Meet the … technician: Skye Jenkins

Tell us about your most memorable moment as a school science technician

Going to the summer science exhibition at The Royal Society in London for a school trip. I especially enjoyed the people explaining quantum computing. I was completely out of my depth listening to them explain how it all works, but I found it very inspiring.

What is your favourite experiment to set up?

What’s one piece of kit in your lab that you couldn’t live without?

Without a doubt, it would have to be the magnetic stirrer as it’s so handy. You can leave things to stir while you do other things; one of them doubles as a hotplate too. I don’t think I’d ever be able to go back to having to stand and stir. I want one for home, but right now I don’t think there are enough uses for it to justify spending the money – one day.

If budget was no object, what’s one piece of kit you would love to have in your school?

I have so many ideas for this. Being realistic, I’d say a good 3D printer to design handy little things or pieces for repairs to save money in the lab. However, with absolutely no limit, I would love a scanning electron microscope, which I’d use to look at insects – some of them are really cute up close. I love maggots under a microscope, they’re like mini walruses. Teachers could do some cool demos with it, too, giving it a slight bit of practicality.

What do you wear to school? Do you have a favourite outfit for work?

I honestly just wear anything comfortable, professional and black. Not a whole lot of thought goes into it. In the winter, I do like to layer up; sometimes on an especially cold day, I’ll have multiple pairs of trousers on. A nice pair of warm, fluffy socks are a must for me, too, because my Doc Martens are slightly too big.

How do you relax?

I like to have a nice hot shower when I get home and get straight into my pyjamas. If I’m feeling slightly productive, you might catch me drawing or painting: recently, I painted a Warhammer figure for the first time. On an average evening, though, you would either find me napping or snacking.

What’s on your bookshelf?

If I’m being completely honest, my bookshelf is currently gathering dust. However, I would highly recommend The pillars of the earth by Ken Follett. It is about the building of a cathedral in a medieval English town in the 12^th century and is probably the best book I’ve ever read. It’s part of a series, so ideal if you like an extended reading project; I just have the last book left to go now.

Are you involved in any STEM clubs or extracurricular activities?

Imagine you can only share one piece of advice with your fellow technicians, what would you say?

Always try to be kind and keep a positive mindset. No matter who you are or what job you have, we can all make our lives (and all the people around us lives) more positive by keeping a healthy mindset.

… And imagine you can only share one tip with teachers about making a technician’s life easier, what would you say?

The only thing I would say is to make sure that when you are submitting your requests, you’ve listed everything you need for a practical so there are no delays and the lesson stays on track. Also, if something doesn’t go to plan, don’t hesitate to ask for a hand.

Who’s your hero?

David Bowie is up there for me; he was just such a cool guy. He made a lot of people feel it’s okay to be different, which I think is one of the most important things for us to all remember as we go through life. It’s our differences that make us individuals, and he reminded people of that. His songs are bangers too, and Labyrinth is my favourite movie.