Profile
Sam Rowe
Candidate CV questions (extra)
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Education
Ditchingham Primary School – Bungay Middle School – Bungay High School – Imperial College London – University of East Anglia
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Qualifications
GCSE = 5A* and 7A grades, AS Level = Geography (A grade) and General Studies (A grade), A2 Level = Chemistry (A grade), Maths (A grade) and Physics (A grade), Undergraduate (Imperial College London) = 1st Class Degree in Chemistry MSci, Postgraduate (University of East Anglia) = PhD in Chemistry
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Work History
Shop Assistant – PhD Researcher – Chemistry Tutor – Science Writer and Presenter – Science Festival Events and Marketing Coordinator
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Current Job
Public Engagement Officer
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Employer
Earlham Institute in Norwich
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About Me:
I’m a science communicator in the fine city of Norwich, sharing my love for science and making sure that science is for everyone. I work in the communications team at the Earlham Institute and in my spare time I love reading, gaming, baking, travelling and doing gymnastics!
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Read more
I live near the University of East Anglia in Norwich and work as a public engagement officer at the Earlham Institute. I’ve lived in Norwich since 2013 and it’s an amazing city to explore – it’s got a castle, loads of great places to eat, excellent outdoor spaces to wander around, and it’s not too far from the beach!
My background is in chemistry research and science communication. I grew up on the Norfolk/Suffolk border and then moved to London for my undergraduate degree. After that I came to Norwich for my PhD where I studied electric bacteria – tiny organisms that produce an electric current after breaking down food. Since finishing my PhD I’ve worked in science communication. I love meeting new people and getting to tell everyone about the really interesting research happening in the city.
Outside work I love reading (mostly fantasy and science fiction books), gaming (lots of RPGs), baking (especially banana muffins and chocolate cakes), travelling (favourite countries I’ve visited so far are Japan and Brazil) and I do gymnastics (so much fun and really good exercise). My pronouns are he/him.
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My Work:
I work with scientists at the Earlham Institute to help them tell stories about all the amazing work they do.
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Read more
As a public engagement officer I get to help scientists at the Earlham Institute share their latest research findings with people around the world through blogs, social media, public events and videos.
I mostly work on the Darwin Tree of Life Project that aims to sequence the DNA of over 60,000 species from across the British Isles (including animals, plants, fungi and protists). To support this project I’ll be running school sessions, training workshops and activities with nature groups to show the importance of understanding DNA and genomes.
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I'm currently solving this problem:
The Darwin Tree of Life Project is really important for furthering our understanding of evolution, biodiversity, conservation, agriculture and medicine. By studying all the different species across the British Isles we have the chance to learn more about how best to protect them against significant threats like climate change and pollution.
More generally I think science communication is vital for giving people an insight into cutting-edge research and making it interesting, relatable and accessible. I love hearing about all the exciting research at the Earlham Institute and having the chance to share this with others.
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My Interview
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How has your work progressed recently?
I just started in March this year so it's been very busy, but really exciting!
How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Scientist / Gymnast / Communicator
What or who inspired you to follow your career?
I loved learning about science and loved telling other people about science
What was your favourite subject at school?
Chemistry and Geography
What did you want to be after you left school?
Scientist in a laboratory
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Overall I was pretty well-behaved...
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I'd love to be a fantasy writer OR work on something to do with space exploration
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Depends on my mood but it's a tie between Daft Punk and The Killers
What's your favourite food?
Chocolate
What is the most fun thing you've done?
Exploring the Pantanal wetlands in Brazil
Tell us a joke.
Want to hear a joke about potassium? K.
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