Author: Loretta Gibson, Director of Operations in the Faculty of Engineering & Design

The 5:15am call to prayer reminds us that we are not in Bath. The spectacular 28oC blue-skied winter’s day confirms it for us… we are definitely not in Bath! As our families and friends back home struggle with the snow and storms of the British winter, we are enjoying the perfection of Bangladesh in January. Although we are still coming to terms with dhal for breakfast, lunch and dinner, we have settled quickly into life in Chittagong.

Why would two members of staff and five PhD students forgo the pleasure of snow days to join the chaotic hustle and bustle of Chittagong? We are here as VIP guests of the Asian University for Women (AUW), a unique, private university dedicated solely to the education of Asian women. Displaced women who have fled the Taliban, child marriage, Rohingya refugee camps, human trafficking or the floors of the ready- made garment factories in Dhaka are here living and studying alongside local Bangladeshi women. All share the same ambition of achieving their dreams of independence through education. AUW ‘exists to educate and empower women leaders through the transformative power of liberal arts and science education’. The education of these women raises them as individuals and lifts their families and communities out of poverty. The women come from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal, and Vietnam... from as close as Chittagong to as far as East Timor. They have a thirst for knowledge and demonstrate the qualities we would expect of future leaders. This is AUW, and this is why we are here.

The University of Bath is building grassroots relationships between our students and the students at AUW – we already have two HSS students completing their placement years here as teaching fellows, focusing on English language skills and tutoring students taking pre-undergraduate courses that prepare them for their academic studies. As an American-accredited university, AUW has very high academic standards and achieves exceptional outcomes for its graduates. Many third-year students complete a final year research thesis, so the main purpose of our visit is to deliver a series of workshops on ‘Communicating your research with impact’.

Our five exceptional, inspirational women from E&D, HSS and Science are sharing their knowledge and expertise with AUW students so that they have that extra edge when it comes to their graduate lives, be that in academia or the world of work. Working with research based on the attainment of various SDGs, workshop participants are learning the importance of understanding the needs and interests of various scientific communication audiences. Ultimately, they will produce outputs including a 3 minute thesis, conference poster, social media content and a panel Q&A session. Thirsty for knowledge, the AUW students are embracing this opportunity with enthusiasm, personal confidence and academic competence. For us, we have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to bond with women whose stories we might only ever briefly read about in the news. As we do this, we are fully immersed in AUW life and the Bangladeshi culture. It is truly life-changing.

While here, we are also negotiating further experiential opportunities for our students that benefit our University and AUW. This includes real-life field-testing of the water quality testing system developed by our Biodevices without Borders student team, further placement or graduate teaching opportunities, and a series of joint guest lectures. Our hope is that our January 2025 visit sees us continuing partnerships that enhance the learning experiences of students both here and back in Bath. Our PhD students have created a bank of resources that will enable their scientific communication programme to be continued into the future. What a wonderful legacy to leave behind! Personally, this two-week trip will forever change my appreciation of the struggles many Asian women face as a daily reality. I am inspired to do something about it in whatever small way I can. This will remain an intensely profound highlight for me.

It hasn’t all been hard work though! Whether it is enjoying a Bollywood comedy horror movie without subtitles, the buzz of a huge hawker market, or sampling hand-painted cashmere scarves in the luxury of the British Chittagong Club, one thing is for certain – the warmth and hospitality of the Bangladeshi people has left a deeply moving, lasting impression. However, it is the unwavering dedication of AUW's incredible local and international staff, their passion and commitment to education and the empowerment of women along with the infectious enthusiasm of the AUW students that will forever stay with us.

It is with heartfelt gratitude that the University of Bath delegation to AUW in January 2025 thanks their faculties for supporting this journey:

Loretta Gibson: Staff, Faculty of Engineering & Design Sarah Stead: Staff, Faculty of Engineering & Design Tasha Marino: PhD student, Dept of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Design

Shani Ali: PhD Student, Dept of Life Sciences/SW Bio, Faculty of Science

Emma Vickers: PhD student, Dept of Chemistry, Faculty of Science

Catriona Gray: PhD student, Dept of Social and Policy Science, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Dept of Computer Science, Faculty of Science

Thao Do: PhD student, Dept of Social and Policy Science, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Dept of Computer Science, Faculty of Science

 

Our Department has recently been successful in receiving the Athena Swan Silver Award, but what does this mean?

