News release: Local researcher is among Britain's top younger designers

Abstract

A late starter who returned to education at nearly 30 has been selected as one of
Britain's top younger scientists and invited to present his work at the House of
Cotmnons, in what is seen as the showcase of the very best in UK research.
Dr. Tim Mercer from Preston, a Research Fellow at the University of Central
Lancashire, will attend the Set for Britain event at Westminster on Monday 18th March
where he will present his work on advanced magnetic data storage media.
He could also stand to win the Westminster Medal, a prestigious prize of £500, if his
presentation is judged to be the best of the show, by a panel of senior scientists and
engineers.
Tim, 37, is based in the University's Centre for Materials Science where he is currently
researching noise in advanced tape systems which are used to backup and archive data
on computer networks. "This is something we tend not to think about at our workplace
until the network crashes and we are panicking that a whole week's vital work may be
lost]" says Tim.
Being selected for the Set for Britain event is an impressive achievement, especially
considering that Tim returned to education as a mature student in his late twenties,
following a varied career which included some years in the RAF and even a stint as a
car park attendant for Preston Borough Council.
He says: "The event is seen as the grand fmale by Britain's younger researchers to
National Science Week and I am delighted to have been selected to take part. I'll be up
against stiff competition from other scientists, who are also at the start of their research
careers like myself, and it will be a good opportunity for me to grill them about their
work as well as vice-versa."
13th March 2002
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For further information contact Dr Tim Mercer at the University of Central Lancashire
on 01772 893924, email tmercerl @uclan.ac.uk.