Profile
David Threlfall
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About Me:
I live on the edge of the Peak District, near Derby with my Wife and 2 Teenagers
I love running, swimming and climbing mountains. My favourite science experiments go bang!
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I am married with two children, we live near the Peak District in a town called Ashbourne. I like to cook, but I am terrible at following the recipe, and if I need cheering up, make a cake or flapjack.
We have a black cat who has a very quiet miaow but very sharp claws.
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My Work:
I am Safety Engineer at Rolls-Royce, my job is to make sure the way we use equipment, materials and people is as safe as possible and doesn’t cause harm to the environment.
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I am a Safety Engineer, with experience in complex, safety critical and highly regulated industries – Naval Nuclear, Civil Aerospace and Explosives (Defence). At Rools-Royce I am working on a new factory to build the next generation of Royal Navy submarines.
Rolls-Royce is developing Small Modular Nuclear Reactors, fuel efficient engines, and also electric propulsion to help tackle pollution and climate change. This is a very exciting change and needs lots of scientists to help make better batteries, lighter materials and AI control systems.
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My Typical Day:
I work in an office with lots of other engineers and scientists. Most of the day I am asking some very clever engineers and scientists how to do things better.
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I am usually working on 2 or 3 big problems that need a few months or years to solve, and some small job that can be finished in a few days.
Most problems need lots of input from more specialist scientists or engineers – there are lots of mechanical engineers, aeronautical engineers and physicists in the company but not may chemists. I have to ask them for help – it can be difficult to ask the right questions, then under-stand the answers so we make the right decisions. Often the decision needs to be presented to Senior engineers and non-technical people – this is sometimes fun, sometimes very difficult.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I’d use the prize money to buy a solar powered model aeroplane
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Education:
Primary school then local Grammar school (Caistor, Lincolnshire)
Birmingham University – BSc. Chemistry
Helsinki University (Finland) – ERASMUS Exchange StudentCranfield University – MSc
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Qualifications:
O-level – Maths
GCSE – English Literature, English Language, French, German, Geography, Chemistry, Physics
AO – Level Maths
A-level – Maths, Chemistry, Physics, General Studies -
Work History:
Started work with Courtaulds – as a lab assistant trying to find new uses for Tencel (a fabric made from wood pulp) (2yrs)
Field Service Engineer – working with water purification equipment (5yrs)
Water Treatment Chemist – designing and testing water purification equipment. (15yrs)
Rocket Scientist – Making rocket fuel, and managing 12 other chemists (5yrs)
Project Manager at Rolls-Royce (2yrs) -
Current Job:
Safety Engineer at Rolls-Royce
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Ginger, sporty, cheerful
What did you want to be after you left school?
Environmental Chemist
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Yes
Who is your favourite singer or band?
The Specials
What's your favourite food?
Anything hot & spicy
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
Have good coffee at work, Make better pizza ! learn to fly.
Tell us a joke.
How many cats does it take to change a lightbulb ? People change light bulbs. So, the real question is: How long will it be before I can expect some light, some dinner, and a massage?
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