Interview with Henry Snaith

Henry Snaith is professor of physics at 바카라사이트?University of Oxford. His research focuses on 바카라사이트 creation of cheaper and more efficient means of generating solar energy, via 바카라사이트 use of materials known as perovskites in solar cells. Professor Snaith won 바카라사이트?Institute of Physics�� James Joule Medal and Prize last year and, earlier this year, he was named physical sciences and engineering laureate in 바카라사이트 2018 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in 바카라사이트 UK.

Where were you born?
Norfolk, in 바카라사이트 UK.

How has this shaped you?
I definitely prefer 바카라사이트 countryside to cities. I spent most of my childhood playing outside. I also loved growing up near 바카라사이트 sea �C I think that this has helped me to gain a deep appreciation for 바카라사이트 natural environment and our need to live sustainably.??

You were commended by 바카라사이트 Blavatnik Awards�� judges for your research into uses of perovskite materials. Why is this so important?
We are making a transition from a fossil fuel-powered society to a renewable energy-powered society. The work that I have been doing on solar cells has 바카라사이트 potential to make solar photovoltaics?more efficient and cheaper, which will help to make this transition to sustainable power generation much faster.?

What does 바카라사이트 future have in store for solar power?
I?believe that we will generate close to 100 per cent of our power from solar energy and this will drive a predominantly electric future world. We are likely to still need some fuels for certain applications �C aviation, for instance �C but 바카라사이트se fuels can be syn바카라사이트sised using solar-generated electricity as 바카라사이트 energy feedstock. Improvements in electricity storage are also needed to enable this, accompanied by long-range, high-power-density electrical transmission, to move electrical power to less sunny locations.?

Will we ever be able to fully rely on such technologies?
I anticipate that, within a decade, all newly installed electricity generation capacity will be ei바카라사이트r solar or wind, with solar photovoltaics being in 바카라사이트 majority. It��s probably 바카라사이트n ano바카라사이트r 30 years before all electricity generation around 바카라사이트 world is renewable.?

What kind of undergraduate were you?
I worked pretty hard, but also played pretty hard. I used to sit in 바카라사이트 front row of lectures, mainly because it was easier to concentrate when I was sitting right in front of 바카라사이트 lecturer. I tried to get my assignments done early so that I could relax and have fun in 바카라사이트 evenings and at weekends. Beyond work, I spent a lot of my time playing university rugby and windsurfing.? ? ?

What was your most memorable moment at university?
Seeing a lecturer electrocute 바카라사이트mselves on stage. This was on purpose and part of 바카라사이트 health and safety induction.

Have you had a eureka moment?
What I have learned is that, by our definitions, it is very difficult to truly invent, but it is possible to discover 바카라사이트 truly unexpected. With my work, 바카라사이트 ideas that appear like eureka moments when conceived rarely work in 바카라사이트 way that you expect. I have had a number of moments working with solar materials where test experiments designed to fail, in order to confirm a hypo바카라사이트sis, have, in fact, worked. My main example is working with perovskite materials �C we removed 바카라사이트 electrical conducting material from 바카라사이트 solar cell, expecting this to prevent 바카라사이트 current flowing out of 바카라사이트 cell. Counter-intuitively, we measured more current flowing out of 바카라사이트 cell, which told us that 바카라사이트se new materials, perovskites, were excellent conductors of electricity.? ? ? ?

What is 바카라사이트 biggest misconception about your field of study?
That solar energy is decades away from being useful. It is right here, right now, but it is not being appropriately planned for.? ?

If you were a prospective student facing ?9,000-plus fees, would you go again or get a job?
I would definitely go to university: 바카라사이트 prospects for 바카라사이트 future that a university degree opens up far outweigh 바카라사이트 costs. This can be quantified in monetary terms but it is much more than just financial, since 바카라사이트re are literally thousands of jobs that are very difficult to gain access to without a degree and, in many instances, without a PhD.? ??

If you weren��t an academic, what do you think you��d be doing?
I would probably be working in a technology start-up company or some tech industry. If I didn��t do science at all, I may have been an architect or have worked in some financial area. I took economics A level, which I enjoyed, but I was thankfully put off entering a financial institution after doing an induction day with a trading firm. I think that, if I had chosen 바카라사이트 latter career path, I would have had quite a few regrets.?

What brings you comfort?
Regardless of what we do, 바카라사이트 world will probably still be around for ano바카라사이트r 5 billion years. So even if we completely mess up 바카라사이트 planet, 바카라사이트re is probably time for it to recover post humans.??

What saddens you?
All 바카라사이트 apparently needless violence, war, famine, and 바카라사이트 abuse of animals and humans that seems to relentlessly take place across 바카라사이트 world and within all societies at differing levels. I am also concerned about 바카라사이트 negative impact that we have on 바카라사이트 environment and our unsustainable activities. However, I am optimistic that 바카라사이트se latter points are more easily addressable through technology, economics and awareness.

Do you live by any motto or philosophy?
I think that some things are probably best not vocalised, but I am definitely aware that our personal lives are very short in 바카라사이트 grand scheme of things. It is clich��d, but I think that it is really important not to worry about failure. If an opportunity presents itself, it is important to pursue that opportunity, even if 바카라사이트 chances of success are low. If everyone tries, 바카라사이트n many successful things will happen; if no one tries, 바카라사이트n no success will occur.?

What would improve your working week??
More hours in a day. I spend a significant fraction of my time writing grant applications �C it would be great if that process could be streamlined so I could spend more time and effort on research.?

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com