Pupils from Craigour Park Primary School in Edinburgh interviewed some of our staff and PhD students about their research. In this article, they quiz Chancellor’s Fellow Dr Aidan Brown about bacteria and books!
What is the most harmful bacteria you’ve worked on?
Most of the time I work with e. coli bacteria. It is pretty harmful and it can kill you. We tamper with it to make it less harmful.
Why are you interested in using viruses to kill harmful bacteria?
People normally kill bacteria with antibiotics. Sometimes bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics. The bacteria can produce other bacteria, that then makes it resistant.
What are you most interested in – bacteria, animals or humans?
Bacteria is much simpler than animals and humans. Physicists are better working with simpler things, so they can tell what’s going on and add mathematics to it. Bacteria is just a single cell. A human is made from over 6 billion cells. It is easier to work with bacteria!
What do you think of Covid-19?
There is a mortality rate of 3. That means 3% would die from it. The bad thing is there is no vaccination for it. It can spread before you even show symptoms.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Working with others and the communication part. I enjoy teaching practical physics too and working with PhD students.
We have a few non-work questions now. What is your favourite piano piece?
My favourite piano piece is by Beethoven – Sonata Pathétique.
You mentioned you love reading. Have you ever thought of writing a book of your own?
Yes, I have thought about writing a science book. Part of my PhD is writing a 200-page book.
You like running. What is your biggest achievement in running?
Running the London Marathon and cross country, but I don’t know which one I prefer. They are different in different ways, but I liked the London Marathon. I think that is my biggest achievement.
If you were stuck on an island, and could only bring three things, what would you bring and why?
I would take my family, a really big boat so I can leave and paper and pens.
Links and resources
- Check out all our Craigour Park Primary School interviews.
- Read more about this project with Craigour Park Primary School, Edinburgh.
- Learn more about Dr Aidan Brown and his research.