Out of the frying pan and onto the firing range

In autumn 2016, after working as a Lecturer and Hearing Scientist at the University of Southampton for a decade, Rachel van Besouw took a huge risk and ventured outside of academia for the first time. A few months later on a wintery, overcast February day with a temperature of 1 degree Celsius and a biting wind, she found herself in the middle of Salisbury Plain observing Royal Marine Commandos train for chemical warfare threats. Had she made a big mistake?

In this Ada Lovelace Day talk, Rachel will discuss the experiences that made her reconsider being a lifelong academic and motivated her to change career. She will also describe her experiences transitioning from University Lecturer to Defence Scientist, what it is like to work behind the double fence at Porton Down, and will contrast the working practices and equality and diversity initiatives at the University of Southampton with those of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.

The talk will run from 14.00 to 14.45, and will be followed by a Q&A until 15.00. There will be a chance to network, with nibbles, from 15.00 to 16.00.