Lucas Launay, La Châtaigneraie 2022

Lucas Launay

La Châtaigneraie, 2022

Master's in Physics at Imperial College

M. Doré, my maths teacher, had a considerable influence on me academically. He pushed me in exactly the right way to bring out the best in me, and I would go so far as to say that I would not be where I am today without him.

Where are you currently studying, and what course or program did you choose? Why did you choose it?

I am currently working in a cold atom quantum computing research group in Japan after finishing my master's in physics at Imperial College London. I will be returning to Imperial after the summer to pursue research there. I chose to study physics because, like every physicist, I wanted to understand as much as I could about the universe. This curiosity was definitely encouraged at school, and I'm very grateful to the teachers I had, specifically in physics, chemistry and maths, who put up with all my questions! Physics is a beautiful subject in that it allows us to understand the most fundamental aspects of the universe through maths, and to exploit this understanding to create many of the technologies we take for granted today. 

What has been the highlight of your university experience so far, academically or socially?

The highlight of my university experience so far has definitely been my master's project. In the last 2 years of university, I've really appreciated the ability to transition from being only a student to taking on more responsibility and feeling like a scientist. Having a project you can call your own is really special, and although more is expected of you, you end up feeling very proud of the outcome. The teaching environment at Imperial is also exceedingly supportive; whether you want to go into industry or stay in academia, there is always someone who you can seek advice from. 

What do you hope to achieve or explore during your university studies?

I would like to stay in academia for the time being and become a researcher. I'm particularly passionate about quantum technologies and how they could revolutionise fundamental research throughout the sciences. 

What advice would you give to Ecolint students preparing to enter university?

Going to university is a daunting thing at a crucial stage in your development, but it's made so much easier by surrounding yourself with good people. I'd say one of the best pieces of advice I can give is to seek out people you want to be more like, whether that be academically or personally. Over the years, you end up absorbing some of their energy by osmosis!

Are there any experiences or lessons from Ecolint that helped you adapt to or succeed at university?

Doing the Maturité Suisse at Ecolint really instilled a work ethic that carried through to university for me. Personally, I feel the level of maths we were taught really helped me hit the ground running when I got to university. I also feel the Travail de Maturité (equivalent to the Extended Essay for the International Baccalaureate) is a great first introduction to research in that you have to write a fairly long report, with a bibliography and either do an experiment or interview an expert. These are skills you will need regardless of the professional path you take.  

If you had to summarise how Ecolint prepared you academically in one sentence, what would you say?

If I had to summarise how Ecolint prepared me academically, I would say (at the expense of perhaps being slightly cliché): "If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life." Yes, at times studying physics can be tiring, but ultimately there's nothing else I would rather be doing. At Ecolint, I understood that it was important to find what you love and do it rather than to work tirelessly towards a goal that may not ultimately fulfill you. 

Were there academic areas where you felt particularly well-prepared compared to classmates at university?

Yes, the coefficient 3 maths classes more than prepared me for my first term at university. Learning 3D analytic geometry at school still helps me visualise mathematical objects to this day. 

Can you share an example of a teacher at Ecolint who challenged you academically and why?

M. Doré, my maths teacher, had a considerable influence on me academically. He pushed me in exactly the right way to bring out the best in me, and I would go so far as to say that I would not be where I am today without him. There was a time where I had to make the choice between coefficient 3 or coefficient 2 maths (higher level or standard level equivalents), but I had just gotten quite a low grade on a maths test. I was quite rattled, and I remember going to his office as I was quite upset to tell him that this result wasn't representative of my capacity, and that I hoped he would still allow me to take the higher coefficient class. He immediately calmed me and told me he had no doubt that I would be fine, and that he knew I would be able to follow the higher-level classes. This small act of reassurance went a long way, and I went on to enjoy his classes until the end of my time at Ecolint. I don't know if I would have chosen to study a maths-based subject without him.