Panel Discussions

Jonathan Lansley-Gordon
Jonathan is the currently the director of a social enterprise for UK based Black physicists. He previously taught physics and mathematics for just under 12 years, most recently as the Assistant Head Teacher at a sixth-form college. He remains fascinated by the deep questions of science that remain unanswered and is passionate about inspiring the physicists of the future. In his spare time, Jonathan enjoys cooking and has set himself a goal of mastering the art of baking the perfect chocolate chip cookie.

Dr Luke Davis
Luke is passionate about how knowledge of physics can explain nature. He grew up in Warwickshire and Oxfordshire before attending Swansea University and completing a PhD at University College London. Luke currently works at the University of Luxembourg, using mathematics, physics and computers to understand the science behind controlling organisms, both living and the robotics of the future; tiny nanoscale devices.

Matthew Goundry
Matthew is a robotics and remote handling engineer working for Jacobs, an engineering company. He studied physics at university and now specialises in designing, building and controlling remote inspection and intervention equipment; robots used mainly in the nuclear industry to conduct work in hard to reach or dangerous environments.

Matthew Watkins
Matthew is an Engineering Technician at Imperial College London, working in the Physics department. A former apprentice, he assists researchers with the design and manufacture of bespoke parts for projects at the cutting-edge of technology, ranging from prosthetic legs for ballet dancers to protype ion thrusters. Outside the workshop, Matthew loves nothing more than baking and playing volleyball and cricket.

Raquel Velasco
Raquel is Head of Product at Vivacity Labs, an AI start-up in the transportation sector that helps cities and councils to manage the movement of people and traffic. It’s important to Raquel that what she does has a positive impact on both individuals and society and as part of her role, she’s helped develop an AI-based system to improve traffic lights. She has a Masters in Physics from the University of Oxford and an MBA from London Business School, but she originally chose to study Physics because she wanted to be an astronaut! In her spare time, Raquel loves to be in the water as much as possible, particularly swimming and sailing.

Dr Clara Barker
Clara is a material scientist who manages the Centre for Applied Superconductivity at Oxford University. She is the chair of the LGBT+ advisory group to Oxford University and the Dean for Equality and Diversity at Linacre College, as well as a member of the Royal Societies Equality and Diversity Committee. She runs a youth group for LGBTI+ young people, is a Stonewall school role model, and presented a talk at a TEDxWomen London event in 2018. For her volunteer work she won a Points of Light Award from the UK Prime Minister in 2017. Clara is also a full time nerd, running Dungeons and Dragons sessions and playing board games. And, when possible, also a climber.

Heidi Hernandez
Heidi is a trainee nuclear medicine technologist at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. She previously completed a BSc in Biomedical Science at the University of Plymouth and is currently studying part-time for her MSc in Nuclear Medicine via the University of West England. Alongside studying, Heidi works in the nuclear medicine department at the hospital, where patients undergo specialist scans after receiving radioactive injections. Outside of training, Heidi loves to travel and hopes to visit South America once the pandemic is over.

Jamie Mewburn-Crook
Jamie is a nuclear metrologist; accurately measuring radioactive material to make sure nuclear medicine and power plants are safe. He began working at the National Physical Laboratory at the age of 16. Some of his work includes antiviral materials for use in the pandemic, creating CE certified PPE for NHS staff as well as winning Apprentice of the year for his work in 3D printing for cancer research. Outside the Lab he enjoys playing rugby and dog walking.

Sophie Martin 
From a young age Sophie was fascinated by the ways in which mathematics could be used to describe the world around her. She graduated from Imperial College London with an MSci in physics in 2020 and is now taking on a PhD at University College London. Sophie is keen to use her skills to help tackle problems in healthcare by developing machine learning models for dementia research and physics plays a key role in the tools required to obtain and analyse images of the brain. In her spare time, Sophie likes to relax by watching films, listening to music and playing video games. 

Lauren Byrne
Lauren works as a medical physicist in the Galway Clinic in both the radiotherapy and nuclear medicine departments. Her role involves calibrating and testing machinery and equipment in these areas, such as PET-CT scanners, SPECT scanners and radiotherapy treatment machines. She and her colleagues are also responsible for handling radioactive material that is used during certain scans or procedures and ensuring all the correct protective measures are in place. In her free time Lauren enjoys swimming, hiking and going for a run with her dog.