UPSI welcomes two CUROP students

This summer, the Universities’ Police Science Institute (UPSI) will welcome two students from the School of Social Sciences supporting community research in Grangetown.

Throughout June, Freya Cox and Catherine King will join UPSI to contribute to the Vice Chancellor’s flagship Community Gateway project. They will both support the work of UPSI for four weeks, training members of the public to administer UPSI’s bespoke neighbourhood security interviewing software, ‘SENSOR’, and collecting data on crime and disorder problems in the Grangetown area.

Freya and Catherine both carried out work placements at UPSI earlier this year as part of their second year Working Knowledge module. During their placements, the students worked to code social media and interview data as well as attending conferences and events hosted by the Institute.

Their summer placements have been funded by the Cardiff Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (CUROP), a programme which is considered to be one of the largest undergraduate research schemes in the UK.

CUROP projects provide unique opportunities for students to sample live research, enhance their academic skills and make a more informed decision on furthering their research at postgraduate level.

At the end of the summer, CUROP students from across the university will come together to exhibit posters of their research, share experiences and disseminate research findings to the University audience.

Of her upcoming placement, Freya said: “Working with the UPSI team has given me the chance to be involved in ‘real-life’ research, whilst also gaining invaluable experience in the field.”

Catherine said: “I can’t wait to combine my experience with community work and researching skills. I’m really looking forward to spending my summer doing something meaningful with a great team.”

Dr Helen Innes, placement co-ordinator at UPSI said: “We are delighted to welcome two students in this, our second year of participating in the CUROP scheme. This year our students will play a vital role for us in building closer working links with a local community and other disciplines from across the University. In doing so, they will get a rounded experience of how to initiate and foster effective partnership working, developing and applying a range of research skills in the process.”