The Athena Swan Charter is an international framework supporting and transforming gender equality in higher education and research. Originally, it was launched in 2005 to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing women's careers in STEMM. Now, the charter also addresses gender inequality more broadly and embeds good working practices across higher education and research.

We asked our Head of Department, John Chew, and Department Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair, Hannah Leese, their thoughts on this achievement.

"This is a remarkable accomplishment and testament to the dedication, hard work, and commitment to gender equality in our community. Receiving this award is a significant milestone that reflects not only our progress but also our ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment." - John Chew

"My sincere gratitude to all Department members for our collective efforts. For all the different ways we shaped the submission together - through our community initiatives, survey participation, discussion groups, away days, enabling actions, feedback on drafts and creating and shaping our future action plan. A special thanks to the Department self-assessment team - Antonio Exposito, Bernardo Castro Dominguez, Chloe Turner, Creina O'Shea, Sandhya Moise, Tom Arnot, and Head of Dept for unwavering support!" - Hannah Leese

What's next?

We're now implementing our action plan, focusing on five priorities:

• improving self-assessment, and data and processes monitoring
• zero tolerance for bullying and harrassment
• career development for all job families in the Department
• inclusive culture that supports recognition and wellbeing
• supporting students from recruitment to graduation

All our Department's leadership and management roles have been actively involved in setting goals and reviewing progress against assigned objectives and with the support of Hannah, our ED&I lead.

It's a top priority that all staff have an awareness of our vision and embed ED&I and inclusion into all aspects of their practice. We have hit a significant milestone, but we are not done yet!

International Women's Day (IWD)

On Friday 8 March, we celebrated IWD in the Department and Faculty with the theme #inspireinclusion.

Our university declared a climate emergency in 2020 and as part of delivering our strategy towards net-zero, we have a Climate Advocate scheme running as a pilot in our Faculty of Engineering & Design. Dr Sandhya Moise is the Department Climate Action Advocate in chemical engineering. Here she tells us some of what the Department has been up to so far.

Climate fresks

We had two climate fresks for all staff and doctoral students. There were some fantastic discussions around the science, emotions and collective action on climate change that we hope to build on going forward.

Workshops

We had two workshops that were co-delivered by Nicki Schantz and Dr MariCarmen Gil Ortega (Department of Education) – thank you both! The first one was for academic staff looking at mapping our curriculum using the SDGs. We had some great student input from CESA chair Jake Keen and CESG president Adya Hegde for this session.

The final workshop was with postdoctoral research staff and doctoral students looking at how they can embed SDG into their research more explicitly, we discussed the LEAF initiative and possible sustainability-related case studies based on their research that can be used for teaching content. We hope to have some exciting outputs from these discussions.

Student challenges

Adya Hegde, our CESG president, has organised our chemical engineering energy savings challenge with support from Department academics, technical team and the CAF team. The students are looking into energy usage and material wastage within 9 West labs and other buildings.

One last thought...

Before I sign off, here is a great TED talk that I found empowering: How to find joy in climate action by Dr Ayana Elizabeth Johnson– if you do listen to it, let me know your thoughts!

In this series of blog posts celebrating our Department of Chemical Engineering's 50th anniversary, we asked previous Heads of Depts about their time at Bath. Here, Professor Barry Crittenden, who was Head of Department from 1993 to 1997 and 2004 to 2007 answers our questions.

Do you have any fun anecdotes about your time in the Department?

Coming across a well-dressed young man on Paddington Station’s concourse early one evening, accepting his invitation to have a drink, downing some pints with him, and eventually admitting that I hadn’t a clue who he was. He was, of course, a Bath chemical engineering graduate that I had not recognised because he looked so much smarter and more professional than I could remember him as a student. I would subsequently use this anecdote at degree congregation receptions to remind fresh graduates not only to offer me a drink if they were to stumble across me anywhere in the world but also, and just as importantly, to tell me who they were.

There is absolutely no truth in the rumour that I fell into the Kennet and Avon Canal when cycling home one evening from the University. Rumours stick, however, and so one year at a students’ Chemical Engineering Ball, I was presented with a prize consisting of a pair of stabilisers for my bicycle. Was that gift preferable, I ask myself, to the model aeroplane presented by the students on the same night to another Professor in the Department on account of their conclusion that all his lectures went above their heads?

