Natural Sciences

Natural sciences can be studied at any college, but Peterhouse may be particularly attractive to you if:

(a) you might wish to make use of the wide variety of study grants that the college provides for vacation work placements, projects and field-work opportunities,

(b) you would enjoy working together with a small group of friends, as you make progress through your three or four years here, 

(c) you would enjoy being part of a college with a proud scientific history past and present.

Peterhouse was the first to be founded in the University of Cambridge, has produced five Nobel Laureates in the last 60 years, and is still at the cutting edge of scientific endeavour.  Its current Fellows, those who might teach you, work in astrophysics (star formation), particle physics (CERN), molecular biology, ecology, evolution, conservation, chemistry and genetics, and each year undergraduates leave to start careers in those (and other) areas.  The College is known for the warm welcome its existing students give those who arrive, and looks forward to meeting you when you come.

Peterhouse has the strongest links to CERN of any college. Two of our teaching Fellows regularly work at CERN and one is the head of the physics department. They are:

	Prof Andy Parker. Head of Physics Department, currently head of the university's Particle Physics group, ex glider pilot, and lectures particle-astrophysics courses. He teaches physics to first year students at Peterhouse and works on the ATLAS experiment at CERN, looking for exotic states of matter, and has run a number of summer projects connected to ATLAS, for Peterhouse students.
	Dr Chris Lester. University Lecturer and Director of Studies (DoS) for "physical" natural scientists at Peterhouse. He usually teaches maths and particle physics to students at Peterhouse. He also works on the ATLAS experiment at CERN, looking for invisible particles that might make up dark matter and supersymmetry. He is occasionally known to lecture from one of his unicycles.

Many Peterhouse students have gone on to work in High Energy or Theoretical Physics, and/or have undertaken project work at CERN. Many people who came to Peterhouse to study Natural Sciences intending to specialise in physics end up finding that some other part of Natural Sciences is even more interesting. In the last six years, Peterhouse natural scientists who took physics have gone on work in a huge number of different areas including: management of a multi-billion pound oil refinery; teaching in schools; scientific research from Zoology to History of Science; the priesthood; banking; and management consultancy (to name just a few).

Dr Justin Gerlach is a College Lecturer in Biology and Director of Studies at Peterhouse. He specialises in teaching whole-organismal biology and scientific writing, and carries out evolutionary research as a sideline. His goal in teaching is to convey an enthusiasm for all biodiversity and to foster scientific writing of the very highest standard. Both his teaching and research are based on the the view that understanding anything biological requires a knowledge of normal function and evolutionary ancestry. This applies to everything, whether it be a specific gene or the whole elephant. He also runs termly surveys of the wildlife of Peterhouse's gardens and organises field-work projects

Dr. Graham Christie is a Fellow and Director of Studies at Peterhouse. He is a microbiologist and heads the Molecular Microbiology research group within the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology. He supervises Part 1A Biology of Cells, drawing upon his research interests in bacterial molecular genetics, structural biology and advanced cellular imaging techniques.

Dr Andrew Tanentzap is a Bye-Fellow of Peterhouse and leads the Ecosystems and Global Change research group within the Department of Plant Sciences. His research is interested in understanding how species arise and assemble into communities, and the ways in which disturbances alter biological communities and the benefits that they provide to humans in terms of water, food, and carbon storage. In his research, he uses theoretical models, experiments, and long-term observations across all scales of organisation from genes to landscapes.

First year biological courses are mostly taught by Peterhouse Fellows and Lecturers, providing structure and close support to the first year. Some continuity of supervisors carries on into the second year, although at this point students are taught by a much wider range of high quality supervisors. Biology at Peterhouse aims to provide the best in teaching and to enable students to develop a wide ranging but also coherent understanding of biological systems. This applies to students with a primary interest in biology but also to other Natural Scientists, even if they are studying just one biological course. External links give further details of biology at Peterhouse and full details of the Natural Sciences 1A courses.

Peterhouse "science" can claim five Nobel Prize winners among its past and present members:

• Sir Aaron Klug - Nobel Prize for developments in crystallographic electron microscopy
• Max Perutz - Nobel Prize for determining the structure of haemoproteins
• Sir John Kendrew - Nobel Prize for determining the structure of haemoproteins
• Archer Martin - Nobel Prize for developing partition chromatography.
• Michael Levitt - Nobel Prize for development of multiscale models for complex chemical systems

in addition to a number of eminent scientists and inventors including:

• Lord Kelvin - one of the founders of thermodynamics,
• Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle - Inventor of the Jet Engine
• Charles Babbage - Originated the concept of a programmable computer
• Henry Cavendish - Discovered hydrogen and was first person to "weigh" The Earth
• Sir Christopher Cockerell - Inventor of the hovercraft
• Sir James Dewar - Inventor of the explosive cordite, and the thermos flask.

