Project 1: Lorna Dougan

Hello, my name is Lorna Dougan and I'm a postgraduate research student in the School of Physics at the University of Edinburgh .

For my PhD, I'm exploring what happens when you mix water with alcohol-no, really-I am! Water covers 70% of the earth's surface and our bodies are made up of 60-70% water. Even though there is loads of the stuff around, no-one really understands it! Scientists all around the world are working on this simple substance to try and get to the bottom of some of its mysterious properties.

I've spent the last two and a half years doing experiments involving water and have managed to unveil some very curious results! I carried out my experiments at Edinburgh in a place called COSMIC –check it out www.cosmic.ed.ac.uk , and down in Oxford at a place called Rutherford Appleton Laboratories (www.isis.rl.ac.uk). I've really enjoyed learning new experimental techniques and working with some really amazing people from all over the world.

I'm ‘writing-up' at the minute. That means I'm trying to produce something called a thesis which will contain all of the work I have carried out during my PHd. It will have information on all the experiments I have done, why I'm doing the work in the first place and what I have discovered/learnt from all this. It's hard work and I'm learning to try and discipline myself to stick at the writing. Getting through the day is largely due to a large amount of herbals teas and meeting with friends for a moan during the day. There's a really great running route near uni which a few of us like to do to‘clear our heads'. [kbdash running route]

I'm just back from a conference in Warwick , ‘Physics: A century after Einstein'. I presented a poster and attended a wide range of lectures on everything from String Theory to Protein Folding. There was also a fabulous social program involving Piano recitals, Modern Dance productions (you see, scientists don't have to be art philistines!) and loads and loads of food! I had the opportunity to meet with some really interesting people and have fun with students from all over the world. I also visited Cadbury World on the way which is a chocolate factory that lets you tour around ‘Willy Wonka' style. Loads of freebies…! [Cadbury world]

Doing a PHd has given me the opportunity to be in control of my own research project while meeting and working with some of the leaders in the field and learning from them. I've been able to travel to lots of different conferences around the world to present my work and explore a new country. It's hard work at times-but it's really worth it!