Pleading with Diane Aderyn, the University’s Director of Finance in 1996, to approve my request when Head of School to take out from University funds the equivalent of £10,000 cash in US dollars to take them to Poland where I intended to give the money to some Russians. Nervously, Diane asked me whether I knew what I was doing because if this was not all above board then I would run the risk of getting the sack. 'Trust me', I said, 'I am a chemical engineer' and so she let me have the money. The background to this story is that I had won a £28,000 grant from NATO to run an Advanced Research Workshop on 'Environmentally Benign Chemical Technologies' in Wroclaw, Poland, and I needed the cash to reimburse the travel expenses for scientists and engineers coming from former Eastern European bloc countries. I can’t tell you what I did with the remaining £18,000 but, of course, I did balance the books, and I did keep my job.

What did you find most challenging in your time as Head of Department?

Reducing the annual operating deficit from £860k in 2004 to a surplus of £250k in 2007 so that the University could be encouraged to like us again! It did.

Getting the door knocked through on Level 2 from 9 West into 5 West in the mid-2000s so that our staff and students no longer had to walk outside in the wind and rain in order to get to other parts of the University.

What is/was your favourite subject to teach?

First and final-year design projects provided me with immense fun wrapped up in the provision of capstone academic challenges for our students throughout my career at Bath. I put together my first final-year design project (ammonia via steam reforming of natural gas) for the BSc degree when I was seconded to Kellogg International Corporation throughout the hot Summer of 1975. I fondly recall that some of the project development was carried out with Kellogg’s process engineers in the bars and restaurants around Baker Street in London. I continued running first-year and final-year design projects at Bath until I retired in 2016 – you couldn’t keep me away from them, I enjoyed them so much.

What were some of your highlights or achievements?

Giving my full support as a young Lecturer to Professor W John Thomas in his quest to gain the independence of chemical engineering from chemistry in 1974. And, of course, helping to organise and enjoy the subsequent riotous celebrations at a steak house in Batheaston.

Kickstarting an important national environmental agenda in process engineering by co-authoring the IChemE’s 'Guide to Waste Minimisation' with Professor Stan Kolaczkowski in 1995.

Leading the School of Chemical Engineering to Grade 5A with all academic staff entered in the funding council’s 1996 Research Assessment Exercise.

Winning IChemE’s Hutchison Medal in 1996 as co-author of a research publication on the novel subject of 'Design for Decommissioning'.

Explaining successfully in 1998, in no uncertain terms and at some length, to the eminent Desmond Browne CBE KC, former Chairman of the Bar Council, what a chemical engineer was when asked by him in his Gray’s Inn chambers: 'and what do I make of you as a chemist?' I put him right on the professions, starting by telling him that a chemical engineer can do for one pound what it would cost a chemist two pounds to do. From then on, I enjoyed Desmond’s sense of humour as his mind began to unravel how valuable chemical engineers were to society. The occasion was my support for the defence of a large French chemical company that was being sued by a miscreant cattle farmer.

Being elected to Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2001, being the third and final Head of School of Chemical Engineering at Bath to achieve this honour.

Being honoured with conferment of the title Emeritus Professor in 2019, one significant benefit being that I am now able to park at the University of Bath for free!

Do you have a favourite spot at the University or in the Department?

The library. Knowledge and literature form the heart of academia and the library is at the centre of the University. Furthermore, I could always find a quiet spot in there to recover from postprandial somnolence.

Another favourite spot would be a 'secret' bench in the University’s grounds where, as the Head of Chemical Engineering, I would often escape from my office to chew the cud in warm sunshine with the last Head of Materials Science over the ultimate questions of Life, the Universe and Everything else including whatever the University was intent on chucking at us Heads. We both just wished that the answer was a plain and simple '42'.

If you were to have a chemical engineering-related tattoo (e.g. formula, famous engineer, quote etc), what would it be?

