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Throughout each Science Year theme
ASE will link a scientist with schools
via email.
Our scientist has provided a brief
autobiography to tell pupils:
- How they got into science
- Where they have worked
- What they work on
- What their lifestyle is like
The aim is to show scientists as
real people.
Jacqui Russell's autobiography can
be read here or printed out.
Dr Jacqui Russell is a scientific
adviser in the Parliamentary Office
of Science and Technology in Westminster,
London. MPs, from the House of Commons,
and Peers, from the House of Lords,
are not usually scientists, but they
still have to debate and vote on issues
related to science. Jacqui works as
part of a small team that helps MPs
and Peers to understand the science
behind the issues. She is most interested
in biological sciences, health and
education, but can be asked to find
out about all sorts of things, from
GM foods to chemical weapons.
"I was born in Australia but
my family moved back to England while
I was a toddler and I went to school
in Bromley, south-east London. At
school I did GCSEs in English, maths,
sciences, French, music and geography,
followed by an AS level in Maths and
A levels in Biology, Chemistry and
Physics. My results were good enough
to get a place at Nottingham University,
where I studied for a degree in Biochemistry
and Genetics.
I found it really difficult to decide
what to do after my degree. As I'd
really enjoyed my first degree I decided
to go to Leicester University to do
a PhD. My research project was to
find out about one of the genes that
plays an important role in our immune
system. I found the science really
interesting and I was very proud to
get some of my work published in an
international journal; but I decided
that I didn't really enjoy working
in a laboratory. You have to be very
patient sometimes!
After my PhD I trained to be a teacher
and taught science in Leicestershire
for a couple of years. My favourite
part of teaching turned out to be
preparing lessons in the evenings,
so I decided to look for a job that
involved more sitting down and thinking,
and less running around and doing.
I ended up at the Department for Education
and Skills working on Government policy
for school science education.
That was a great job, but then I
saw this one advertised, at the Parliamentary
Office of Science and Technology.
It takes me about an hour to commute
from my flat in Hackney to Westminster,
but I love walking past the House
of Commons every day to work."
You can email Jacqui during the Science
Year Can we; should we? theme
at the Science Year website. All the
answers Jacqui sends out will be shown
on the website at www.scienceyear.com/chalkface/index.html,
so check there first to see if she's
already answered your question. Her
email address is at the bottom of
that page. We'll feature some of the
best questions on the ASE website
www.ase.org.uk
You can print out the earliest FAQs
here.
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