Sky’s The Limit: Haywards Heath College Students’ Research Published in Journal of Royal Astronomical Society

Students at Haywards Heath College have achieved an extraordinary milestone becoming published co-authors of a scientific research paper in the internationally recognised ‘Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.’

Over the past two years, science students have taken part in the University College London (UCL) ORBYTS programme, working alongside doctoral researchers from UCL to contribute to original scientific research.

Through weekly sessions led by UCL doctoral researcher, Jake Hanlon, students explored cutting-edge topics in astronomy, including exocomets and the potential habitability of planets beyond our Solar System.

Students also presented their research at annual academic conferences hosted by UCL, sharing their findings with audiences of around 200 academics, researchers and fellow students.

The UCL Orbyts Programme is a University College London partnership that connects the students with university researchers to collaborate on real scientific research projects, helping to develop their scientific skills, knowledge and interest in STEM.

The students work involved developing a new quantitative method through mathematical models for assessing the potential habitability of a planetary system

Jake Hanlon, from UCL’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory, said:

“It has been a pleasure building a research partnership with Haywards Heath College. Taking research into the college has allowed me to explore ideas and topics beyond my usual discipline and has become one of the highlights of my PhD.

“Over the past two years, college students have searched for comets in distant planetary systems and, most recently, helped me construct a new equation designed to improve how we identify regions where life could exist beyond our Solar System.

“The success of the research reflects the creativity, curiosity and academic rigour of the college students.”

The students also shared their thoughts on the experience. One student said: “This has been one of the best experiences of my life. Through this programme, I’ve learned what scientific research is really like, and it has inspired me.”

Another said: “I’ve achieved things I never thought I could do.”

Their research paper, ‘A New Metric for Identifying Potentially Habitable Exoplanetary Systems’ is available to read in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, published by Oxford University Press.

Haywards Heath College would like to thank Jake Hanlon and the team at UCL’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory, together with the UCL ORBYTS programme, for providing students with this exceptional opportunity to contribute to original scientific research.

For more information about STEM courses, please come along to the college open event this Monday, (19 October) or Tuesday, 10 November, both running from 4.30-7 pm. For more information about courses at the college, please click here.