Profile
Harriet Aitken
My CV
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Education:
Harlaw Academy, University of Aberdeen, Brown University
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Qualifications:
MEng Chemical
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Work History:
On a farm, a shop, a bar and at the University.
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Current Job:
PhD student.
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Read more
How many drinks have you had today? Have you had any water? If you have had water, did it look clean?
I’m hoping the water you drank did look clean! Did it also taste ok, smell ok? Again, I’m hoping yes…but was it really clean? If you’ve ever had a bottle of mineral water you might find on the side a list of ingredients, maybe chloride (Cl) or sulfate (SO4). These chemicals are naturally found in water in tiny amounts and those small amounts are completely harmless. There are however other chemicals, like lead (Pb) and arsenic (As), that even in tiny amounts are very poisonous. So you cannot see, taste or smell them but they might still be there!
In the UK we have very strict laws on dangerous chemicals and so if needed the water is cleaned before it ever gets to you – other countries aren’t so lucky and cannot afford to clean water for so many people, especially those that live outside of cities. So I decided I wanted to try and make a machine that was very cheap and used thing that people didn’t want anymore – like scrap metal. Rusty nuts and bolts work great!
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My Typical Day:
I try to spend as much time in the lab as possible, and usually end up covered in rust!
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What I'd do with the prize money:
We have a great lab in our department and I’d like to run a science competition for some local schools.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Silly, stubborn, inventive.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
I was always late for assembly and once slipped and fell on my way in!
Who is your favourite singer or band?
The Lumineers.
What's your favourite food?
Sausage, mash and gravy.
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