Profile

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Rachel Wynn-Sayers

    • About Me:

      I am an Air Quality Scientist living in Sussex with my husband and our two kids, two cats and two reptiles (a Leopard Gecko and a Royal Python). I love animals, nature, walking, going to the gym and doing craft projects.

    • My pronouns are:

      She/her

    • My Work:

      I am a Technical Officer in the Environment Agency, working within a team of air quality scientists. We use computer-based models to predict impacts of industrial sites and power plants on air quality – on humans and the environment.

    • My Typical Day:

      I wake up, get ready and have breakfast. I then log on to my computer in my office space at home and start looking at air quality assessments. I normally go for a walk in my local area at lunch time, and get to cuddle my cats whilst working! In the afternoon I will typically finish my checks of the assessments and email colleagues to let them know the outcomes.

    • Read more

      I work from home the majority of the time as I work in a dispersed team – some of my colleagues live hundreds of miles away from me! Many of us work from home almost full time.

      During a typical work day, I will run air quality models on my computer and analyse the results in Excel to see what impacts the industrial site I am modelling will have on humans and the environment. I will then write an email or a report in Word to send to colleagues in other parts of the Environment Agency to let them know the outcome of my computer modelling.

      Once a month I meet up with my colleagues to catch up and discuss future work plans. Twice a year our team participates in an Environmental Outcome day, where we volunteer to try and improve the environment around us. Last summer, we volunteered at a public park in Bristol, picking up litter, doing some gardening and repainting lamposts/bins.

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      I would use the money to help fund an environmental project near the Environment Agency head office.

    CV

    • Education:

      I went to a state Secondary school in West Sussex for years 7-11 to do my GCSEs, then a college in Brighton for years 12 and 13 to do my A-levels.

    • Qualifications:

      I have:

      • GCSEs in English, Maths, Science, Art, German, Textiles, RE and Health and Social Care.
      • A-levels in Chemistry, Biology, Maths and Further Maths.
      • MChem (integrated Masters degree) in Chemistry.
      • PhD in Chemistry.
      • PGCE in Secondary Science with Chemistry.

    • Work History:

      Before working at the Environment Agency, I have worked as a Secondary School Science Teacher, a Product Specialist (a salesperson) for portable scientific devices, a Quality Assurance Scientist at a pharmaceutical manufacturer, a Bar Associate at a Wetherspoons and a Student Ambassador during my undergraduate degree.

    • Current Job:

      Air Quality Technical Officer

    • Employer:

      Environment Agency

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        Air quality scientist

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        A Medical Doctor or a Chemical Scientist

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        Once or twice!

        If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?

        Another position in an environmental sector or company, so that I can help to protect the environment

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        My favourite music is metal music, but I also love Becky Hill

        What's your favourite food?

        Pasta of most varieties

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        That I can share my love of science with many people, that I can help to protect the environment for the rest of my career and that I remain enthusiastic whilst doing so!

        Tell us a joke.

        I would tell a chemistry joke, but all the good ones Argon.

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