A series of conversations with distinguished female professionals hosted by Professor Dame Athene Donald.

What do academics actually do? What motivates them to get out of bed each morning and to deliver what is — or in many cases what isn't - expected of them?

For a student setting out, the life of senior academics may seem very mysterious, particularly as many may end up taking on responsibilities and activities far removed from where an individual started. The trajectory from student to senior academic is rarely a straight line, with twists, setbacks, time out and/or opportunities (taken or declined) all to be combined with a personal life.

This series of conversations aims to explore the individual paths of some eminent academics who have made it to the top in their own particular ways. How have they found their own solutions to 'life', what tips do they wish they'd been given earlier on, and what might they view, retrospectively, with most pleasure or regret?

Dr Helen Czerski is a physicist at University College London, an author, and a science broadcaster for the BBC. She is also an alumna of Churchill College (Natural Sciences, U & G97)

Helen is a physicist, first and foremost, but she’s acquired a few other labels along the way: oceanographer, presenter, author and bubble enthusiast. Helen gets particularly excited about the physics of the everyday world and the oceans. Looking up at the cosmos is very important for our awareness of our place in the universe, but the vast majority of the rules that make the universe tick can be seen around us in our daily lives. Helen loves to play with the world, and to encourage others to have confidence in their ability to explore it and think about it too.

Helen has presented documentaries for the BBC on a wide range of subjects relating to physics in general, and also atmospheric and ocean science. She is passionate about conveying the beauty and ingenuity of the physical world around us, and the perspective on the world that science provides. In addition to presenting, she is a writer and speaker, and also regularly hosts and chairs science events.

Find out more about this conversations series at: www.chu.cam.ac.uk/conversations

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