• Question: Is their anything controversial about your work?

    Asked by snowdona to Alastair, Emma, Hywel, Keith, Vicki on 21 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Hywel Vaughan

      Hywel Vaughan answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      The most controversial thing about my work snowdona is the issue of sustainability and the environment. Quite obviously we are building a car that uses a rocket and a jet engine, it will never be completely environmentally friendly, but we are trying to reduce our impact on the environment as much as possible! Even though we are using a jet engine and a rocket, we are only doing a limited number of runs – our total CO2 output is the same as that of four and half cows per year.
      In addition to that, we are also trying to be conservative with the design of the car. We are designing the vehicle virtually, meaning that we produce it all on computer – that means no models that use a lot of material and no large piles of paperwork. We also all try to use public transport or cycle/walk to work, and are even looking into using recycled materials on the car itself. In the end, if we inspire the next generation, it will be a very small price to pay for the possible benefits to the environment in the future. 😀

    • Photo: Keith Brain

      Keith Brain answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      The most controversial thing, and rightfully so, is the use of animals. That’s why I think that we need to be open and honest about what we do, as only society can decide whether its a price worth paying. The majority of medical work in the past has relied on the use of animal, and I think that many future discoveries will also need it – but there are series ethical questions here.

    • Photo: Alastair Sloan

      Alastair Sloan answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      I don’t think so – well not in a bad way. Maybe the fact I have in the past worked with embryonic stem cells is controversial. Pushing scientific debate is a good thing in my book, but controversy is not.

    • Photo: Vicki Stevenson

      Vicki Stevenson answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Hi
      my work is focussed on reducing our carbon emissions. Some people don’t really want to believe that their carbon emissions could cause global warming, so the reason for my work is controversial.

      However, not many people get upset with my work in finding fossil fuel alternatives, since fossil fuels prices are so unstable and there are concerns about how long we will be able to get enough fossil fuel to satisfy our requirements

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