Profile
Rhys Phillips
My CV
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Education:
Bryntirion Comprehensive School (1998-2005)
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Qualifications:
Maths & Physics, Cardiff University (2005-2008)
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Work History:
Great House Hotel, Laleston (weekends throughout sixth form and University summer holidays)
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Current Job:
Research Engineer – looking at ways of protecting aircraft against lightning strikes.
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Read more
As we are trying to make planes lighter (so that it uses less fuel and is better for the environment), we are using plastic materials instead of metal to make planes. However these materials don’t conduct electricity very well and so lightning causes a lot of damage. My job is working with a team of researchers to develop new ways of protecting aeroplanes against lightning strikes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih_3qnMOMt8
 Outside of work I am a musician and play in a few different musical groups including two of my own bands. I enjoy and play all sorts of music from pop covers to jazz! On a local radio station, I have my own weekly science show and sometimes present the Breakfast Show before coming in to work. I also enjoy listen to and watching comedy, reading, swimming, cooking, eating out and going on holiday (but then agan, who doesn’t enjoy that one?!). -
My Typical Day:
A day at work usually involves reading interesting articles to learn new things and running computer simulations.
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Read more
 I spend most days at my desk reading articles on lightning, aeroplanes and other interesting topics as well as running computer models to see what would happen in different situations. However I often get to travel to other offices including North Wales where all of the aeroplane wings for Europe are made and Toulouse in the South of France for meetings (France is my favourite office to go to – they serve wine in the staff canteen at lunchtime!). I also spend a lot of time talking about the work my team does to both schools and visitors to the company. -
What I'd do with the prize money:
Use it to go and talk about lightning in other parts of the UK and also on training to improve my presentation & radio skills.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Scientist, Musician & Broadcaster
What did you want to be after you left school?
I had no idea – I just knew I wanted it to be something to do with science.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Yes! For installing a program onto some of the teacher’s computers which made the CD tray open and close constantly and make a rude noise each time it did it whilst they were trying to get work done…
Who is your favourite singer or band?
It changes but at the moment probably The Blanks – that’s Ted’s band on the TV show Scrubs in case you didn’t know!
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
To have a holiday home in the South of France, to present radio shows on the BBC and of course to win “I’m a Scientist, Get Me Out of Here”!
Tell us a joke.
How many mathematicians does it take to change a light bulb? Three: one to screw it in, and two to figure out how to get rid of the remainder. (*remainder*, geddit?? well, you didn’t say it had to be a good joke…)
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