The Life Scientific: Fiona Rayment

Discovery

BBC

Science, Technology

4.3 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 9 September 2024

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The reputation of the nuclear industry has had highs and lows during the career of Dr Fiona Rayment, the President of the Nuclear Institute. But nowadays the role of nuclear science and engineering has become more widely accepted in the quest for carbon net zero.

Growing up in Hamilton, Scotland during a time of energy insecurity, Fiona was determined to understand more about why her school lacked the energy to heat up all of the classrooms or why there were power cuts causing her to have to do her homework by candlelight - and in nuclear she knew there was a possible solution.

But it’s not just in clean energy that Fiona has spent her career, she’s also been involved in investigating how nuclear science can be used in treating cancer and space travel, as well as promoting gender diversity in the nuclear industry.

Speaking to Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Fiona discusses how she’s always tried to keep close to the science during her career in order to keep her ‘spark’!

Transcript

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0:00.0	Before this BBC podcast kicks off I'd like to tell you about some others you might enjoy.
0:05.0	My name's Will Wilkin and I Commission Music Podcast for the BBC.
0:08.0	It's a really cool job, but every day we get to tell the incredible stories behind songs, moments and movements,
0:14.7	stories of struggle and success, rises and falls, the funny, the ridiculous.
0:19.2	And the BBC's position at the heart of British music means we can tell those stories like no one else.
0:24.5	We were, are and always will be right there at the center of the narrative.
0:28.6	So whether you want an insightful take on music right now or a nostalgic deep dive into some of the most famous
0:34.2	and infamous moments in music check out the music podcasts on BBC Sounds.
0:38.6	Hello what's your reaction to the word nuclear? Well when today's guests first started work
0:44.7	back in the early 90s if she were to tell someone down a pub that she worked in the
0:48.8	nuclear industry they'd likely quickly hurry off in the opposite direction.
0:53.0	These days the response has changed.
0:55.0	People are interested in having that conversation.
0:58.0	Although it's still prompts debate,
1:00.0	in recent years the role of nuclear science and engineering has become more widely
1:03.8	recognized and accepted in many parts of the world, not just in the quest for carbon net
1:08.9	zero with nuclear energy, but across so many other applications as well. My guest today can
1:14.4	tell us more about that. She champions a range of specialisms spanning all things
1:18.8	nuclear, having recently been appointed the president of the Nuclear Institute.
1:22.4	Dr. Fiona Raymond, regards herself as recently been appointed the president of the nuclear institute.
1:23.1	Dr. Fiona Raymond regards herself as both a chemist and an engineer who shaped nuclear policy
1:28.1	in both the UK and internationally during a career spanning over 30 years. Despite rising through the ranks to become an advisor to
	...

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