This module allows students to experience the application of physical principles to the solution of a scientific question placed in an industrial/research context. For example, projects have been run in conjunction with EDF, Procter & Gamble, Coltraco Ultrasonics, Magnitude Biosciences and Kromek. Durham students have learnt more than they ever expected about freezing ice cream, what goes on inside a dishwasher, how gas pipes are inspected, and numerous other applications of physics outside the classroom.
The Team Projects scheme evolved about 20 years ago out of the Enterprise in Higher Education scheme and, until recently, Team Projects were a unique feature of the Durham Physics course. It was so successful that the Institute of Physics asked Durham to lead a project to help other physics departments in the UK to start similar courses. Since then, several other departments (15 at the time of writing) in the UK have started their own courses based on the Durham Team projects!
In 2015, the Bragg Medal and Prize of the Institute of Physics was awarded to Prof. Paula Chadwick for her work on developing the Team Projects.
Information for students and clients
More information on previous work completed during the Team Projects can be found here