Brian Graham
ECB Bulletin July 2017
ECG committee member Brian Graham is an analytical chemist working in the contaminated land industry. His job is to ensure that soil contamination is remediated before building commences.
What inspired you to become a chemist?
I always had an interest in how things work or why things happen. Becoming a scientist therefore was a natural choice for me. Chemistry provides lots of opportunities because it can be used to help people and solve problems. From paints to pharmaceuticals, chemistry is challenging and interesting, and it was that variety of options that attracted me. Why did you specialise in environmental chemistry? I enjoy working outdoors and have an interest in conservation. I also found analytical chemistry interesting and did an MSc in Environmental Analysis, thus combining two areas that I enjoyed. Without proper environmental protection, people will not be safe. I hope in my own small way I am helping the planet and people. |
Could you describe your current job?
As Senior Geo-environmental Engineer at the National House Building Council (NHBC), my role is to ensure that land on which our customers want to build is suitable for these building projects. When contamination is found prior to building, I assess the reports of the builder’s consultant to ensure that the site investigation has been carried out to the correct standard. If remediation work is needed, I check to ensure that the work was carried out correctly and that the land is suitable for occupation.
What is your advice for anyone considering a career in this area?
Environmental protection is and will continue to be important as pressures grow on limited food and water resources, and as waste in all its forms becomes a bigger issue. In the contaminated land industry, we have gone from landfilling almost all wastes in the 1990s to using a whole variety of treatment approaches, such as bioremediation, solidification and groundwater treatments; many more treatments are likely to be developed. Most of them require use of scientific techniques, often based on chemistry. These changes will create opportunities (and careers) for chemists and make chemistry a promising career choice, especially if our important work becomes better rewarded in future. I would advise trying out as many different areas of chemistry as possible and before committing to one specific area — you never know what you might like until you try.
What are some of the challenges of communicating science?
One of the big challenges is persuading people that what we do is useful and protects them, their families and the environment, and that environmental regulations are not just some other burden on their lives. There are success stories such as removing lead from paint and providing a non-toxic version that works just as well, and making objects out of materials that can be recycled, when previously they would have been sent to landfill. Many more challenges remain for chemists to improve the environment.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?
I have found it most rewarding when I have been able to help people with a difficult issue and enabled them to overcome that challenge. I have also enjoyed working on many different types of project over the years, from individual houses to some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the UK.
If you weren’t a scientist what would you do?
If I was not a scientist I would probably work in IT or outdoors in conservation.
As Senior Geo-environmental Engineer at the National House Building Council (NHBC), my role is to ensure that land on which our customers want to build is suitable for these building projects. When contamination is found prior to building, I assess the reports of the builder’s consultant to ensure that the site investigation has been carried out to the correct standard. If remediation work is needed, I check to ensure that the work was carried out correctly and that the land is suitable for occupation.
What is your advice for anyone considering a career in this area?
Environmental protection is and will continue to be important as pressures grow on limited food and water resources, and as waste in all its forms becomes a bigger issue. In the contaminated land industry, we have gone from landfilling almost all wastes in the 1990s to using a whole variety of treatment approaches, such as bioremediation, solidification and groundwater treatments; many more treatments are likely to be developed. Most of them require use of scientific techniques, often based on chemistry. These changes will create opportunities (and careers) for chemists and make chemistry a promising career choice, especially if our important work becomes better rewarded in future. I would advise trying out as many different areas of chemistry as possible and before committing to one specific area — you never know what you might like until you try.
What are some of the challenges of communicating science?
One of the big challenges is persuading people that what we do is useful and protects them, their families and the environment, and that environmental regulations are not just some other burden on their lives. There are success stories such as removing lead from paint and providing a non-toxic version that works just as well, and making objects out of materials that can be recycled, when previously they would have been sent to landfill. Many more challenges remain for chemists to improve the environment.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?
I have found it most rewarding when I have been able to help people with a difficult issue and enabled them to overcome that challenge. I have also enjoyed working on many different types of project over the years, from individual houses to some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the UK.
If you weren’t a scientist what would you do?
If I was not a scientist I would probably work in IT or outdoors in conservation.