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Last month, the National Innovation Centre for Data (NICD) had the pleasure of hosting Anna Veldhuizen, an enthusiastic A Level student, for a one-week work experience program.
This initiative is part of Newcastle University's ongoing commitment to nurturing young talent and fostering a passion for data science among the next generation, particularly encouraging young women to explore careers in STEM.
I. A week of learning and growth
At NICD, Anna had the chance to explore the world of data science, artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation. Under the guidance of our data science experts, she was introduced to various facets of the field, from data collection and processing to analysis and visualisation.
Here we explore Anna’s experiences over the week she spent with NICD and how it has influenced her future aspirations:
Monday
Anna began her week with a tour of the building and introductions to her new colleagues. She was set up with her tasks for the week by Senior Data Scientist Dr Peter Michalak. Anna had an opportunity for a hands-on exploratory data analysis of open-source Spotify dataset, tried a sentiment analysis using pre-trained deep learning models and learnt about Large Language Models, generative AI and the use of intelligent assistants.
Peter also provided a lesson in computer programming in Python, walking Anna through the software stack used by the NICD technical team, such as VS Code, GitHub, and useful Python packages.
The day included team meetings where ongoing projects were discussed, followed by a tour of the Helix Site and main University campus with our Outreach Manager Angela Craggs. The day concluded with a code review session with Peter, offering valuable advice.
Image: NICD Team.
Tuesday
Anna continued working on her set tasks and Python notebooks. She met with Colin Fergusson from the Altitude Foundation to discuss outreach plans with school students and toured Newcastle University’s School of Computing Urban Sciences Building with Matt Linsley, NUSolve Manager, learning about potential study choices and academic programs at Newcastle University.
The day ended with a meeting with NICD’s Technical Director Richie Ramsden to discuss her future study options.
Image: Urban Sciences Building, Newcastle University
Wednesday
Anna shadowed Data Scientist Dr Antonia Kontratou, who introduced her to the workshop "Making Large Language Models Work for the Enterprise," facilitated by Dr Antonia Kontratou, Dr Jacek Cala, and Dr Matt Edwards.
This workshop was one of a number of fringe events, part of the upcoming Thinking Digital conference. Anna learned about Large Language Models and their applications in enterprises. The afternoon was spent setting up and attending the workshop at Newcastle University’s Business School.
Image: Dr Antonia Kontaratou, Data Scientist, National Innovation Centre for Data.
Thursday
Anna attended the Thinking Digital conference, where she listened to twelve speakers discuss diverse topics relevant to companies and technology. This provided a broad perspective on current industry trends and innovations.
Image: Thinking Digital conference, The Glasshouse, Gateshead.
Friday
The final day of Anna’s work placement was spent working through open questions and finalising her tasks. Anna attended a NICD team meeting where she shared highlights of her week.
She had a lunch meeting with Professor Paul Watson to discuss her overall experience and future aspirations.
Image: Professor Paul Watson, Director, National Innovation Centre for Data.
II. Gaining skills and experience
Throughout the week, Anna learned basic coding in Python, including using the Pandas library. She worked on practical tasks like accessing the Google Colab environment and applying Python code to data sets.
Additionally, she gained insight into the structure of a typical workday in an office, how meetings are organised, and the dynamics of a professional environment. .
III. Future aspirations
Reflecting on her experience, Anna said:
“I thoroughly enjoyed my work experience week with NICD. I thought that everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful, with Antonia and Peter helping me when I was stuck on the coding assignments... and of course Angela for arranging this whole week.
I think that the NICD office and overall Helix Campus is very nice. I definitely enjoyed the python notebooks, as I learned basic code and made command and graphs with my own code. I also enjoyed helping with the Thinking Digital workshop...
Overall, I thought the week was very enjoyable and I feel like I learned a lot, not just about coding but also about what it is like to work in an office and what the work dynamics are actually like."
Anna, A Level Student
The NICD team was equally impressed by Anna's dedication and enthusiasm:
"Anna was an excellent student, highly engaged with an agenda throughout the experience week. She picked up the tools very quickly, actively participating and contributing to discussions. It’s always rewarding to see young minds excited about exploring the possibilities of a career in data science.
We look forward to supporting more students like Anna and helping them discover their potential."
Dr Peter Michalak, Data Scientist, NICD
"It is always a pleasure to work with enthusiastic young people. Like Anna, they are full of ideas and positive energy!"
Dr Antonia Kontaratou, Data Scientist, NICD
IV. Conclusion
The National Innovation Centre for Data believes in the power of education and hands-on experience. Anna's week with us was a testament to the bright future of data science and AI, and we are proud to have been a part of her journey.
We wish her all the best in her academic and professional endeavours.
For more information about our work experience programs and other educational initiatives, visit the Newcastle University website.
