A physics student with an artistic flair
Engineering Physics student Beth Foster caught our eye when her whiteboard "doodles" of famous physicists were deemed so good no one wanted to erase them!
Academic staff and students in the Department of Physics were very impressed by Beth's portraits of Professors Brian Cox and Albert Einstein, lovingly rendered in marker pens...although Beth usually works with paint!
The quick sketches of two famous scientists were such a welcome addition to the Department, that they were left on the board for everyone to see.
Beth explains:
When I was revising, I liked to doodle to take a break from the screens and relax a little (hence the ones on the whiteboard in the Department). But when I'd get home in my spare time, I would paint commissions for friends and family.
Beth's latest commission has come from her Loughborough family, however. When the School of Science found out about her paintings, they commissioned her to paint a large portrait of Emmy Noether, the famous German mathematician and physicist. The finished piece will be hung in the Department of Physics for the start of the new academic year.
She says:
I am honoured to have this opportunity to leave a little mark in the place that has so greatly helped me become the physicist I am today.
The Loughborough Family
Beth already has a strong family connection to the University. Both of her parents graduated from Loughborough in 1982 (her mum from Art and Design, her dad from Electrical and Electronic Engineering).
I come from a truly 'Loughborough Family' so it seemed only natural follow in their footsteps and study here. When I came to the open day I felt instantly at home, and I knew that this was the place for me. Funnily enough I was even allocated the same fresher accommodation that both my parents stayed in during their first years back '78 and '79.
I knew from a young age that I wanted to study physics. When I was 10 my aunt took me to several visitor open days at Sellafield. I became fascinated with nuclear physics which instigated my passion for problem solving and understanding how the world works. The engineering side of me was inherited from my dad who is an award-winning innovator in the world of telecommunications. He showed me just how rewarding it is to see ideas come to life in real applications. It seemed only natural to study Engineering Physics at Loughborough university.
Physics at Loughborough
The best thing about this course was the sheer breadth of content that I studied. One day I was learning the mechanics of wind turbines and the next day I was programming radiotherapy cancer treatment simulations. It has opened many career possibilities which I had never considered before.
Beth says studying Engineering Physics at Loughborough has helped her discover new interests in different areas and industries - and opened up career possibilities she had never considered before!
I hope to make a positive impact in the energy industry. One day I would like to work on some low carbon technology projects and be at the forefront of innovation in a rapidly evolving industry. During my course at Loughborough, I undertook a placement with National Grid, and I was able to apply my engineering and physics knowledge to real life infrastructure. Knowing that my work was implemented on a national scale was incredibly rewarding for me, and I am delighted to have secured a graduate role with National Grid which I will start in September this year.
A great experience
Beth is full of praise for the wide variety of extracurricular activities available at Loughborough, including our famous sporting opportunities! She enjoyed having everything "at her fingertips on campus" and being able to watch her friends perform at jazz and dance nights, as well as trying new activities herself.
I’ve tried so many new things outside of my course such as weightlifting and American football which have allowed me to develop a huge social network through recreational sports. It’s nice to walk through campus during the day because you will always bump into someone you know.
Artist at work!
Despite everything else she's had going on, Beth has found plenty of time to pursue her love of painting. In addition to her portraits of friends and family (pets included!), she was recently selected to compete in ARTBATTLE London against 11 other artists in the UK! This was a live, against-the-clock painting challenge in front of an audience...
I managed to control my nerves and make it through the heats to the final where I competed against three other finalists. I painted a baroque style figurative piece against the clock. After the final countdown, I was over the moon to be voted the winner of the London Battle 2022. Since the competition I have also exhibited in Fitzrovia, and I am due to compete at more Art Battles across the country later this summer.
We wish Beth all the success with these competitions - and we can't wait to see her Loughborough commission take pride of place in the Physics department. Ultimately, Beth's story shows that whatever your course and whatever your talents and interests, there are always opportunities to shine. Everyone becomes part of "the Loughborough Family"!
