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Seven Questions with Armin Ziadlourad

21 January 2019

Armin is an Astrophysics student and last summer was accepted onto the Tuition Fee Free Summer School scheme provided by UCL Study Abroad. He enjoyed a 10-week research opportunity at City University of Hong Kong, a highlight of his UCL experience so far.

Student A Ziadlourad

What are you studying, why are you interested in this subject and what do you plan to do in the future?
I am studying a four-year Astrophysics course at UCL. For the majority of my young life I have been absolutely obsessed with astronomy, physics, and all things space, and thus choosing to study a degree such as Astrophysics at university seemed like the perfect route for me. I am fascinated by understanding how things work, why they work, and what purpose they serve in our greater universe. Physics underpins the existence of everything around us, and I cannot think of a more fulfilling subject to study at university. I hope to go into further study after my initial degree to expand my knowledge in other subjects I am interested in, such as machine learning and space technologies.

What is the most interesting thing you’ve done, seen or got involved with while at UCL?
The most interesting experience I have had during my time at UCL was last summer, when I was accepted onto the Tuition Fee Free Summer School scheme provided by UCL Study Abroad. This consisted of a 10-week research opportunity in the College of Science and Engineering at City University of Hong Kong, with my primary focus on computational intelligence.

The trip was fascinating and enlightening, as I was able to experience a completely different culture on the other side of the world and learn extensively about the historic past of Hong Kong. As well as this, I learnt a lot during my research at the university, which has helped me this year in discovering new opportunities and careers paths I would otherwise not have been able to access. The opportunity  also gave me the chance to visit multiple industrial sites, with leading companies and organisations giving us insight into how they operate in one of the most successful cities in the world. Furthermore, the experience of short-term mobility, and learning how to adapt to culture shock, has helped me extensively in developing my life skills, and growing as an individual.

I had not originally known anything about the Study Abroad team during my first year, until one of my friends luckily mentioned them to me during a quick conversation. After doing some reading on their website, I discovered that they had a multitude of opportunities available for students across all degree subjects. I had previously believed that because my degree course was not integrated with a year abroad I would never have the chance to experience studying in a different country, however the  Study Abroad team changed this. The application process, although very competitive, was easy, and I was given a lot of support by the team before, during and after my  time in Hong Kong. I would recommend all students apply to the opportunities provided by Study Abroad, so they too can access the wonderful experiences that I had during my summer abroad. There’s nothing to lose!

Have you discovered any hidden gems during your time at UCL?
One of my favourite places on campus to relax, read or even study is definitely Medawar Gardens behind the Henry Morley building. This is one of the few places on campus that is calm and peaceful during the hectic lunch hours and is very quiet throughout the day. There are lots of benches, trees, and a tranquil atmosphere that is otherwise very difficult to find! I hope this doesn’t change once this is published!  

Give us your top three things to do/see/go to in London:
Stargazing in Regent’s Park: this is quite an unknown event to a lot of people, but every month the Baker Street Irregular Astronomers meet in Regent’s Park for some observing and exploration of the sky. The meetings are open to everyone, and you do not need to have any telescope experience or knowledge to attend. It’s astronomy in central London, and participation is completely free, what’s not to love?

The Royal Society: The Royal Society regularly has lectures and seminars held across London which cover a range of subjects and topics of discussion. Most of the events are free, and the quality of debate and discussion is always extremely high. I most recently attended one led by Professor Brian Cox, entitled, “You and AI”. If you are new to London, or have lived here your whole life, the Royal Society is definitely worth a visit!

Santander Cycles: this one is simple. Get on a bike, it’s very cheap, and cycle for a whole day around London. There are many routes and paths which have designated cycle lanes, so it is best to plan your route in advance! You can put aside one Saturday or Sunday and have a very fun day exploring London while staying active at the same time.

If you were Provost for the day what one thing would you do?
I would increase the number of study spaces available for students across campus. During exam season it can get very, very crowded, and lots of people often don’t have space to work. Maybe commission certain lecture theatres or rooms to become permanent study spaces during the exam term, or create pop-up study tents in the main quad. 

Who inspires you and why?
I would have to say my parents inspire me most of all. Their life lessons have been invaluable in getting me to where I am, and the hard work I observe in them has allowed me to develop into the person I am today. They have taught me to be mentally strong, determined, and to persevere when in bad situations.

What would it surprise people to know about you?
As much as I love physics, I also have a secret passion for history. I love to read about the past, and understand how and why events which shape our present day happened.

You can find out more about Tuition Fee Free Summer Places here. The deadline for applications is 4 February 2019 at 23:59.