Profile
Sarah Hunak
My CV
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Education:
Cobden Primary School, Farnley, Leeds, 1995; Southroyd Primary School, Pudsey, Leeds, 1996; Crawshaw High School, Pudsey, Leeds, 2003; University of Liverpool, BSc, 2007; University of Surrey, MSc, 2008
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Qualifications:
BSc in Physics and MSc in Radiation and Environmental Protection
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Work History:
Graduate Trainee and then Radiological Scientist at Amec Foster Wheeler
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Current Job:
Radiological Scientist
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About Me:
A Yorkshire geek who loves science, Italy, and good coffee.
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I’m originally from Leeds, but now live and work as a Radiological Scientist on the wrong side of the Pennines in Birchwood, Warrington – between Manchester and Liverpool.
I am in love with Italy, and hope to live and work there forever one day, the main reasons being I can’t find a good coffee anywhere else, and I love pasta and ice-cream.
In my spare time I enjoy cooking (especially baking), learning new languages, and I’ve just started harmonica lessons, but at the moment I don’t think anyone would want to listen to me until I’ve had a bit more practice!
Here’s one of my geeky cake creations
I was once in an advertisement for Yorkshire Gold Tea as a real life nuclear scientist that drinks Yorkshire Gold Tea, it was a lot of fun 🙂
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I’ve always loved science and maths so I think I’m living the dream doing the job that I do. It lets me investigate new and exciting things every day.
I work on all aspects of radiation protection: from observing the x-ray you might have in hospital to make sure that the doctor is taking the right precautions that will keep you both safe; to looking at the effect of radiation on humans, animals and plants; to deciding what to do with nuclear waste.
Speaking of nuclear waste, I get asked a lot about how much nuclear waste we produce. Well, to put it into perspective, this is cube I’m holding is the size of one person’s share of high-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants for a period of 20 years. Not actually that much, right?!
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My Typical Day:
Think Homer Simpson…
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…only kidding, but if I have my way, a typical day involves lots of cakes and doughnuts!
I don’t have a such thing as a typical day, it changes all the time. One day I could be in a field (usually when it’s chucking it down with rain knowing my luck) doing surveys and observing the effect of radiation on plants and animals (here’s a rare sunny but cold day in Poland) ,
Maybe in the labs, on a nuclear power plant, or jetting off around the world – I like these days the best, especially if it’s somewhere warm and sunny!
I’m really lucky that I get to travel around the world to do my job. My passport is full of stamps! My favourite place to work is, of course, Italy 🙂
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What I'd do with the prize money:
Funding new and exciting kit for Society of Radiological Protection schools activities
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Fun, geeky, loyal.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
I was pretty good. I had one detention in all the time I was at school, and I still argue that it wasn’t my fault!!
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Pino Daniele
What's your favourite food?
Anything with pasta!
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
1) to live and work in Italy forever, 2) to make everyone fall in love with science as much as me, 3) a lottery win would be nice :)
Tell us a joke.
Why did the scientist take out his door bell? Because he wanted to win a no-bell prize.
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