Dashboard – I'm a Scientist 2024

About Me:

I live in South Wales with my teenage children.

I love lots of sports (mainly watching these days). I am the Secretary of my local Rugby Club and have recently returned from Qatar where I watched Wales play in the football World Cup.

I enjoy travelling and meeting new people and have also done a bit of work finding out about my family history, and found out lots of exciting stuff!
My pronouns are:

he/him
My Work:

My main speciality is to be able to compare and identify suspects to crime scenes using their fingerprints; but I have also assisted all police forces in the UK adopt new forensic processes and technologies.
Read more
Everyone has different fingerprints, so I am able to use these to: See who has been arrested at a police station; and tell who has left their prints at a crime scene.
One of my fingerprints

I have also worked for the UK Government for the Home Office (Centre for Applied Science and Technology) and the Ministry of Defence (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) and worked all over the country helping on other forensic and identity projects, like shoeprints, DNA and facial recognition.

As well as policing, I also help the UK Government and EU Government on immigration projects relating to fingerprints.

I am chairperson for the Fingerprint Division of the Chartered Society of Forensics Sciences, and also member of:
- The International Association of Identification
- European Associate of Biometrics
My Typical Day:

I split my working time from home in South Wales 50% and in the labs in Croydon 50%. I usually alternate every other week.

There are lots of different projects to work on, with new and exciting technology to test and no 2 days are the same.

I am always learning something new and speaking to others from all around the world.
Read more

I work with technology that can compare millions of fingerprints and faces and make matches.

This tech needs to be tested to make sure it is accurate.
What I'd do with the prize money:

Use it to create learning packages for schools including multimedia

Candidate CV questions (extra)

Education:

Afon Taf High School, Merthyr Tydfil (1987-1993)
National Forensic Training School (CENTREX/NPIA/COLLEGE OF POLICING)
Qualifications:

9 GCSEs and 3 A Levels

I didn’t attain any degrees, but I haven’t lost hope and it’s on my to do list!

All my forensic training was carried out ‘on-the-job’ using the National Forensic Training School
Work History:
I have worked at :
- South Wales Police (1993-2001)
- Greater Manchester Police (2001-2009)
- National Policing Improvement Agency (2009-2012)
- Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology (2012-2018)
- Ministry of Defence, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (2018-2020)
- ECLAT forensics and identity (2020-present)

My Interview
- How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
  
  Excitable, smiley, down-to-earth
  
  What did you want to be after you left school?
  
  Computer Coder
  
  Were you ever in trouble at school?
  
  Often… but nothing too serious, just messing about… and it was never my fault ;)
  
  If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
  
  Gamer
  
  Who is your favourite singer or band?
  
  Changes all the time, so watch this space. Last Gig... Ed Sheeran Next Gig.... Harry Styles
  
  What's your favourite food?
  
  Comfort food. Usually something with chips, beans and bread
  
  If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
  
  1. To be a teenager again – I bet everyone tells you, but it is a great time… even with the stresses of school ;) 2. The ability to know what others are thinking 3. To travel more… there are lots of places I’d love to visit
  
  Tell us a joke.
  
  ELECTRON: Which way are we supposed to go to circle the atom? PROTON: Clockwise ELECTRON: Are you sure? PROTON: Of course, I’m positive! :)