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Meet the scientists!

My CV

School:

RJCS, Canada (1991-92); SMCES, Canada (1992-95); RMPS, Canada (1995-2000); G.D.C.I., Canada (2000-02); SACSS, Canada (2002-04).

University:

BA Anthropology, Saint Mary’s University, Canada (2005-2008); MSc Human Osteology and Funerary Archaeology, Sheffield University (2008-2009); PhD in Archaeological and Forensic Sciences, Sheffield University (2011-2014).

Work History:

I have worked at a number of archaeological sites, a museum, and some universities!

Employer:

The University of Sheffield

Current Job:

I’m studying for a PhD, which means that I’m actually still a student.

Photo:

Alison Atkin

Oh wow! Thank you so much to everyone who voted. I can't believe I've won. Well done to all the other finalists, it was a tough final week!

Favourite Thing: I really like it when I learn to do something in science that I used to think was really difficult, but once you learn it yourself you realise it actually isn’t that hard – and then you feel really smart!

Me and my work

As a part of my research I study bones and look for changes that tell us lots of things about a person, like did they have big or small muscles (were they active or lazy)! These changes happen to everyone’s bones, including yours! What would your bones say about you?

Right now I am doing a research project for my PhD on events that have killed a lot of people all at the same time (like the volcano at Pompeii or diseases like the Plague).  I’m studying this so we can learn more about them – and maybe find ways to save more people, if these types of events happen again.

As a part of my research I have to study the bones of people from the past, to learn as much as I can about them – and by looking at the bones I can tell all types of things, including whether the person had big or little muscles, if they favoured their right side or left side, or if they had any injuries or illnesses that affected how they moved or did things.

I combine what we learn from the bones (how old were they, were they a male or female, and more) and then use mathematics to tell me about the event that might have killed them, so I can learn more about it!

My Typical Day

In a normal day I spend some time looking at skeletal remains (bones) in a lab and some time analysing data (finding out what these bones can tell me about a person or a population).

I do different things every day, but most days I will be using a computer to analyse data from many different people and events.  I may also spend some time in a lab looking at bones and learning what I can about them.

And since I am a PhD student I also attend lectures by visiting researchers and scientists and then I help undergraudate and masters students learn about archaeology and bones too.

What I'd do with the money

If I won, I would like to use the money to create a regular online science podcast!

If I won, I would really like to put the money towards buying equipment and paying for the running costs of a regular online science podcast.

A project like this means that I would be able to help lots of people all over learn about science  – and not just kids in schools or people in the UK, because if it were online then anyone could listen to it.  You could listen to it in school – or you could listen to it at home!

I would like to interview scientists, researchers, and students, and then share all of the information about their exciting discoveries with the world.

If I were lucky enough to win, then I would make sure I did a special podcast all about I’m a Scientist (and maybe even feature a few of the student’s questions in an episode).

 

My Interview

How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

Energetic, curious, and geeky.

Would you rather be a scientist or an athlete? And why?

I think I would rather be a scientist, because I like finding out how things work. But I would still play sports for fun!

If you could have a body super power, what would it be and why?

I would like to be able to be super still. If you could be really still, then you could be really good at a lot of sports that require concentration (or hide from people)!

Which Olympic event would you most like to win? And why?

I would really like to win in archery… because I am an archer. I learned how to shoot a bow and arrow in university for fun, but found out that I really enjoyed competitions too (and I won some).

What did you want to be after you left school?

I wanted to study history, because I was very interested in the past. But I learned that by studying archaeology and osteology (bones) I could actually help write history!

Were you ever in trouble in at school?

I was only ever in trouble at school for talking. I used to talk a lot in class and my teachers had to remind me to be more quiet so I could listen.

What's the best thing you've done as a scientist?

I think the best thing I get to do as a scientist is rediscover things from the past that have been lost or forgotten, it’s a bit like being a detective.

Tell us a joke.

There were two sausages in a frying pan. One sat up and said, “Gee, it sure is warm in here.” And the other shouted, “Wow – a talking sausage!”

My profile link:
http://7-11.imascientist.org.uk/profile/alisonatkin/

Short link: http://ias.im/u.20815

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