CMS Undergraduate Speaks At International Conference

Michael Purser, a final year student on the BSc Information Systems programme, presented a paper based on his final year dissertation investigating spreadsheet error awareness to the 2006 EuSpRIG (European Spreadsheet Risk Interest Group) international conference.

Michael says about his final year experience:

"My final year project was a dissertation investigating spreadsheet error awareness. My supervisor suggested I put forward a paper to the 2006 EuSpRIG (European Spreadsheet Risks Interest Group) international conference to be held at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University.

"The conference had 75 delegates and 21 speakers from all over the world and I had never spoken publicly before so I was incredibly apprehensive. However, as the conference progressed, I realised that all persons were there for a single reason: to raise awareness of spreadsheet issues in the hope of finding ways to resolve them.

"My presentation was a success; questions from delegates were thought provoking, while the comments were constructive and have helped me to consider appropriate directions for my future. I was short-listed for the David Chadwick Student Prize and presented with a certificate but most excitingly, I was congratulated by Brandon Weber, from the Microsoft Excel Programme Management Team based at Microsoft(HQ) in the USA. I rate the experience as one of my proudest moments.

Overall, my confidence with formulating and expressing ideas has grown, as has my public speaking, so I encourage others to take on such challenges."