As part of International Women’s Day, we are catching up with some Old Pangbournians to find out what they are up to and how they have been getting on during the pandemic. This is an update from Jess Brown (2007-2012).

'Since leaving school, I have studied for a Master's Degree in Physics and Astronomy at the University of Exeter, where I subsequently returned for a 6-month graduate business partner internship, liaising with degree coordinators and module convenors to assess how well degree courses and modules aligned with the University's Education Strategy. 

'During my internship, I was offered a PhD position in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Metamaterials, part of the Centre for Metamaterial Research and Innovation, now recognised as one of the leading centres of excellence in the field in the UK (http://emps.exeter.ac.uk/metamaterial-cmri/). I am currently in my final year, investigating surface acoustic waves and phononic metamaterials, and how their behaviour changes as their environment does (surface patterning, varying pressure, or in the presence of other materials), with a view to increase the sensitivity of gas pressure sensors, or eventually use some of these techniques as diagnostic tools in medicine.

‘I have taken part in a lot of outreach as part of my PhD, which I have found very enjoyable and fulfilling. It is dangerously easy to get bogged down in day-to-day minutiae, so taking a step back, thinking about the bigger picture, and describing your work in an accessible way is a very helpful exercise. I have worked with visiting Sixth Form students, running fun and inspiring physics demonstrations, and even presented my work to punters in my local pub! 

‘One of the highlights was being a speaker for Soapbox Science, a female-led, worldwide initiative developed to amplify the voices of women in science (http://soapboxscience.org/). When I finish my PhD, I am hoping to find a role in scientific communication or public engagement in some capacity. I have plenty of work to do before then though...

‘When I am not in the lab or in front of my computer, I have been a Choral Scholar in the University of Exeter Chapel Choir since my first year of undergraduate, and it has been an incomparable source of joy (and a great stress-reliever!) throughout my time with them. When the inevitable time comes for me to leave, I will miss the choir and the weekly routine of services and performances desperately. Sadly, the pandemic has prevented us from performing as normal - we were able to operate in a limited way last term up to Christmas, but the current lockdown makes organising rehearsals and events impossible. I am hopeful we will return to some normality soon as lockdown eases, as I definitely feel I work better when I know I can sing away my anxiety at the end of a long day.

‘The pandemic has also prevented me from doing any experimental work for a year, so I have had to change my focus to computer simulations which I can perform at home. Historically, in academia there has been a very strong culture of encouraging and even celebrating poor work-life balance, and I hope that the pandemic has prompted other academics to evaluate the hours they spend working at the expense of their well-being, as it has for me. 

‘Whilst I miss my office and my friends and colleagues terribly, I have enjoyed the flexibility that working from home brings - if I hit a wall with my model, I can go for a run, do some crochet, play the piano... Separating and balancing work and life is more important than ever, as we try to find sources of joy in this difficult time. We have also had to be more creative in the way we disseminate knowledge and keep in touch with others, and I feel this makes the communication of science more accessible for people of all backgrounds and abilities, and I strongly hope this will continue as the pandemic subsides.’