The symbol 'Cu' for copper as it would remind me of my first research publication in 1966: 'Some Interesting Reactions of Copper', co-authored with Martyn Berry, one of my school chemistry teachers. Looking back, I don’t think that the reactions were particularly interesting, but the paper did help me to obtain the established post of Professor of Chemical Engineering at Bath in 1991 because, surprising me no end at the time, it formed the basis of the first question at my interview posed by Professor Jeff Thompson (of the University’s School of Education). What I didn’t know at the time was that Thompson and my co-author Berry, both being chemists, were the best of professional friends.

The continuity equation. I’d have two sides of the equation split over my two arms so that I would always feel as though I was well balanced.

It was hard for me to choose a 'famous' chemical engineer out of a long list of possibles. However, top of my list has to be Captain Virgil Hilts, aka 'The Cooler King', as portrayed by Steve McQueen in the 1963 film 'The Great Escape'. My tattoo of course would have to show the legendary Virgil jumping over a barbed-wire barrier on his motorbike.

Do you have any inspiring colleagues, lecturers, friends, or students you'd like to thank?

There are many potentials on my list, but there are two inspirational colleagues who had a profound impact on my career:

The late George Goddard aka 'Basher' for inspiring me in the first place to become a chemical engineer. He was a fantastic 'old school' chemistry teacher, an excellent golfer, and an amateur boxer. His pupils did and learnt what they were told – there could be no messing with Basher.

The late Professor W John Thomas, who founded Chemical Engineering at Bath in 1968 and who had the confidence to appoint me as a young Lecturer in 1973. My friendship and collaboration with John lasted for over 40 years, winning research grants, attending conferences together, publishing papers, and co-authoring a standard textbook on adsorption. Informal collaboration involved puzzling over the theories and equations that he scribbled in no particular order all over my office blackboard and, of course, joining him for a drink or two or three…either at his home, or in the University’s Senior Common Room, or in a bar somewhere else in the UK and Europe.

If you had to describe the Department (in your time) in three words, what would they be?

Good, better, best.

If you could give your younger self a bit of advice now, what would it be?

Don’t be put off by the small size and doubtful reputation of the University of Bath in 1973. This University is going to go places, and chemical engineering is going to be an important part of its success story.

In this series of blog posts celebrating our Department of Chemical Engineering's 50th anniversary, we asked previous Heads of Depts about their time at Bath. Here, Professor Marianne Ellis who was Head of Department from 2019-2022, answers our questions.

What is/was your favourite subject to teach?

Design projects – hands down the best part of engineering education!

Do you have a favourite spot at the University or in the Department?

Many, since I’ve been here since 1997.

• The woodland walk is wonderful, and I have made good use of this over the years for running, alone time, and since covid walking meetings
• The STV
• The corner tables in the Claverton Rooms (when it used to be a staff canteen)
• Polden Café was great when it briefly existed
• More recently the Pavilion Café

Do you have any inspiring colleagues, lecturers, friends, or students you'd like to thank?

Julian Chaudhuri and Gary Hawley. Tina Düren and Amy Phillips.

If you could give your younger self a bit of advice now, what would it be?

It’s okay to be different and forge your own path – being an academic doesn’t mean fitting a single mould and success is not just about the number of papers and amount of money.

In this series of blog posts celebrating our Department of Chemical Engineering's 50th anniversary, we asked previous Heads of Depts about their time at Bath. Here, Professor Tim Mays, who was Head of Department from 2013-2019, answers our questions.

Do you have any fun anecdotes about your time in the Department?

As Head of Dept, my SDPRs with the former Faculty Dean were great fun. Or were they??? I was also told by some that research in sustainable hydrogen energy was a waste of time... hahahaha!!!

What did you find most challenging in your time in the Department?

Sadly, a valued colleague in the department passed away while I was HoD. I think now that I could have handled the situation better, especially to support those significantly affected.

What is/was your favourite subject to teach?

I really enjoyed teaching the thermodynamics, which makes me a bit (a lot!) weird. However, it's much more interesting and important than kinetics.

Do you have a favourite spot at the University or in the Department?

I used to enjoy my massive HoD office in 9 West. The former senior common room was also quite fun - now sadly gone. Summer walks around campus are wonderful.

If you were to have a chemical engineering-related tattoo (e.g. formula, famous engineer, quote etc), what would it be?

Chemical engineering: making good stuff from ordinary stuff without making bad stuff.

