Here in the Department, we want to raise the profile of Computer Science and Technology and inspire young people to think about study and careers in this field. So we run, and take part in, a range of activities aimed at engaging the public, enthusing prospective students and encouraging wider participation.
Cambridge Festival
We open our doors to the public every spring, running a day of events and activities at the annual Cambridge Festival. In March 2023, visitors were able to meet our robots, make music with code and play a game of virtual football with AI footballers, among other activities. We're already planning for our event in March 2024.
Undergraduate Open Days 2023
We take part in the University's annual Cambridge Open Days in July and September where would-be undergraduates can find out what it's like to study here. At the July Open Days we offer an admissions talk, tours, hands-on activities, a sample lecture and opportunities to meet students and academic staff and ask questions about studying here. It is essential to register in advance to attend. (Read more about our 2023 July Open Days here.)
The Cambridge Open Day on Friday 15 September 2023 will be a smaller in-person Open Day focused on the Colleges. Many Colleges will open for tours, talks and drop-in sessions. See details and how to register here. Though this Department will not be open during the September Open Day, you can access our sample lectures and watch an Open Day video by visiting this page and selecting 'Computer Science' from the subjects listed.
Undergraduate study events
The University and colleges offer many events throughout the year where prospective undergraduates can find out more about subjects they're interested in studying here, hear about the admissions process, discover College life is like, and pick up lots of useful information. They include events for students of African and Caribbean origin, for students with experience of being in care, and for students who identify as female or non-binary and who are interested in studying science. Browse the full list of undergraduate study events here.
Sutton Trust Summer School 2023
The Department offers a Sutton Trust Computer Science Summer School every year. The Sutton Trust Summer School in August 2023 will run 14-18 August, offering participants the opportunity to spend a week living in a Cambridge college, attending sample lectures and taking part in practical work and supervisions.
Physics at Work
Many of our undergraduates and researchers take Physics as one of their A Level subjects and apply their learning and skills in areas including artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics. In September 2023, we'll be taking part in the three-day Physics at Work event, showing 14-16-year-olds some of the practical problems in Computer Science that physics can be used to solve.
Women in Computer Science programme
The Women in Computer Science programme is a sustained programme running over 5 months that gives female and non-binary students in Year 12 an insight into what studying Computer Science at university is like.
The programme involves discussion groups which introduce students to different areas of Computer Science, and completing a research project in an area of their choice under the guidance of a current University of Cambridge student. All students who submit a completed research project will be invited to a residential event in Cambridge to celebrate their achievement, where they can meet each other in person and experience Cambridge for themselves. Nominations for this programme are open until Friday 19th January 2024. You can find out more about the programme here.
Postgraduate Open Day
For those considering applying for the MPhil in Advanced Computer Science and/or the PhD in Computer Science, the virtual Cambridge Postgraduate Open Days are a great opportunity to talk to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges online and find out more about courses, application process and funding opportunities. The 2023 Cambridge Postgraduate Open Days run 23 - 27 October, with the Department's session taking place on Thursday 26 October 2023. Talks and slides for the event will be available here from 30 October onwards.
Contact details
If you have any questions about our outreach and public engagement activities please contact us at outreach@cst.cam.ac.uk
