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Dr Sarah Forbes-Robertson studied biology at Bristol, and then a PhD at University College London, on pattern formation, or 'how you get toes in the right places'. She now works at the School of Medicine in Swansea University, looking at breast and thyroid cancer, and the effects of radiation. As a result of this, she has been lucky enough to visit some of the world's most irradiated places... She is a molecular biologist, working on DNA and RNA, and her particular fields of interest are development, cancer and ageing: how we go from a single fertilised egg to a fully-formed human being, and then how it goes downhill from there on in! She also teaches salsa dancing and is learning rock-and-roll jive.
Sarah says:
" I have to admit that my first thought when I saw the flyers for FameLab 'Are you the new face of science?' was something along the lines of 'Yeah, right... I'm more like the old, embittered, scruffy face of science!', but then I realised that it was about science communication, and being able to get your ideas across in an effective way, rather than just being televisual eye candy. I only entered because I thought 'What have I got to lose? It's only a couple of three minute talks, and one day out of my life. If I don't get through to the second round, then, heck, I can go shopping!'
I learnt a lot about presentation skills, just from watching the other contestants. All the judges were fantastic - they gave really positive feedback, and not a single Simon Cowell moment! It was a marvellous opportunity to get feedback on my presentations from people who do that sort of thing for a living. A lot of my friends said that they had thought about participating, but decided not to, because they couldn't think of any good ideas for talks (from a friend who then came up with 5 ideas in 5 minutes for me to do at the final!), or didn't think they would stand a chance (like me when I saw the standard of the other contestants!), and now they are all coming to Cheltenham to support me in the Finals!
So, my advice would be: give it a go, you never know what might happen. You don't have anything to lose, and lots to gain, on every level... my mother's taking me shopping next week and she's paying, because she can't stand the idea that I might go to the masterclass 'in front of all those Channel 4 people' in a big scruffy fleece!"
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© Cheltenham Festivals 2006/7
