Julia Hatto (née Hansford) BEM CSci CChem FRSC
I have had a long and exciting career as a research chemist and scientist. I have spent my working life researching new medicines mainly for infectious and respiratory diseases and have been lucky enough to have worked on some medicines which are prescribed by doctors today. I was just one person in many teams of diverse and dedicated scientists who have helped improve the health of many people across the world. As well as my research career, I have also trained many young people to fulfill their dreams and become scientists.
So where did it all begin for me……………
I was a student at Shipham School a very long time ago when it was in Hollow Road. We only had two classrooms, one for the ‘big ones’ and one for the ‘little ones’. When Miss Cox, the headteacher, retired I was the youngest pupil so I was asked to present her with her gift of a bird bath.
Then, when I was 11 years old I went to Sexey’s Grammar school in Blackford. I really liked school. I was curious and creative, so chemistry captured my imagination. I liked making things and I could find things out by doing experiments in the laboratory. Some experiments were colourful, some were smelly and some were just fantastic. I enjoyed science and so I did my A levels in Chemistry, Physics and Maths. Not many girls did those subjects then but I was determined, even though I wasn’t the cleverest student. I was also the Head Girl, which made me very proud as I followed in the footsteps of my dad’s sister.
I really wanted to find out more about chemistry so I went to Exeter University and studied for a degree. There I met lots of other scientists and decided that I would like a career working in laboratories. After I graduated I got my first job and was the only female recruited into my department, so it was an exciting and challenging start to my career. Now it is more common to see women working in all sorts of laboratories. I have had a career which has enabled me to learn many new things. Sometimes it was hard, but mostly it was fun. I also joined the Royal Society of Chemistry and am now a Fellow and Chartered professional. In 2016, I was awarded the British Empire Medal for voluntary service to the chemical sciences which is an incredible honour.
As a young girl I walked in your footsteps. I hope that my story may inspire you to walk in mine and follow your own dreams.