lasting impression and ignited a passion to study engineering at Liverpool.
“Attending the HEADSTART Summer School at Liverpool was one of the best decisions I made when I was at school."
Dr Garnet Ridgway
Dr Ridgway said; “Attending the HEADSTART Summer School at Liverpool was one of the best decisions I made when I was at school. HEADSTART at Liverpool gave me a taste of how great the facilities, students and academics are and I knew that it was the place for me to study for an engineering degree.”
HEADSTART gives students the opportunity to meet School of Engineering Undergraduates, find out more about our Aerospace and Engineering degrees and what University life is like in Liverpool.
Following HEADSTART Garnet applied to study Aerospace Engineering at Liverpool and after achieving his degree, he was offered the opportunity to study for a PhD in Flight Science and Technology Research Group undertaking research on novel flight displays for fixed wing aircraft.
Dr Mark White, Aerospace Lecturer and organiser for HEADSTART said; “We are very proud of Garnet and his achievements, this is a real testament to HEADSTART and shows what can be accomplished. Garnet is our first PhD graduate who started his journey with the University of Liverpool at HEADSTART."
Garnet’s PhD focused on the application of nature-inspired guidance methods to passenger airliners, exploring whether ideas from the natural world can assist the design of modern aircraft. Garnet has recently become a Senior Human Factors Engineer at QinetiQ, where he works on projects to enhance the capabilities of military helicopters; although he has promised to return to continue to help with our annual HEADSTART event.
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Notes to editors
HEADSTART is organised nationally by the Engineering Development Trust (EDT) http://www.etrust.org.uk/
HEADSTART is a well-established summer school programme held at top universities throughout the UK.
HEADSTART is designed to inspire and encourage students interested in mathematics and science to apply for Engineering degree courses at university, as well as giving them the opportunity to experience a taste of University life and increase their awareness of career paths and prospects for graduates.
Liverpool’s School of Engineering summer school is the only University in the UK offering HEADSTART Year 12 students an opportunity to experience Aeronautics & Aerospace Engineering. Led by the Liverpool Flight Science Group it gives students a great experience of working in teams to solve aerospace & engineering challenges including the glider competition, programming and flying the flight simulator and visits to local industries.
For more information about HEADSTART visit http://www.etrust.org.uk/headstart/courses.cfm#LIV
STEM subjects = Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths http://www.stemnet.org.uk/