Students studying for a BSc Gerontology conducted a study about volunteering with elderly people, before they started medical school. The group submitted an abstract to the 46th annual conference of the British Society of Gerontologists at the University of Swansea and were accepted to give an oral presentation. They received funding from the Student Opportunity Fund to cover the cost of the conference.  This project gave them an understanding of the process  undertaken to present empirical research, including applying for ethical approval, designing a study, analysing questionnaire responses and then presenting at a conference.