Profile
Sarah Kirk
Bye guys, it's been fun!
My CV
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Education:
2007-2011: University of Bristol for my undergraduate degree
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Qualifications:
Master of Science and Master of Research
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Work History:
My first job was at woolworths! I’ve had many different jobs and placements, only a few of them chemistry related.
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Current Job:
I’m a PhD student
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Read more
Most plastics that we use in our daily life have been made using crude oil. This oil is a limited resource, and is running out quickly! Alternative plastics can be made using plants. The plastics I make are made from fermented corn starch. The chemical name is lactic acid – this is something that can be found in our own bodies!
In order to make the plastic, you need something called a catalyst, which makes the reaction happen. You add tiny amounts of catalyst to your starting ingredient, heat it for a few hours, and then you have plastic!
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My Typical Day:
Coffee, emails, LAB WORK, meetings, presentations, more lab work, home!
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Read more
Most of my day involves doing practical work in the laboratory (lab). I’ve put some pictures below in the photo section, showing what this involves. Once I’ve got some results from the lab, I need to interpret them, which I do in the office on my computer. Then I need to write about my findings.
My results can be presented in many ways, either a presentation, a poster, or a publication in a scientific journal. The last option is the best way to get my results read about.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I will use the money to invest in some green chemistry workshops for schools
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
daft, daydreamer, hungry
Were you ever in trouble at school?
No, I was very quiet but I did annoy some teachers by daydreaming too much!
Who is your favourite singer or band?
My current favourite band is Zombina and the Skeletones, as for pop music, I love Beyoncé and Shakira.
What's your favourite food?
Curry or pizza
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
I wish I was fitter and stronger so I could be better at roller derby – I’m working on this one :) I wish there was more time in the day! I wish my sleeping habits were better.
Tell us a joke.
Two people are eating in a restaurant. When ordering drinks, the first thought they’d be clever and ask for ‘H2O’. The second person loves this idea, and says ‘I’ll have H2O too!’. The second person dies of hydrogen peroxide poisoning.
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