Profile

I studied an integrated Masters of Chemistry at the University of Sheffield graduating in summer 2020. While at university I undertook a number of research projects – then most interesting of which was during my final year. We were attempting to synthesise a novel silicon compound using energetic azide ligands. Unfortunately, the issue with azide ligands (and nitrogen-rich ligands in general) is that they have a propensity to explode.

Outside of university and work, every year I do Movember to raise money to increase the awareness of men’s mental health, testicular cancer and prostate cancer. This is something I am very passionate as well as volunteering with special needs children to help them play sport during school holidays.

As energy use increases due to the invention and popularity of electric cars, we need more and more of the national grid to rely on nuclear power. However, in order to build and commission these new and exciting nuclear projects (such as small modular reactors and bigger projects such as Hinckley Point C) we need to deal with the waste generated in the past.

Sellafield is a site based in West Cumbria currently undertaking the job of dealing with a lot of this waste to make it safe for future generations. Hopefully, by completing this work safely we will be able to change the general public’s opinions on nuclear energy in order to move forward to a greener and potentially carbon-neutral future!