Lucie Green - solar guides

Where do you work?
I am now working at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory in Surrey. For a while, I worked with the Faulkes Telescope Project in Cardiff, Wales. This is a very exciting project, which enables schools to use a real telescope. I've always been keen on telling people about my work and encouraging them to study science. I first started with being involved in small science events and then I was on radio and TV!

Faulkes Telescope Project.

Here's me on a radio broadcast, talking about the Sun.

Why did you study astronomy?
As a child, I remember hearing my parents say that they thought I was going to be an astrophysicist when I grew up. Not actually knowing what an astro-thinga-me-wotsit was, I agreed with them because I thought it sounded impressive. Really at that time I wanted to look after animals. People used to bring me injured birds and I would stay up all night feeding them worms!

How did you end up doing solar physics?

I'm a great believer in enjoying life, so I studied my favourite subjects - physics and art - through to A-level. I decided to carry on with physics and before I could stop myself I was at Sussex University studying, yep you guessed it, astrophysics. It was there that I became interested in the Sun. I think I saw the light whilst I was sunbathing on the beach, if you'll pardon the pun! Then I joined the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, in Surrey, and started studying Coronal Mass Ejections.

What do you do when you’re not working?
Well I've travelled to lots of sunny places. I love anything outdoors or on the dance floor. I'm obsessed by modern jive dancing! I carry a frisbee whenever I'm near a large space and the 'Never Mind the Buzzcocks' board game whenever I'm going to be with more than 3 people. I love games of any kind, especially the ones I can win. My favourite comic is 2000AD.

So the truth is coming out now - you like toys?!
Yep, my favourite toys are my glow-in-the-dark witch hands. I use them all year round and not just at Halloween. I also own glow-in-the-dark juggling balls. I have been known to leave these items on my bed and scare myself in the night!

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