Meet the scientists!

As we are trying to make planes lighter (so that it uses less fuel and is better for the environment), we are using plastic materials instead of metal to make planes. However these materials don’t conduct electricity very well and so lightning causes a lot of damage. My job is working with a team of researchers to develop new ways of protecting aeroplanes against lightning strikes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih_3qnMOMt8

Outside of work I am a musician and play in a few different musical groups including two of my own bands. I enjoy and play all sorts of music from pop covers to jazz! On a local radio station, I have my own weekly science show and sometimes present the Breakfast Show before coming in to work. I also enjoy listen to and watching comedy, reading, swimming, cooking, eating out and going on holiday (but then agan, who doesn’t enjoy that one?!). 

I spend most days at my desk reading articles on lightning, aeroplanes and other interesting topics as well as running computer models to see what would happen in different situations. However I often get to travel to other offices including North Wales where all of the aeroplane wings for Europe are made and Toulouse in the South of France for meetings (France is my favourite office to go to – they serve wine in the staff canteen at lunchtime!). I also spend a lot of time talking about the work my team does to both schools and visitors to the company.

If I win this competition I’d like to use the money to travel to other parts of the UK and talk about my work looking at lightning hitting aeroplanes – perhaps I could visit your school! I’d also like to take my talk to small theatres and science festivals. At the moment I am only able to do talks to local schools in South Wales. I’d also like to go on a course to get better at giving these talks and learn how to make better radio shows.