Newcastle University Computing and Technology Society Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Newcastle University’s Computing and Technology Society (NUCATS) is celebrating a significant milestone this month - its 10th anniversary.
13 September 2024
Since its inception, the society has become a cornerstone for tech enthusiasts, offering a variety of tech-related, gaming and social events for the University’s students.
To mark this occasion, Chris Napier, founding president of NUCATS, reflects on the society’s origins and his ongoing work with the School of Computing.
Chris, who originally began his university studies at Bristol University, found the experience isolating due to a lack of student support networks. He decided to return to his roots in the North East and began his first year again at Newcastle University. Inspired by the diverse and vibrant student societies at Newcastle, he recognised a demand among Computer Science students for a dedicated society and found NUCATS in 2014.
The founding of NUCATS
Chris said: “It was at Newcastle University where I first discovered societies and saw the benefits of students coming together over shared interests. I knew from conversations with other students that there was a demand for a Computing society, so I decided to create one.
“There are several strands to the NUCATS society – including, of course, our social events. There were many students on the Computing Science undergraduate programmes who were neurodivergent or had social anxiety, but by joining our society nights out (where our officers would take it in turns to stay sober!) we were able to help our members stay safe and socialise with others. A variety of events were organised for students who were potentially struggling, whether with their mental health or coursework, these events could offer peer support and a place to think about things other than coursework or exams.
“One of the standout features of NUCATS has been its annual 24-hour gameathon, which started in 2014/15. The event raised over £10,000 in its first three years, thanks to the support of local and national companies who donated prizes, and the society has continued to raise money for charities including Special Effect, The People’s Kitchen, and Guide Dogs.”
NUCATS has also been instrumental in bridging the gap between students and the tech industry. Chris added: “We collaborated with local companies to organise workshops and challenges, providing members with practical experience and networking opportunities.
“These companies regularly employ Computing Science graduates, so by taking part in these events, participants have been able to build connections that could be used during otherwise nerve-wracking interviews.”
In 2016, under Chris’ leadership, NUCATS was awarded Newcastle University Students’ Union’s ‘Society of the Year’ - a remarkable achievement for such a newly formed society.
A legacy of growth and community engagement
Reflecting on his time as President of NUCATS, Chris said: “My involvement in the society helped me to develop skills that I still use to this day. When I came to Newcastle University, I was quite a shy student but through the society I was able to increase my confidence as I had to work with lots of different types of people. As I was working with local business (who became society sponsors) my interpersonal skills expanded and now I’ll happily talk to anyone.”
After graduation, Chris started teaching at Newcastle University and has since transitioned to the Civil Service, where he works as the Risk and Reporting Lead for the UK COVID-19 Public Inquiry setup to examine the UK’s response to the pandemic.
Despite his career shift, Chris’s passion for education and student engagement remains strong. He has retained close links with the School of Computing and has returned as Visiting Fellow, contributing to the School’s outreach programme and widening participation initiatives.
“When I was NUCATS president, we worked with colleagues to introduce outreach programmes, where society members would go into local schools to run workshops and talk to students about university life.
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NUCATS social events
“When Nick Cook retired in 2023 from his post as Senior Lecturer and Outreach Coordinator, I spoke to Graham Morgan the Head of School about how the school would continue with its widening participation efforts and thought back to the outreach work I had done as a student and staff member. I decided to return to the university as a volunteer as I am passionate about educating the next generation of computer scientists.
“As part of the school’s outreach programme, I now work with schools from across the North East and run free activities for students aged 7 to 18. For many schools they might not be able to fund or manage the equipment we have available at the university, so by engaging with our outreach activities their students can access facilities they otherwise wouldn’t. Throughout the 2023/24 academic year over 400 students took part and next year we’d love to work with even more.”
NUCATS visit Bletchley Park. Bletchley Park was home to the codebreakers who helped to end World War II.
Contact us about outreach opportunities
If you’d like more information about the School of Computing’s Outreach opportunities, please email cs.outreach@ncl.ac.uk