Owen - Computer Science
I'm Owen, a 2nd year Computer Science student. I love programming and messing around with computer hardware and I'm a technical officer for the Computer Gaming society. In my spare time I collect, repair and upgrade old computers to push them to their limits.
I've always been fascinated by computer hardware and how it's made – I've watched countless factory tours and "How It's Made" videos, and at last I got to make a semiconductor chip for myself in the Diamond.
The Diamond has its own “Clean-Room” specifically for undergraduates, which is a massive rarity in Universities! Following a module about the theory of designing microchips and integrated circuits, I got to go into the Clean-room to actually manufacture a chip for myself using the industry-grade lithography facilities in there. Actually getting hands on and seeing a semiconductor chip become real rather than just theoretical was such a valuable experience to me, especially having watched these factory processes on screen for years.
The computer rooms in the Diamond have been a critical part of my first year, with a lot of my non-lecture time spent there working solo or in groups. The big tables and smart-screens are incredibly useful for group projects, allowing us to cast and share work to show the group and collaborate on developing code much more effectively.
Having access to the iForge has also boosted my computer restoration hobby – I recently manufactured a custom mounting bracket for a hard-drive by 3D printing one to my own design. The Diamond hasn't just supported my studies – it's given me the tools to turn curiosity into reality.