Calling future physicists! Are you a girl in Y12 who would like to learn more about optics and develop your presentation skills? Join us for the 2026 Optics Ambassador Scheme!

In this free, three-month programme, we'll work with you to help you understand more about optics and build the skills to talk about physics using demonstrations to younger pupils. You'll visit King's twice in March and once in June, and we'll meet online between those dates too. We'll loan you an optics kit to take back to your school and, over the summer term, you can work with younger pupils in your school to show them some of the amazing science of light. 

We're looking for keen physics students in Year 12, and we'd ideally like you to apply as a team of 2-3 girls from one school. That way you can help each other when you're working with the younger pupils, but we welcome applications from individuals if you don't have interested colleagues.

Why take part?

• The presentation skills you'll develop are really valuable - from job or university interviews, to presenting in class.
• You'll build confidence both in your physics knowledge and in your ability to explain scientific concepts.
• You'll get insight into studying physics at university, including application top tips.
• You'll be part of a community of girls who are interested in physics, and you'll get to know both them and King's staff and students over the course of the programme.
• It's free!

More information

When is the programme?

You will visit King's in person three times:

• 30th & 31st March
• 30th June

At the second visit in March, we will give you a box of optics kit to take back to your school. You'll need to bring this back to King's with you when you visit us in June.

In between these visits, we will be running some online afterschool workshops to support your ongoing learning (dates TBC).

In the summer term, we'd like you to use the kit we've loaned you to work with other pupils to show them some of the demonstrations you've learned about. This could be through a science/STEM club, in a classroom lesson or in assembly/form time - it will be up to you and your teachers to work out how this would best suit you and your school.

What will I do at King's?

While you're visiting King's, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Do optics experiments in our new state-of-the-art Physics Teaching Laboratories.
• Attend sessions on geometrical optics.
• Have a tour of our historical Strand Campus and our Photonics Research Labs.
• Interact with current students.
• Learn how to make a strong application to university.
• Discover the latest optics research at King’s.

Costs and provision

The programme is free to take part in.

We don't want cost to be a barrier to anyone taking part, so we have a limited number of travel bursaries available to support students who need help with paying for travel. We will ask you about this as part of your application.

We expect participants to be based in or near London. We are not able to provide or pay for accommodation in London.

We expect to provide lunch and refreshments on all three visit days.

Team entries

We recommend that you apply as a team of 2-3 girls from one school, as this will make it easiest for you to share the kit and run the session for younger pupils. However, we know that sometimes you might be the only girl studying physics in your school. That's ok! You can still apply, and if you are successful, we'll either give you a kit to work on your own, or try to pair you up with someone else.

Application timeline

Everyone needs to complete their own application form, even if you're applying as a team. The form will ask you to name the other people in your team, so we'll be able to match up the applications that way.

We will let you know if you are successful by 1st March 2026. You will then have to complete a registration form by 15 March to confirm your place. If we do not receive your registration form by this time, we may give your place to someone else.

Eligibility and selection

This free programme is open to girls currently in Y12 who are currently studying physics at A Level or IB, and are considering studying physics at university.

If we are over-subscribed, we will prioritise places for girls who meet these criteria:

• You attend a state-funded, mixed gender school.
• Your school is in Greater London.
• Your school is identified by King’s Social Mobility & Widening Participation team as high priority.
• You show interest in a career in physics, or a desire to study physics at university (we will look at your answers to the questions in the application form for this).
• Your postcode identifies you as socio-economically disadvantaged, or you are/have been eligible for Free School Meals.

Any questions? Email nmes-outreach@kcl.ac.uk.

FAQs

Do I have to apply with someone else, or can it be just me?

• Generally we recommend you apply with one or two other girls from your school - we are more likely to accept applications in teams. However, if you are the only girl in Y12 at your school studying physics, then don't let this hold you back! Apply anyway and we'll see if we can team you up with someone else, or give you a kit on your own.

If a friend has named me on their application, do I still need to make an application too?

• Yes, we need an application submitted by every member of the team.

I'm at a sixth form college, so there are no younger students at my school. What do I do?

• You are welcome to apply. We'll look for another school near your sixth form college that might be interested in having you visit to work with their students.

Do I get to keep the kit?

• No, unfortunately you have to return the kit to us at the end of the programme. Sorry!

This programme has been generously funded by SPIE.