Zone Reports

Read the report: Hassium Zone Report – June 2019 [PDF] The Hassium Zone was a general zone supported by Wellcome and featured six scientists: Helen Faulkner tests drugs to be sure that they are safe for patients to take. Farah Elahi is completing a PhD looking at how virtual reality can improve young people’s mental health. Dave Underhill, the winner of this zone, is an archaeologist who runs projects aimed at increasing public understanding of mining and quarrying industries. Cheryl Williams analyses specimens from patients to help doctors with diagnosis. Bastian Saputra is researching how to modify bacteria to make them glow in the presence of soil pollution. Alun Owen is an Environmental Chemistry Technician who also teaches chemistry at university.

Read the report: Bohrium Zone Report – June 2019 [PDF] The Bohrium Zone was a general zone supported by Wellcome. It featured six scientists: Rob Ives, winner of the zone, is an in-vivo scientist creating better tasting medicines for children. Imad Ouachan is developing new materials to protect offshore wind turbines blades from impacts. Fern Johnson is a trainee clinical scientist in bioinformatics, working in the genetics department of a hospital. Christian Gude makes plastics from waste gases using genetically engineered bacteria. Carol Wallace is a research technician working in an immunology lab that specialises in fungal disease. A sixth scientist unfortunately had to drop out at short notice.

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The Water Zone was a themed zone supported by Wellcome. In the zone were six scientists:

• Silvia Imberti, who use neutrons to look at hydrogen bonds in liquids.
• Scott Graham, who is currently working as a microbiologist in an animal disease laboratory following a role with Scottish Water.
• Oliver Andrews, a lecturer who uses computers to investigate how global warming changes the oceans and marine life.
• Natalie Lamb, a PhD scientist researching how to treat drinking water better.
• Michelle Valkanas, who studies bioremediation and how can we use biological organisms to clean up the environment.
• Lowri Evans, the winner of the zone, is a marine biologist interested in fisheries and Marine Protected Areas.

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The Organs Zone was a themed zone for primary schools, supported by Wellcome. There were six scientists taking part in the zone:

• Rebecca Gosling is a heart doctor trying to prevent heart attacks with computer programs.
• Raashid Ali is a clinical scientist who works with doctors and nurses to support patients’ organs.
• Matthew Smith, the winner of the Organs Zone, is a cancer researcher trying to understand the disease of pancreatic cancer.
• Marie Cameron is a Lecturer, biomedical scientist and health service researcher.
• Hanna Jeffery is a clinical scientist at the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.
• Gareth Nye is a scientist understanding problems during pregnancy.

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The Nobelium Zone was a general science zone supported by Wellcome. In the zone were six scientists:

• Rosemary Josekutty Thomas, a PhD computer scientist researching how to change people’s behaviour using messages
• Oliver Gordon, the zone winner, who is doing a PhD in AI/Nanoscience at The University of Nottingham
• Leigh Kesler, who uses a particle accelerator to imitate the damage in fission and fusion reactors
• Jordan Kirby, a teaching and research technician at the University of Reading
• Hannah Dennett, a consultant who assesses the impact that developments, such as new houses or roads, have on air quality
• David Sünderhauf, a PhD student using CRISPR biotechnology to combat antibiotic resistance

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The Lawrencium Zone was a general science zone supported by Wellcome. In the zone were six scientists:

• Srinath Kasturirangan, a genetic engineer who builds Frankenstein molecules in an attempt to cure cancer.
• Natasha Dowey, a volcanologist and geoscientist who uses knowledge of tectonic plates to understand where oil and gas can be found.
• Nana Odom, a clinical engineer who works as a healthcare scientist in a hospital.
• Marialuisa Crosatti, a microbiologist working as a technician in a university.
• Gautam Kambhampati, a PhD student interested in using lasers to build a quantum computer.
• Alexander Allen, the winner of the Lawrencium Zone, is a PhD student interested in nanoscience.

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The Drug Discovery Zone was a themed zone supported by Wellcome. It featured six scientists:

• Sebastian Cosgrove, who uses flow chemistry and enzymes to better control chemical reactions.
• Padhmanand Sudhakar, a computational biologist who engages with policy makers and politicians.
• Lee Steinberg, the winner of the Drug Discovery Zone, uses supercomputers to design new drugs and predict how they will behave.
• Jennifer Harris, who helps scientists discover and develop new treatments for patients.
• Fiona Scott, who makes new molecules in an effort to help cure cancer.
• Eleanor Senior, who tests the behaviour of cow parasites in order to locate genes for further testing.

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The Mendelevium Zone was a general science zone supported by Wellcome. It was a secondary school zone featuring six scientists:

• Morwenna Bugg reads and summarises scientific research for commissioners to decide how to work out what healthcare services we need
• Jamal Kinsella is a PhD student researching how people think while they are driving cars, so they can be taught to be safer
• Iain Staniland, the winner of this zone, works as an Antarctic wildlife ecologist researching seals, penguins and whales
• Heidi Gardner is a research assistant working out how to improve the way we conduct clinical trials
• Emma McEntee is a biostatistician working in drug development
• Carl Heron is an archaeological scientist and Director of Scientific Research at the British Museum

Over half of all the questions sent to the scientists in ASK were about science topics, with students wanting to know everything about the scientists’ areas of research and more general science questions. One student stood out by researching Carl’s journal articles and sending a 4-part question to him, including a comment on their favourite article, ‘Organic Mass Spectrometry in Art and Archaeology’. Continue reading →

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The Fermium Zone was a general science zone for primary schools, supported by Wellcome. It featured six scientists:

• Sophie Morse is a PhD student researching how to deliver medicine to the brain using microbubbles
• Simon Cork studies how our brains cause us to feel hungry or full
• Obi Umegbolu is a data analyst skills development coach, helping learners progress in the industry and supporting data analysis projects
• Kelly Rushton, the zone winner, researches mental health and how doctors, nurses and even animals can help patients with mental health issues
• John Midgley works as a technical manager at the British Geological Survey aiming to understand how changing the underground changes the world around us
• Jessica Leung is a quality technician at Kerry Ingredients and tests the flavours that go in our food and drink

This zone had fewer schools than other November zones, but students still engaged well in live chats. The final live chat, open to all schools, was particularly busy, with students telling the scientists they had joined the chat from home to find out who won. Continue reading →