Profile
Alan McCue
My CV
-
Education:
Westhill Academy in Aberdeenshire 1998-2004, The University of Aberdeen 2004-2008
-
Qualifications:
I’ve got a degree in chemistry and I’ve got a PhD – that’s the fancy qualification which means people can call me a doctor 🙂
-
Work History:
I’ve worked in a few shops as a stdudent (a place called Costco and also in a tesco). I currently work at the University of Aberdeen as a Lecturer
-
Current Job:
Lecturer
-
Read more
Every day I go to work and teach others about chemistry. If I get some spare time then I do experiments involving things called ‘catalysts’. That is a chemical which can be used to make other chemicals in an environmentally friendly way. For example, a good catalyst allows me to make another chemical at lower temperature, maybe under safer conditions, produce less waste and use less energy. Catalysts are extremely important because we need to make lots of chemicals in order to live life the way we do. How would I be able to run my car without being able to get petrol? Well I couldn’t. So how do we make petrol, well it generally comes from the ground in the form of crude oil (the black gunky stuff you see on TV sometimes). From here we separate the oil into different segments and then use catalysts to make the chemicals we need (petrol being one key example). All in all, catalysts are a pretty worthwhile things to be involved in because without them life wouldn’t be the same.
-
My Typical Day:
Get up, go to work, try some experiments, teach students about chemistry, try more experiments, go to the gym (sometimes – not as often as I should), go home tired and have some dinner before chilling out with some TV
-
Read more
So what are the key parts of my day. Well firstly it is incredibly important for me to read a lot. Scientists all round the world have lots of great ideas and we share these by writing articles in scientific journals. So I try and learn from what others do elsewhere in the world. This means I need to spend 1-2 hours a day reading.
I also have to write lots of articles so that I can share my results with other scientists. So I probably spend 1-2 hours a day writing as well!
Whats next, oh yeh I need to do my experiments. How long does that take. Well maybe an hour to plan and another 2-3 hours to set them up and look at the results. Once I get the results I need to decide what they mean and this can take a lot of time. Lets say the whole experimenting process must take 4-5 hours a day.
I’ve also got to teach students about chemistry so that they can become good scientists – this one maybe takes 3-2 hours
That kind of sums up my day which appears to last up to 12 hours and I’ve not included time to eat drink, shower and you know do all the usual things!
-
What I'd do with the prize money:
In my spare time I go to schools and perform a chemistry show so I would spend the money developing new experiments – perhaps something which makes a big bang!
-
My Interview
-
How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Mad for chemistry!
What did you want to be after you left school?
Hmm…. an accountant, a lawyer, a salesman…. oddly anything but a scientist! I’m glad I am a scientist now though. I wouldn’t ever want it to change.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Honestly no, but to be fair my mum was a teacher so it meant I had to be on good behavior.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
My taste in music is unusual - I can admit over the last few years I don't mind a bit of Bieber
What's your favourite food?
Pizza and lots of it... you know all the healthy things!
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
For lots of money to spend on experiments, to be better at golf and for my closest friends to be successful in what makes them happy
Tell us a joke.
A bear walks into a bar, goes up to the bar and says ‘erm…………’ the barman asks ‘why the big pause?’ the bear looks down at his paws and says ‘don’t know i’ve always had them’ (I never said I was funny!)
-