Poking things in the lab is my full-time job as a materials chemist.
The most famous – or most infamous – creation to come from material science is plastic. Plastics are lots of long chains of linked molecules that tangle together to make up many, many useful things that anyone can use. Computers! Shoes! Water bottles! I reckon you could look around the room right now and poke five plastic things in ten seconds… ready, steady, go! Now you’re already halfway to having my job!
I didn’t plan to go into materials chemistry, though. When I left school, I loved design, writing, and experimental baking, as well as science. In the end, I chose chemistry because I wanted to be able to explain everyday events, like why glue is sticky, why soap makes bubbles, or why lemonade is fizzy.
Materials chemistry came about because I learnt I could apply those design, writing, and even experimental baking skills to create almost anything. In fact, doing materials chemistry is a lot like baking a cake. But, instead of taste testing (they would not taste good), I poke what I’ve created, take notes, and then ask questions: Is it squishy or sticky? Does it stretch or crumble? Most importantly, how could it be used to help people in the real world?
