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Material World

Factual: Science & Nature

Science programme reporting on developments across the disciplines

Science programme reporting on developments across the disciplines. Each week, scientists describe their work, conveying the excitement they feel for their research projects

Material World: So You Want to Be a Scientist - the finals

21/06/2012

So You Want to Be a Scientist - the finals

BBC Radio 4 - Material World, So You Want to Be a Scientist - the finals

Adam Rutherford presents the finals of So You Want to Be a Scientist?

Adam Rutherford presents the finals of So You Want to Be a Scientist? recorded at the Cheltenham Science Festival. Four finalists vie to become BBC Amateur Scientist of the Year.

The culmination of the BBC's Amateur Scientist of the Year. Adam Rutherford presents the finals of 'So You Want to Be a Scientist?' recorded in front of an audience at the Cheltenham Science Festival. 

This year's finalists are:

- Izzy Thomlinson, an 18 year old student from Shropshire, is trying to find out why sounds like nails scratching a blackboard make some people squirm

- Dara Djavan Khoshdel, a 25 year old mature student from Bournemouth, has been measuring whether our emotional reaction to art is correlated to its financial value

- Val Watham, a 53 year old management consultant from Berkshire, has designed a study to investigate whether horizontal or vertical stripes are more flattering to wear

- William Rudling, a 69 year old caricaturist from Leeds, wants to know whether people who look the same also sound the same

The four finalists present their results to a panel of judges - solar scientist Dr Lucie Green from UCL, evolutionary biologist Dr Yan Wong from Bang Goes the Theory and science journalist Mark Henderson.

After deliberating the merits of each experiment in terms of design, methodology and conclusion, the judges will choose the person they think deserves to become the next BBC Amateur Scientist of the Year.

Producer: Michelle Martin.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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