Work Experience at LIDA – Alex Duley

I felt inspired to come to LIDA for my lower-sixth work experience placement, since I am intrigued by the use of data and to what extent it influences research and wider society. During the week, I have developed an understanding for how the data is analysed and, more practically, how it is put to use for business and study. Over the course of the week, I have met with various members of LIDA staff, who were kind enough to take the time to explain and demonstrate their varying roles within the institute. Aside from this, I was set a piece of work to complete on Big Data, assessing the opportunities and challenges it may present for the future. In addition to this, I have been working through an introductory online R-Studio course, learning techniques for handling, analysing and visualising spatial data within R. These skills will be greatly useful for the future, and I will definitely be using them to create statistical models for my A-level Geography coursework, that I am set to start in September. In the upcoming months, I plan to begin work on my EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) paper, attend university open days and begin to consider my future beyond Roundhay Sixth Form. I feel that I have learned a great deal from my time at LIDA, and I am very grateful to all those who helped make it beneficial.