Profile
Emily Lewis
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About Me:
I’m a PhD student using machine learning to control plasmas so we can harness the energy of the sun and help stop climate change.
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Hello!
My name is Emily, I’m a PhD student working in London. In my spare time I do martial arts for sport, here’s me about to get knocked over in jujitsu…
I also like doing silly things with artificial intelligence. This month I’ve been training a machine learning model to play chess to beat my friend, she is very good at chess and I am very bad. But hopefully my AI can beat her…
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Climate change is one of the most dangerous problems humanity is facing today. To reduce its impact we need to move away from carbon-emitting energy sources like coal and oil and find ways to generate power without harming the planet.
My work is based on an alternative energy called nuclear fusion. It is the same process happening inside the sun (which is kind of a giant nuclear reactor) and if harnessed could be a clean and sustainable energy source.
It works by heating hydrogen and helium (the same gases in the sun) to very high temperatures and pressures. When heated the gas becomes a plasma, then when heated even more the plasma ignites and starts producing more energy than we put in.
The machine we use to trap and heat the plasma is called a tokamak. It looks like a giant purple doughnut.
My research aims to help control the plasma and keep it burning for as long as possible. This is tricky because we are trying to trap something with the power of the sun in a very small space and it is quite unstable.
I’m finding out whether we can use machine learning to better control the plasma and keep it stable.
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My Typical Day:
I run computer simulations and tweak my models. I also build software tools to help myself and other scientists.
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I’m working from home at the moment, normally I would go into the laboratory or office to work alongside the other scientists. I miss chatting over coffee breaks!
Luckily most of my work uses computers so I wasn’t too disrupted by the pandemic. Most of my day involves building and testing models or learning about plasma physics and artificial intelligence. I speak to my supervisors or read papers when I have questions.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I’d use it to teach students about artificial intelligence and machine learning.
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Education:
University of Birmingham, University College London
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Qualifications:
Masters in Nuclear Engineering (MEng), A-levels, GCSEs
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Work History:
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, University of Birmingham, a software company, a coffee shop, a bar.
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Current Job:
PhD student.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Nuclear engineer/AI researcher
What did you want to be after you left school?
An engineer or a scientist, but I wasn't sure what exactly.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
All the time. I was not very well behaved.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
At the moment- Sufjan Stevens.
What's your favourite food?
Chinese steamed dumplings.
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
A dog. And then someone to look after them when I go away. And an answer to climate change.
Tell us a joke.
How do you hide a horse with cheese? Use mascarpone!
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