Samantha Watson

"I matched best with 3 of the personality types: campaigner, communicator, and trainer. I think these are fair descriptions for me and this certainly fit with my love of learning about new things and passion for sharing this. I love my science, and I also love my outreach work.I was slightly surprised initially to see that I had high matches with communicator and trainer - I get VERY nervous about presenting (and sometimes even just talking) to people. But I do find I'm doing more of that kind of work, and having to overcome my fears. "

"I work in a team which provides advice and scientific research on emergency planning and post-accident recovery from radiation incidents. I've been involved in producing handbooks to help assess the options for post-accident recovery and decision making, but I hope these never need to be used in earnest! I am also doing some research on how actions that might be taken to protect people from radiation can impact their health in other ways - this is really interesting to explore.Keeping within the emergency planning area. I am also helping with work on a computer model. I'm not one of the computer coders, but help with research with the tool developed by my colleagues and in producing training material for new users.I've been involved in assessments of exposure of the UK population to ionising radiation and assessments of transport of radioactive materials. I also do some \"outreach\" work with schools and young people, and am chair of my work's local outreach network.All in all there is plenty of variety and always something to learn which keeps life interesting."

"My physics teacher at school inspired me to do medical physics. I studied this at university and worked in medical physics and then radiation protection in the NHS for a number of years. I then moved into my current job in 2002. "

"I currently work part time, which gives me time to spend with my teenage daughter. I love cooking and gardening, and though I'm not mega-sporty I do like a good swim - normally I swim 1-2 miles each week. I also have medals in belly-dancing."

"Each day is a bit different, but usually involves a lot of computer work, often reading and writing reports and doing something with spreadsheets. Then there are usually some meetings and emails. Sometimes though there is a bit of travel which can be good fun, and I also do some outreach work at public events and local schools. I volunteer with the Society for Radiological Protection at some of their public events and with their magazine too."

"I have maths, physics, biology and English literature A'Levels.I have a BSc degree in physics and a masters degree in medical physics."