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Our scientist has provided a brief
autobiography to tell pupils:
- How they got into science
- Where they have worked
- What they work on
- What their lifestyle is like
The aim is to show scientists as
real people.
David Bromfield's autobiography can
be read here or printed out.
David Bromfield is a journalist,
presenter and science communicator,
working at the BBC.
"I did Chemistry, Physics and
Zoology at 'A' level. After a BSc.Hons
in Biochemical Genetics, I passed
a Post Graduate Certificate in Education
to become a chemistry teacher. Two
years later I was head-hunted to work
in the City as a recruitment consultant.
After this I returned to science teaching.
I did a Masters Degree in Science
Education, part-time in the evenings
at Kings College, London University.
In Nov, 2000 I won the BBC Talent
Competition, beating 11,000 applicants
to work as researcher/presenter on
Tomorrow's World (TW). My MEd was
one of the reasons that I won the
competition.
A typical day on TW starts with reading
scientific journals, searching the
web and newspapers for relevant stories
to film. There is a lot of research.
I thoroughly check stories by finding
relevant people to authenticate the
validity of any claims people make.
My findings are summarised in a proforma
which I present in a programme planning
meeting. I have to defend the film
proposal that I have found, both scientifically
and as an interesting subject for
viewers. Anything we decide to film
is rechecked before we start the process.
Another role I have is to go to script
meetings to explain concepts to the
presenters and to ensure that anything
which is said in the script is correct.
After my spell on TW, I returned
to teaching for a year before joining
the BBC (September 2002) as Education
Reporter on Radio Five Live and a
reporter on the Six o'clock News.
I look forward to being a
presenter on a new factual programme
which starts in January 2003.
The best part of my job is
filming which is challenging, but
fun. You get treated very nicely when
you are a presenter, chauffeur driven
car etc, and there is always a buzz
when you roll up with a film crew.
Meeting the scientists and technologists
who are at the cutting edge of their
relevant fields is very interesting
too!
The worst part of my job is
the immense stress of getting it right.
If the shot can only be done once,
you have to be right first time, no
excuses, and there is always incredible
time pressure. Working away from home
loses its gloss after the first couple
of trips too!
I work at BBC Television Centre
in White City, London, when we are
not out filming. I work with a small
team of about three people on research.
We assign roles and work out which
stories go forward to planning meetings.
When filming, the crew can be anything
from 3-50 people. At a Tomorrow's
World Live Event, about 50 staff are
involved.
What inspired me to be a scientist
was watching factual programmes like
How and Tomorrow's World on the BBC.
I also had an amazing science teacher,
Mr Coppin, who was cooler than Shaft!"
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