Do you have any inspiring colleagues, lecturers, friends, or students you'd like to thank?

My partner, Hannah South, has been an absolute rock of kindness and good sense. I am very lucky that we have been together now for over 25 years.

If you had to describe the Department (in your time) in three words, what would they be?

1. Challenging
2. Interesting
3. Important

If you could give your younger self a bit of advice now, what would it be?

Never panic and always be kind.

In this series of blog posts celebrating our Department of Chemical Engineering's 50th anniversary, we asked previous Heads of Depts about their time at Bath. Here, Professor Stan Kolaczkowski, who was an academic member of staff from 1984 to 2016, and Head of Department from 1997- 2003 answers our questions.

Do you have any fun anecdotes about your time in the Department?

Many decades ago, when Quality Assurance was first being forced onto universities by our Government, I had to attend a meeting with the external QA team who were part of the external conspiracy, and I was asked: “How do you know that a degree in Chemical Engineering at this university is worth the same as a degree in Social Sciences?”. It was a question that I found strange and somewhat amusing, as it showed that the QA team didn’t understand the difference between the two disciplines. I replied that it is obvious that they are not the same, as Chemical Engineering is one of the hardest degrees to study on this campus - something that many students will tell you, and is evident from the content and expectations (workload and range of topics covered). Also, different skills are required in these two very different disciplines!

What did you find most challenging in your time as Head of Department?

During my two terms as Head (from 1997 to 2003):

• Having to fight for the construction of a new building (which led to 9W being built)
• Having to defend our position when the Vice Chancellor was thinking of whether or not to continue supporting the Department of Chemical Engineering (Note: the Department of Chemistry was also under scrutiny at the same time)
• Debates with Prof Cliff Burrows (new Dean of the Faculty) over various matters, defending my staff and arguing for resources to be provided for us to expand

What is/was your favourite subject to teach?

Aspects of the management course and design project work because I was able to share my industrial experience with the class.

What were some of your highlights or achievements?

I enjoyed the challenge of presenting my Inaugural Lecture (on Catalytic Combustion, 20 Feb 1997) as a Professor with many practical demonstrations – not very often seen now in a public lecture because of safety constraints.

One big achievement as a Head of Department was persuading the University to invest in Chemical Engineering, and securing a contribution of £950,000 from HEFCE to that construction cost. Then the execution of the construction of 9W (cost £ 6.5M) and the big move. That was followed by a Royal Opening by Prince Philip (HRH, The Duke of Edinburgh) on 8 March 2002.

Do you have a favourite spot at the University or in the Department?

It used to be the Senior Common Room before parts of it got turned into a dining area - furniture was replaced and it started to look like an airport lounge. The restaurant used for special occasions and to treat guests was a pleasure – sadly that is now gone.

If you were to have a chemical engineering-related tattoo (e.g. formula, famous engineer, quote etc), what would it be?

I have no interest in a tattoo – best left to sailors…. Also, my interest in Chemical Engineering was not because of any famous invention or person, it was created by the powerful image of an oil refinery at night, and the thought of being able to understand such a complex process and become the type of person who could design and manage such a complex process, using skills in Mathematics/Chemistry/Physics.

Do you have any inspiring colleagues, lecturers, friends, or students you'd like to thank?

During the journey of life, many individuals had a strong influence on my life. My line manager (Owen Williams) during my industrial placement period had a big influence, and so did my PhD supervisor (Prof Barry Crittenden), and then during my 7 years working for Esso Petroleum, many of my line managers had a strong influence on how I developed.

If you had to describe the Department (in your time) in three words, what would they be?

If considering the limited resources provided versus performance and output, then Bath Chem Eng, was: Best Value - UK!

If you could give your younger self a bit of advice now, what would it be?

If considering an academic career, whilst many aspects are rewarding, many of the fun aspects of the job have disappeared over the last decade, and demands are very high. Life is short, so make sure that you have a good balance between work and downtime.

Author: Rose Leek, Postgraduate Employability Team

The journey to employability

Embarking on a journey towards employability is more than just preparing for a job after graduation. It's about cultivating skills and confidence that will serve you throughout your professional life. At the University of Bath, we understand the challenges of transitioning to a new city, adapting to the UK culture, and navigating the complexities of graduate employment. But fear not, we're here to guide you every step of the way.

