Profile

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Polly Keen

My CV

  • Education:

    Churcher’s College, Petersfield, Hampshire (for GCSEs)
    Havant College, Havant, Hampshire (A-Levels)
    University of Cambridge (Undergraduate & PhD)

  • Qualifications:

    10 GCSEs (English Language, English Literature, Double Science, Maths, Additional Maths, Geography, French, German, Latin)
    1 AS Level (Biology)
    4 A Levels (Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths)
    BA/MEng in Chemical Engineering
    PhD in Chemical Engineering

  • Work History:

    Product Development Engineer at 3M (2014 – 2020) – reinventing abrasives (i.e. sandpaper), based in Warwickshire, but spent 4 months in Minnesota, USA.

    Senior Chemical Engineer at Xampla (2020 – 2023) – developing and scaling up replacements to single-use plastics out of plants.

  • Current Job:

    Senior Chemical Engineer

  • Employer:

    Pulpex

    • About Me:

      Chemical engineer and inventor who loves nature and running.

    • Read more

      I’m a rather crazy combination of a scientist, engineer and runner. I live in Cambridge on my own, but I’m looking forward to the day I can have a dog and cats to keep me company.
      Outside work, I love running and am rather competitive, lacing up the trainers pretty much every day. I relish the chance to race on the roads (10k to marathon), as well as getting super muddy doing cross country. I also like cycling adventures (when it’s too far to run)!
      I also love to travel to places with amazing scenery, food and culture. Patagonia (in South America) has been my favourite recent trip.

    • My pronouns are:

      She / her

    • My Work:

      I create and develop ways to make paper bottles to replace plastic bottles.

    • Read more

      My job is to work out how to make paper bottles to replace plastic bottles, glass bottles and cans. I investigate, develop and optimise the materials and manufacturing method for these new bottles, and ensure they work (and don’t leak) for different contents, such as water, shampoo, and ketchup.

    • My Typical Day:

      There is no such thing as a typical day!
      I’m often found in the lab planning and doing experiments to try to make our paper bottles work better and last longer, with different coatings on the paper, for example. Then I try to understand the results of the experiments. I’m also often found running larger trials in our factory too.  I hate sitting down, so try to avoid too much time at a computer!

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      Hold “Biodegradable Parties”; where all the items disappear into nature within a week or so.

    • What I do to help Planet Earth:

      I’m making products which are replacements to plastics out of plants.  If products are made out of our material, they break down really quickly in the natural environment, such as the soil or the ocean, leaving no unnatural trace. Example products might be chocolate bar wrappers or sachets for shampoo.

    • The CHRISTMAS LECTURE related to my work:

      https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qpkf

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        Curious. Inventive. Logical.

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        I never knew

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        Occasionally, for "bending" the rules

        If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?

        TV or Radio Presenter or Journalist

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Frank Turner

        What's your favourite food?

        Cheese

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        Never get injured from running. Invent something which significantly improved the world. Make someone laugh every day.

        Tell us a joke.

        A man walks into a bar. Ouch!

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