• Question: Do you like doing work that helps the environment e.g. protects the wildlife and their habitats and stopping deforestation?

    Asked by Lewis Day to Ed, Hugh on 20 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Ed Rial

      Ed Rial answered on 20 Mar 2015:


      Hi Lewis

      Yes, I do think that working to protect the environment is possible. Most of my own work is to create light and X-rays for other scientists at Diamond Light Source to do other science in a wide range of fields, including environmental protection work.

      Five years ago there was a very poisonous mudslide in Hungary that contaminated miles of countryside with poisons like Arsenic, Chromium and Mercury. Scientists used the light I produce with my magnets and particle accelerator to study how best to make sure that this contamination was not taken up into the food chain (like in crops).

      This is one of the reasons I love my work so much! A wide variety of science is done!

      Stay awesome

      Ed

      (#VoteEd 😉 )

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