Careers in Ideas was delighted to attend Physics at Work 2026 at the University of Cambridge from 15-17th September 2026. Chris Burnett has kindly written a review of the event:
Physics at Work is an event designed to show 14-16 year olds the wide range of careers that studying physics can lead to, and the many real-world problems that physics helps solve.
Over the three days, around 20 schools attended, with students rotating through 12 different stations covering subjects including optoelectronics, astrophysics, brain imaging and particle physics. In total, the Careers in Ideas team spoke to more than 700 students, making it one of our largest ever outreach engagements.
Representing Careers in Ideas were Debbie Slater, Anu Vibhakar, Oliver Pooley, Sheila Wallace and Chris Burnett, who introduced students to the diverse career opportunities available within the intellectual property profession.
The event was a particularly valuable opportunity for Careers in Ideas, as there are relatively few occasions to engage with such large numbers of students before they make their A-level choices. Many students were surprised to learn that STEM graduates can pursue rewarding careers in innovation, patents, trade marks and other areas of IP, rather than following purely research or laboratory-based career paths.
Students travelled from across the country, including schools from Lancashire, Norwich and Kent, reflecting Cambridge’s commitment to widening participation and ensuring that young people from a broad range of backgrounds can engage with science and higher education.
Physics at Work continues to be an excellent platform for inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers. Careers in Ideas was proud to provide a complementary perspective, highlighting the important role that IP professionals play in protecting and commercialising innovation, and showing students how a STEM degree can open doors far beyond the laboratory.