College visitors get hands-on with psychology education at UCLan
Psychology students from Huddersfield New College have been testing how their brains work during a visit to the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).
The A Level students spent the day with UCLan’s psychology expert Dr Gayle Brewer in the University’s brain imaging lab and child observation suite to get hands-on with the subject and see how it is studied at higher education level, including looking at related mental health issues such as psychosis.
Huddersfield New College student Eleanor Merritt, 17, tested out the Brain Imaging Lab’s state-of-the-art equipment, which uses EEG scans to record brain activity. She said: “It’s been really interesting to see what equipment the students can use for research and also openly discussing mental health and how it ties in with psychology.”
"It’s been really interesting to see what equipment the students can use for research and also openly discussing mental health and how it ties in with psychology."
The visit was organised by Russell Hogarth and Nigel Farnworth from UCLan’s Creative Communities Group (CCG) after CCG members delivered a successful mental health and wellbeing conference in Huddersfield New College back in June. Following a welcome talk from UCLan Pro Vice-Chancellor Joel Arber, the students spoke to Nigel and engineering lecturer Matt Dickson about real-life mental health experiences. They were also given a tour of UCLan’s engineering facilities by Matt who shared how his mental health issues haven’t held him back during a successful career.
Huddersfield New College psychology course leader Tracy Holland added: “The students have found today’s visit really engaging, particularly when learning about real-life mental health issues. Today has allowed them to put the theory they learn in the classroom into practise.”