Candidates are asked to indicate whether this wish to apply as a Physical or Biological scientist, however this does not restrict options at all once at Cambridge and is done to determine how your application will be assessed and which interviews you will receive. Candidates should be honest about their interests as this is one of the things assessed at interview. Depending on your interests among the first year courses (below) and the A level (or equivalent) subjects you are taking, it can make sense to apply as a Biological scientist if you think you wish to specialise in Chemistry, for example.

Physical scientists should be studying Mathematics and at least one of Chemistry or Physics to A level or equivalent, with Further Mathematics and the other of Chemistry or Physics to A level advantageous. Applicants in the Biological Sciences are expected to be studying two of Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Maths to A level or equivalent, and a third such subject is advantageous. Applicants to Chemical Engineering via Natural Sciences are expected to be studying Mathematics and Chemistry to A level or equivalent, and Physics and/or Further Mathematics to A level is highly desirable, as is Biology to at least AS level.

In addition to this, some subject choices in the first year are dependent on particular A levels. In the first year, three subjects are chosen from: Biology of Cells, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Evolution & Behaviour, Materials Science, Physics, and Physiology of Organisms.  Appropriate entry requirements (A levels or equivalent) for each course are given in the list below.  All first-year Natural Sciences students also take a maths course: Mathematics (for physical scientists, A level Mathematics is essential) or Mathematical Biology (for biologists). Candidates for Biological Natural Sciences without A level Mathematics will receive extra tuition and support before and during the first term to assist them in Mathematical Biology, however considerable independent study is expected before such students arrive in Cambridge.

Biology of Cells:  A level Chemistry highly desirable; A level Biology useful.

Chemistry:  A level Chemistry essential; AS or A level Maths highly desirable (A level Maths is essential if you plan to continue with Chemistry in the second year).

Computer Science:  A level Maths essential.  AS or A level Further Maths and/or Physics are useful.  No previous knowledge of the subject is necessary but some understanding of programming is helpful.

Earth Sciences:  Recommended: at least two of Physics, Chemistry and Biology to A level.  No previous knowledge of the subject is necessary.

Evolution and Behaviour:  A level Biology is highly desirable.

Materials Science:  A level Mathematics, and at least one of Physics or Chemistry is highly desirable.  No previous knowledge of the subject is necessary.

Physics:  A level Mathematics is essential along with either Physics or Further Maths (with 3 units of Mechanics).  AS or A level Further Maths is useful preparation. Please note that the Mathematics for physical sciences option must be taken with this option.

Physiology of Organisms:  A level Biology is highly desirable, A level Physics is useful.

Candidates are asked to specify in their application whether they wish to focus on primarily Biological or Physical Sciences. This choice is non-binding and students can take whatever courses they are qualified for in the first year, but each group is interviewed by an appropriate team of interviewers depending on their specialism. If an applicant wishes to specialise in primarily biological sciences but wants to have the option of taking a physics course in their first year, they should inform the Admissions Office of this so that a separate physics interview can be arranged. The final choice of first year courses is only confirmed once students arrive in October and some students switch ‘sides’ every year on arrival. This is the advantage of such a flexible course.

All applicants for Natural Sciences across the University will be asked to sit a pre-interview written assessment at their school, college or local testing centre on 2nd November. These will form part of our holistic assessment of candidates' achievements, abilities and potential and are no more, and no less important than any of the other pieces of information considered during the admissions process. Registration for this assessment closes on 15th October. Further information can be found on the University website.

Usually three Science Fellows and the Admissions Tutor conduct the two 30 minute interviews. In addition to general questions, they will ask some scientific questions; they do not necessarily expect candidates to know a "correct answer", but are interested in their response to ideas or problems which may be unfamiliar.

Our typical conditional offer for Natural Sciences is A*A*A at A level. IB offers are usually for a minimum of 40-42 points, to include 776 or 777 at Higher level in relevant subjects. We would expect the highest grades to be achieved in science or mathematics subjects. Offers are designed to be realistic, taking into account individual circumstances, and to reflect potential and likely levels of achievement. Most of those who receive offers will attain the grades required.