I use lots of different scientific instruments to look at all of the chemicals that make up fuels. A growing area of my research is towards alternatively-derived fuels from plants, algae or synthetic processes. I also help people in the Australian Defence Forces (Air Force, Army and Navy) if they are having any problems with their fuels.

I often spend about half of my day in the lab, testing and analysing different fuel samples. For the other half of the day I will either look at the data I’ve collected, or write about the results in a report or paper. Sometimes I travel to military bases or conferences to talk to people about my work.

Primary Connections and Scientists in Schools are two programs that help to bring science into the classroom. Recently the government decided to stop funding Primary Connections. Luckily, physicist Brian Schmidt has kept this program going with some of his Nobel Prize winnings. Scientists in Schools is a program I am involved in, I am partnered with a primary school where I go in and help with their science lessons.