10 February

My first training outside school was as a materials scientist. Nobody I knew had heard of it; I’d still recommend it to anybody not sure what to study, it’s the most amazing field. Much of what we call ‘modern technology’ is about 80-90% materials science. Most innovation is in what things are made from, not in inventing new things. It’s also why I’ve never had much time for the criticism of ‘materialism’. Matter is our most extraordinary thing.