Stephen Wattam
BSc Computer Science Innovation 09
First Class Honours
Why did you chose your course and what did you gain from it? What was the most exciting or interesting part of it?
I started off on the stock CS course in first year, but soon started attending the CSI tutorials because they covered even more interesting topics, including ones which I'd not done before. The regular CS course is very focused on practical material rather than fostering an understanding of the topics, and I prefer the theoretical side of most things. My application to change course in first year was rejected, so I had to prove myself in order to move.
The most interesting part of CSI has been the discovery of the many different topics not covered in the other streams. The focus on seminar teaching allowed for some genuinely interesting discussions and explorations of topics without the stuffy overtones of the teacher-student relationship that is so prevalent in lectures. This focus is carried through into an academic, relaxed approach to problem solving.
Why did you chose Lancaster University?
Lancaster's course had a broad range of topics, most of which I had dabbled with in personal projects. Essentially the course allowed me to build upon areas I'd looked at and really get to understand them, as well as the context in which they're used, and the current research in the area.
The non-academic features of university never much influenced my decision, but its proximity to the lake district and availability of on-campus facilities such as shops are most useful.
Were there enough facilities?
The Computing Department provides places to work and ensures 24 hour access, which is invaluable. There's also a wealth of resources available for completing projects that require rare hardware, and usually someone will be around who's worked on it.
Lancaster is quite a small town when it comes to everyday facilities, however this is perhaps one of the best things about the place - it's almost always possible to buy a pizza!
Can you comment on any work placements or company contact you had?
My summer job last year was gained through the CSI course. It was an internship at a mobile and web development company near manchester, and the commercial experience has proven invaluable both for the completion of tasks in academia and in choosing subsequent jobs and careers.
I'd say that I learned nearly as much at work as I did studying at Lancaster, and that both complimented one another.
What you are doing now in your career?
I'm currently studying for a PhD focusing on statistical techniques and natural language processing, with the intent of going on to work in research.
How did your course influence your career?
The CSI course's focus on research and, obviously innovation, has helped me get an idea of what a job in research would be like, as well as providing many skills to accelerate the process. The industry contact on the course has confirmed my suspicions regarding many industry jobs, and has let me avoid the numbing tedium of writing commodity code!