Speaker

I’ve been giving talks, speeches and stand-up comedy routines about materials science to public audiences for a decade. Scroll down to see some examples of talks I can bring to you.

(Please note, I don’t currently have capacity to visit individual schools, but I often speak at Education in Action and Science Live events. Check my Upcoming Gigs page to see where I’m speaking next!)

Broken Gears and No Ideas: Live as a Materials Scientist

Like all careers, my journey of becoming a materials scientist has taken many twists and turns. It has been full of amazing adventures, from landspeed racing on the salt flats of Utah to working at NASA, via Bedford, Oxford, London and a tiny beach in Mallorca.

But I never planned to become a materials scientist. In fact, when I was at school, I’d never even heard of it. Through a series of fortunate events, it’s what I ended up studying and falling in love with. And I’ve now made it my mission to spread the word of what a career in materials science looks like on the stage, radio, TV and on the page.

In this one-hour career talk, I’ll take you through all the highs and lows of my career story, and the decision points along the way. It’s a story for everyone - not just budding scientists! - though by the end I hope you’ll be intrigued by the world of opportunities in materials.

Handmade: A Scientist’s Search for Meaning Through Making

Until a couple of years ago, Dr Anna Ploszajski was just your average materials scientist, going about her life in the lab putting theory and formulae to the findings in front of her. But one day, she smashed a very expensive test tube (who hasn’t?) and took it to the glassblower to be fixed. She stood, transfixed, as this master craftsperson coaxed the gooey not-quite-liquid into the repair, and at once had a shattering realisation; she’d been calling herself an expert in materials, and yet knew nothing of how glass behaves under the hand, or how to forge an iron bar, or shape a spinning ball of clay. An unknown parallel material world opened up to her – and that was the realm of the craftspeople.

This set her off on a journey of discovery; she interviewed over ninety makers, artists, movers and shakers about the materials that made them tick; silversmiths, wood carvers, bakers, knitters, tanners, embroiderers, jewellers, enamellers, dentists, conservators and makers of wigs, glues, paints, watches, dyes, paper, lime, slime, trumpets and more. She learnt to speak their language, heard the stories of lives touched by each of these substances and, by getting her hands very dirty and at one point quite badly cut, finally found the true meaning of materials through making.

Join Anna on this craft odyssey as she recounts a scientist’s adventure through the world of craft through stories, stand-up and demonstrations. Is it be sciencey? Yes, but not overly so. Is it overly-ambitious? Probably. Will you come away having ordered a sewing machine and a full suede welding suit online? Only time (and booking her for the talk) will tell.

The Science of Swimming the English Channel

In July 2018, I waded into the sea at Dover and attempted to swim to France.

In this one-hour show, I recount what it takes to swim the 21 miles across the English Channel, and the science around it. There are demonstrations of wave physics, the explosive energy content of sugar and the materials science of the very best swimming snacks.

We’ll dive into the history of the swimming costume, marvel at biology-defying jellyfish, and ask what psychology drives a person to such extreme feats of endurance.

Ever wondered about the goose fat? Isn’t it cold? What about sharks? All will be answered.

Testimonials

We were lucky enough to find Anna before she realises what a gem of a performer she is and decides to recruit an agency. Our audience of 300 was rapt as Anna told the story of her encounter with the waves when she battled the spring tide heading for Cap Gris Nez. Amongst the science that Anna tucked into her talk, we learned of stinging jellyfish (two per hour) and the engineering prowess of chocolate mini rolls! All this with a touch of fashion history too! From 8 to 80 your audience will love these talks!
- Jane Cutler, Buckinghamshire Federation of the Women’s Institute

Smart Materials

You’ve heard of smart phones, smart meters, smart watches… even smart fridges. Well now it’s the turn of smart materials.

 This is a show about the future of stuff. Within our lifetimes, solid objects will react, sense, change and move according to their surroundings. This won’t be a result of fancy robotics or cunning electronics, but rather the fundamental properties of the materials themselves. Inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s flying machine, drawn over 500 year ago, smart materials will make our aeroplanes of the future adapting, sensing and morphing, so that they fly like birds or bats. In years to come, we will be living in self-regulating houses, riding self-fixing bicycles, and driving on self-illuminating roads, all thanks to smart materials. These are metals, plastics, fabrics and fluids that react to the outside world without any human involvement, and they promise to change the way we live our lives forever. Expect to see matter doing things you’ve never seen it do before.