Student Profile – Clea Dronne (Physics)

Student experience 3rd September 2020

Clea’s just completed her first year in Physics – she tells us about moving from France and her work in the Women in Science and Engineering Society.

Choosing to study Physics was an easy decision for me, however I hesitated for a long time whether to come study at University in the UK or to stay in France, my home country. My decision was greatly influenced by the Offer Holder Day I attended at the University of Manchester. I loved the campus, as well as the modern infrastructures of the Schuster Building, home of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. I ended up choosing to come to the UK, and I am now about to start the Second Year of my MPhys Physics degree.

Solving problems with physics

Before coming to University, I had never done programming. It is however a key aspect of a Physics degree, and I discovered that I really enjoyed it. Every line of code is a challenge to write, but the problem-solving skills it equips you with are extremely useful, both for your degree and for the rest of our life.

Fascinating labs

Another aspect of my degree I enjoy very much is labs. I do not think I have complained that much about any other of my modules due to the long hours of work it requires, but it is truly fascinating. In my First Year, I have experimentally determined the constant of gravitation Big G, the Rydberg constant and the Quality Factor of an oscillator.

WISE women…

Alongside my degree, I am part of the Women in Science and Engineering Society, of which I was recently became its Chair. At WISE, we aim to give a place for women who study degrees where they are largely underrepresented, a place to meet and share their experiences. We run socials, networking events and talks, to empower these young women with all the skills they will need to excel in life.

What’s next?

I am still not quite sure what I will do when I finish my degree, there are so many areas of Physics that interest me. I don’t know if I will carry on to do a PhD or stop after my MPhys, but I still have a few years to decide.

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