1. What made you want to be a chemist?

I actually wanted to be a scientist from a young age, and had early flirtations with zoology and physics. However, my father was responsible for my conversion to chemistry; he bought me some books on chemistry and a big bag of sulfur, then turned a blind eye to the resulting noxious vapours that emerged from the tool shed.

2. If you weren’t a chemist and could do any other job, what would it be – and why?

I guess there are two other areas that interest me. I love reading, so owning a bookshop has always been an attractive idea. I’ve also found the ins and outs of running a small business fascinating (my father’s influence again).

3. How can chemists best contribute to the world at large?

I’m sure chemistry’s best contribution will come from an unexpected area, so diversity in research is essential. However, I think improving human health and lifespan will continue to be a primary concern for society. The rapid increase in our knowledge of cellular chemistry offers great opportunities for chemists in this area, and there will be a need to create new classes of highly specific drugs and biomaterials for an aging society. Finally, improving public understanding and perceptions of science is a great challenge for all scientists, including chemists.

4. Which historical figure would you most like to have dinner with – and why?

I’ve become interested in the life of Ernest Rutherford since recently discovering that he used to live close by in south Manchester. I would like to know how he felt about his transition from resident of small town New Zealand to one of the great researchers of the modern age.

5. When was the last time you did an experiment in the lab – and what was it?

Unfortunately I don’t have the opportunity to work in the lab very often; it is certainly something I miss. My last experiment was about 3 months ago, testing an experimental procedure that I’d suggested for a schools’ liaison event. Pushing my diminishing experimental skills to the limit, I produced several grams of copper carbonate.

6. If exiled on a desert island, what one book and one CD would you take with you?

I’d take a nice thick history book, probably on Ancient Rome (a current passion), along with “Discofreakout”, a compilation of 70s’ disco hits. After finishing the book, I would burn it to attract passing ships.

Simon Webb is in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Manchester, UK, and uses chemistry to mimic aspects of biological systems, particularly the structure and function of biological membranes.

1. What made you want to be a chemist?

It’s not really a ‘what’, more a ‘who’. My high school teacher, Mr Corkhill, who was so passionate about chemistry, he’d snarl and growl at us if we got a question wrong. His passion rubbed off on a few of us, and hence an unremarkable high school in the north of England seems to have generated quite a few graduate chemists.

2. If you weren’t a chemist and could do any other job, what would it be – and why?

If I’m allowed to lapse into fantasy, I’d like to play American football for the New York Giants – I’ve followed them passionately for the last twenty years after watching them one night when I was thirteen. A complete lack of ability in that direction means a more realistic answer would be a primary school teacher, something I’ve always wanted to do. I just enjoy teaching, especially the little ones. I tried working in science policy but it’s not for me – wearing a suit and tie (what’s the point of a tie?), going to meetings for the sake of it, clocking in, clocking out, fifteen minutes breaks, etc. I felt like I was being left behind and realised I needed to get back to a bench. I lasted five months then I got my lectureship.

3. How can chemists best contribute to the world at large?

Wow – not sure I can answer that – everything we touch and use is driven by innovative chemistry – new materials, new drugs, new technology. Each chemist thinks their own area is the key one – or they wouldn’t be doing it.

4. Which historical figure would you most like to have dinner with – and why?

My first thought was Edgar Allan Poe. Anyone that dark, moody and brooding must be fascinating company. Then I realised he’d just sit there being dark, moody and brooding, so I actually think Lawrence Taylor, ex-linebacker of the New York Giants. I always wanted to call my first child ‘Taylor’, which my wife thought was a nice name, until she realised that Taylor was a 6’4" 17 stone ex-drug addict who got paid to beat people up, so I have to rethink that.

5. When was the last time you did an experiment in the lab – and what was it?

According to my lab book, a month ago, which is quite a while ago – I’m usually in the lab once a week. I was phase-transferring some quantum dots from toluene to water for a biologist.

6. If exiled on a desert island, what one book and one CD would you take with you?

My bad music taste is legendary (Level 42, Enya, UB40, etc…), but I’m sticking to my guns, and my favourite album is Roachford’s first self entitled album. As for books, I have a stack of comfort books by my bed, ones I can pick up and read anytime – and they’re quite varied (Henry V, Wuthering Heights, His Dark Materials, Critical Mass by Philip Ball, Emergence by Steven Johnson) any of which would do, but at the moment, I’m fascinated with Freakonomics, a real eye opener.

Mark Green is in the Department of Physics at King’s College London, UK, and works on the synthesis of new nanomaterials, especially for biological applications.