Why now is the perfect time to think about your future?

If you are considering a UK graduate employment opportunity after your MSc, it's essential to know that while companies recruit all year round, many graduate schemes for Autumn 2024 will begin advertising as early as October 2023. These schemes, which are paid employment on company training programmes typically lasting two years, are just one of the many avenues available to you post-graduation.

However, regardless of your aspirations, it's crucial to start early. This means reflecting on your existing skills, understanding how to enhance them during your MSc, and familiarising yourself with the recruitment process.

Alumni insights

Our alumni are a testament to the importance of early preparation. Here's what they have to say:

• Varun, Robotics & Autonomous Systems (2019-2020): "Applying very early on in your MSc would be helpful, because you’re not under a lot of pressure from coursework yet. I started applying around mid-October."

 

• Ajay, Automotive Engineering with Electric Propulsion (2020-2021): "The working culture in the UK is extremely different. You need to be good at time management. You need to develop some basic planning skills to manage coursework and job applications. Be resilient – it’s hard work but you learn a lot about yourself, your interests, your own personal skillset and how you can develop it."

 

• Daniel, MSc Automotive Engineering with Electric Propulsion (2021-2022): "I started applying very late, even though I knew I wanted to stay in the UK for work….I didn’t give enough attention and energy to my CV…But…changing my CV, finding opportunities online, and talking to recruiters to ask questions and gain information, the more interviews I seemed to get. Then eventually I got the role I wanted."

 

• Saahil, Architectural Engineering: Environmental Design (2020-2021): "Try to have a good understanding of what the market is looking for and where you will be most comfortable. Once you start your course, see which kind of topics you’re more interested in, research more about them and see what the prospects are in those areas. I know it can be hard because you don’t want to decide at the start and limit your opportunities, but you at least get to know what you want to do more."

Unparalleled support at the Faculty of Engineering and Design

Our dedicated postgraduate employability team is here exclusively for MSc students in the Faculty of Engineering and Design. Whether you're a novice or an experienced professional, we're committed to ensuring you're recruitment-ready. Our support includes:

• One-to-one consultations for your CV, cover letters and job applications
• Interactive sessions and workshops
• Monthly employability newsletters and a plethora of online resources
• Assistance for courses with integrated placements

Meet our team

Additionally, the University's Central Careers Service offers extensive resources, workshops, and personalized support.

How can we help you to begin to prepare?

Here are our top tips you could consider taking before joining the University of Bath:

• Networking: Join our Postgraduate Employability Team’s LinkedIn groups to connect with other prospective students, current students, staff, and alumni to start networking and learn about employability at Bath:
  • Architecture and Civil Engineering
  • Automotive Engineering
  • Robotics
  • Environmental Engineering
• CV Preparation: If you haven't already, start drafting your CV. Our team will provide sessions and offer one-to-one CV feedback and support once you're here. Making a start on your CV before you arrive will give you a starting point to work from straight away, particularly if you want to apply to graduate schemes.
• Alumni Wisdom: Dive into our employability newsletters from June, July, and August 2023 to hear more from some of our recent alumni, and gain some further employability advice.

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Got Questions? We're Here to Help!

For any queries about our services or your upcoming MSc journey, feel free to contact us at pgtemployability@bath.ac.uk. We look forward to supporting your employability journey at the University of Bath.

Author: Chun Wong

My day starts with two important tasks; checking the train schedule and checking the weather. As I live 10 miles from the University and don’t drive, my trip to work is long and winding, even when the trains and weather are kind!

But the ten miles I commute is nothing compared with the distance I have travelled to come here. I grew up, studied, worked and got married in Hong Kong, some 5000 miles away! The city means a lot to me, especially the Hong Kong Polytechnic University where I studied Electronic Engineering and Computing, before working there for over 13 years.

I have been living in the UK for almost 2 years now – how time flies! Since June, I have been working in the department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to be part of the technical team.

I enjoy working with students as well as academic colleagues on technical issues and using my electronics knowledge and skills to help solve problems, such as finding suitable components for a project or advising on electronic assembly. More importantly, being a technician here means I have the opportunity to explore new ideas and learn new techniques from colleagues and, working in such a diverse atmosphere, there is always something happening to give me inspiration.