Laura Warwick
Role: Fourth Year PhD student, Department of Physics, Imperial College London
Subject area: Atmospheric Physics
Nationality: British
I am coming to the end of my PhD in Atmospheric Physics. I am also part of the Grantham Institute at Imperial which means I spend part of my time talking to the public and policy makers about how scientific research can be applied to the problems of climate change.
GCSE (or equivalent): Maths, English Language, English Literature, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, French, Music. I also took the Free-Standing Maths Qualification at secondary school
A-level (or equivalent): Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Chemistry
Degrees:
• MSci Physics, Imperial College London
• PhD (ongoing) Atmospheric Physics, Imperial College London
Details about Laura
![SiA My research icon](https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/fit-in/720x462/prod01/channel_2/media/images/landscape-3000X2000/my-research-icon-for-T4.jpg)
My research
The aim of my research is to perform experiments to assess the performance of a future European Space Agency satellite called FORUM. The experiments and new instrument that I am helping to develop will be used to test that the FORUM satellite is making accurate measurements once it is launched.
![SiA my inspiration icon](https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/fit-in/720x462/prod01/channel_2/media/images/landscape-3000X2000/my-inspiration-icon-for-T4.jpg)
My inspiration
I have always been interested in science, but I decided to study Physics because I had a great Physics teacher at 6th Form who was both inspirational and funny. After my degree I decided to specialise in atmospheric physics because I wanted to use my skills to play a small part in solving the global problem of climate change.
![SiA My STEM Hero icon](https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/fit-in/720x462/prod01/channel_2/media/images/landscape-3000X2000/my-Stem-Hero-Icon-for-T4.jpg)
Who is your STEM hero?
Margaret Hamilton is a pioneering software engineer who led the development of the on-board flight software for the Apollo moon missions. She is also one of the people who invented the term software engineering. As well as being a brilliant engineer, she also represents the range of different people who all need to work together to ensure a space mission is a success.
![hands working at computer with mobile phone](https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/fit-in/720x462/prod01/channel_2/media/images/landscape-3000X2000/shutterstock_407179981.jpg)
Most significant discovery/invention?
Semi-conductors. The satellite instrument I am testing relies on recent advances in semiconductor technology, but semiconductors are also vital for so much of our modern world—I know I would be lost without my laptop!
![international space station with Earth in background](https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/fit-in/720x462/prod01/channel_2/media/images/landscape-3000X2000/sts-97-106_052823_001.jpg)
Career options after study
- Developing satellite missions for private companies, start-ups
- Working for national space agencies
- Software development
- Data analysis
![In the foreground, a woman is holding a songbook and singing. In the background you can see other singers in a concert.](https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/fit-in/720x462/prod01/channel_2/media/images/landscape-3000X2000/T4-Blyth-Centre-1.jpg)
My hobbies
In my spare time I enjoy singing and exploring London on my bike.