In the first 'A Conversation With... ' of the summer term, we chat to science technician, Dr Jackie Hutt. Prior to joining Shiplake, Dr Hutt was a respiratory specialist doctor in the NHS. In her spare time she enjoys walking her Labrador, Blue in the woods and scuba diving.
How long have you been at Shiplake and what is your role?
I can't quite believe I've been at Shiplake for nearly five years now working in the Science Department as one of the science technicians. Time flies when you're having fun!
What did you do before you came to Shiplake?
Prior to working at Shiplake I worked as a doctor for 20 years in the NHS. I worked as a respiratory specialist in London for most of my career including working in the team that ended up looking after the Prime Minister when he fell ill with coronavirus. I also worked as a GP in Oxfordshire and for the WHO in Kenya at a malaria unit.
What does a normal day look like for you?
My Shiplake day starts off at 8.00am, after dropping off my children at school. My days are always different and never boring. I cover all three sciences so I am usually running around frantically setting up experiments first thing. It can be anything from setting up imploding oil can demonstrations outside, to extracting DNA from kiwi fruit or making salicylic acid with the Sixth Formers. The most important part of my job is ensuring that the laboratories and experiments are all safe for the students as well as facilitating the teachers to explore doing as much practical work as possible.
What do you love most about your job?
I love the variety of my job and the fact that it brings new challenges all the time. Teachers love to try new things and it's up to me and my colleague, Mrs Edwards, to research experiments, trial them and set them up in a safe way for the pupils to have a go. Not everything works first time but that's part of the challenge.
What is the best thing about Shiplake?
Shiplake is a very beautiful place to work and we are surrounded by the most lovely environment, but the best thing about Shiplake are the people I work with. It's wonderful to work in a group of people who are so humorous, kind, innovative and dynamic.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
We have a very boisterous twoyear-old Labrador called Blue who needs lots and lots of walking in the woodland where we live. He is also an avid chewer of anything in my garden so I spend a fair amount of time trying to reverse the effects of his 'pruning' outside. When we aren't in a pandemic I love to scuba dive and I have been lucky enough to dive all over the world including the Galapagos Islands, which are the most amazing place I've visited in the world. I've also dived in parts of the UK - although I wouldn't necessarily recommend the English Channel in the middle of December! I also do a fair bit of running and yoga and ski when I have the chance.
What are you looking forward to when COVID restrictions are hopefully fully lifted in the summer?
I'm really looking forward to spending more time inside and outside with my friends and family and giving my mum a big bear hug. I'm especially hoping that we will be able to eat inside at restaurants as we have a reservation at 'The Fat Duck' for my 50th birthday treat in July.
What does the future hold for Dr Hutt?
I would love to train as a community first responder and put some of my medical skills back to good use when both my children have left school. I'm also really looking forward to doing more travelling, especially in Africa where I've spent quite a lot of time over the years. I would love to go back to some of the places I previously worked in to see what has changed and perhaps do some more volunteering in the future.
