LAUREN PENNINGTON

Where were you born? Liverpool

An interesting fact about yourself: I was born across the road from my future University - must be fate!

Where did you go to university? The University of Liverpool and Edge Hill University.

Why did you want to become a teacher? To inspire the next generation of scientists.

If you could be any type of scientist, what would you be and why? A scientist who develops a cure for every disease imaginable!

If you could make any idea for an invention real, what it would be and why? I would invent a machine that makes emeralds because I like emeralds!!! You can see why I study Chemistry!

Favourite science experiment and why: The thermite reaction because it's very scary - and it looks pretty!

THOMAS RUSH

Where were you born? Midlands

An interesting fact about yourself: I have taught on three different continents: Africa, Australia and Europe.

Where did you go to university? The University of York.

Why did you want to become a teacher? I enjoy seeing people reaching their potential.

If you could be any type of scientist, what would you be and why? An astronaut so I could feel what it is like to live in space and eventually get to visit new places that no-one has been to before.

If you could make any idea for an invention real, what it would be and why? I would invent a time machine so I could go and visit all the famous people of the past and then go ahead and look at my future.

Favourite science experiment and why: Dropping lithium, sodium and potassium into water because it teaches us lots about science as well as making a really great explosion!

AMANDA BLACK

Where were you born? Liverpool

An interesting fact about yourself: I can wiggle my ears so please ask me to do it if you see me around!

Where did you go to university? The University of Loughborough

Why did you want to become a teacher? I like seeing people learning more about the world around us!

If you could be any type of scientist, what would you be and why? I would be a zoologist because I really finding out more about animals and how we can help maintain their habitats so they do not become extinct. I especially like lemurs!

If you could make any idea for an invention real, what it would be and why?I would invent a teleporter so I could go anywhere in the world and it would just take a split second to do it.

Favourite science experiment and why: I like looking at examples of energy transfer as there are so many fun examples of how one form of energy becomes another!

RACHEL ASHLEY

Where were you born? Sheffield

An interesting fact about yourself: I lived in Canada for 4 years.

Where did you go to university? The University of Liverpool, Simon Fraser University and Liverpool Hope University.

Why did you want to become a teacher? I believe everyone has the right to a good education and I enjoy teaching!

If you could be any type of scientist, what would you be and why? So hard to pick! My area of research was nuclear physics which was really interesting and gave me lots of opportunities to work with exciting equipment. Nanophysics has always been very interesting to me too because there are so many interesting applications. Being a marine biologist who studies manta rays would be an amazing job, they are really beautiful, fascinating creatures and I love being in the ocean. 

If you could make any idea for an invention real, what it would be and why? A quantum leap accelerator because it would make my dad happy.

Favourite science experiment and why: Wave particle duality (you learn about it at A-level) because it boggles my mind every time.

BENJAMIN BARKER

Where were you born? High Wycombe

An interesting fact about yourself: I coach the American football team for GB

Where did you go to university? The University of Leeds and the University of Manchester

Why did you want to become a teacher? I want to make sure that everyone gets the same opportunity to have a great education and a good foundation to go into whatever career they choose.

If you could be any type of scientist, what would you be and why? I would be a food scientist working in a laboratory to develop new and better flavours for the things we eat.

If you could make any idea for an invention real, what it would be and why? I would invent a machine that marks homework for me in a matter of seconds so I will have more time!

Favourite science experiment and why: I like the ‘flame thrower’ experiment because it involves putting different metal powders into solution which give off different flame colours when burned in the air!

PAUL BRENNAN

Where were you born? Liverpool

An interesting fact about yourself: I have jumped the highest bungee jump in the world.

Where did you go to university? The University of Sheffield.

Why did you want to become a teacher? I like working with people and helping others achieve their goals.

If you could be any type of scientist, what would you be and why? The scientist that discovers the cure for the common cold.

If you could make any idea for an invention real, what it would be and why? Holograms to make general life that much more exciting.

Favourite science experiment and why: Anything which involves dissecting an organ, just so I can feel like a surgeon.