Alexi Glover - solar guides

How did you end up working for ESA?

I ended up working for ESA because of a project I'd worked on at University.

I studied science at University College London and then worked at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, on a project about coronal mass ejections (CMEs), trying to predict when they might erupt.

Scientists believe that the more twisted, or 'S-shaped', a hot X-ray feature appears, the more stressed it is and the more likely it is to erupt: much like a twisted rubber band! I looked at X-ray structures in the Sun's atmosphere and tried to work out if we're really seeing an S-shape and if so, are they are likely to erupt and produce a CME.

Where do you work?

I work in Europe, for the European Space Agency (ESA). I am in the space weather group. Sometimes storms on the Sun can affect us here on Earth. We want to be able to forecast 'space weather' just like the ordinary weather - rain and sunshine.

What else do you like to do?

In my spare time, I enjoy travelling. So far, my work has taken me to America, Europe and Japan. I like to be active and in my spare time I do as much rollerblading as I can - although I have to admit, I'm non-too stable! Here's a photo of me taken on holiday in Crete.