Go over and above at Computing Club

All students at the School of Computer Science & Informatics are welcome to attend its popular Computing Club.

Now in its third year, the Club goes from strength to strength with an informal mix of students and staff who come together to discuss ideas and experiment with an interesting mix of exciting technologies.

Students are encouraged to set their own project goals and take ownership for future tasks and developments within the Club.

Current Club members are keen to encourage new students to go along and join them.

You will be given lots of opportunities to benefit from various positive experiences, such as:

• A relaxed and friendly environment where you can create from what you learn
• Learning beyond your degree course; studying around your areas of interest and looking at research, using devices like Kinect, Arduino and Lego Mindstorm
• Discussing new technology and trying new things with likeminded people with common interests – whilst enjoying free hot drinks and biscuits
• Seminars on relevant topics given by both internal and external speakers, which include networking opportunities with the likes of the BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT
• Organised trips to relevant companies and events. Recent visits as well as future destinations include Cardiff Control Centre, BT Innovation Centre, Merlin, Hackathons, IBM Hursley, Bletchley Park and expos.
• Computer related projects
• Summer placement scholarship opportunities.

Current Computing Club regular Jamie Hall said: “The Computing Club is great because it’s an opportunity to get to know students in other years, as well as staff we might not be lectured by and to socialise and work together on a weekly basis. It’s fantastic for enabling us to try out new things and learn more about what we’re interested in. I’ve learned so many interesting technologies and skills, while meeting new mates and getting the most out of my degree."

Fellow member James Nash added: “It gives us the chance to explore any areas of the course that we find interesting, gaining knowledge of new subjects along the way. But most of all, I find Computer Club to be good fun, this is due to the other students and lecturers who attend, creating a friendly and welcoming atmosphere that encourages us to discuss any of our new ideas or thoughts. Also, the free tea and biscuits help, providing you get there early enough to claim the jammy dodgers.”

Another regular Matt John said: "The Computing Club encourages informal discussion between like-minded people who together can accomplish projects otherwise impossible during the degree scheme. It enables you to relate degree modules to real-world scenarios and how to apply what you have previously learnt."

Computing Club for first years starts next Friday 11 November at 1pm in S/2.22 The Sand Pit, and will run every following Friday until teaching week 11.

For further details contact Dr Matthew Morgan.