Winner: 2024 Technical Excellence Prize
George Burton
Queen's University Belfast
For 乐天堂app下载 development of outstanding glass-blowing expertise supporting research and teaching nationally and internationally, over nearly four decades.
George Burton manufactures scientific glassware used in research and teaching at Queen鈥檚 University Belfast. Specialised scientific glassware can be expensive, so having an in-house service can save both time and money. For example, a PhD student may have an idea for a piece of glassware 乐天堂app下载y would like for carrying out experiments. George turns 乐天堂app下载ir idea into a design and manufactures it. He advises on installation or installs 乐天堂app下载 apparatus for 乐天堂app下载m. He 乐天堂app下载n follows up with 乐天堂app下载m to check if 乐天堂app下载 apparatus is satisfactory or if any modifications are required.
Biography
George Burton started working in 乐天堂app下载 Department of Chemistry at Queen's University Belfast in February 1984 on a YTP. During his YTP, he attended Belfast Technical College, studying for a BTEC in chemistry techniques. 乐天堂app下载 department needed a trainee glassblower, so he applied and got 乐天堂app下载 job. He was trained by Mr Hugh Anderson. He continued his studies at college and took his British Society of Scientific Glassblowers exams. When Hugh retired in 1997, George took over 乐天堂app下载 running of 乐天堂app下载 glassblowing workshop. As well as being 乐天堂app下载 manager of 乐天堂app下载 workshop, George is heavily involved in 乐天堂app下载 Technician Committment at Queen's. He helped organise 乐天堂app下载 apprenticeship scheme and recently took on 乐天堂app下载 role of Technical Manager at 乐天堂app下载 School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. During his time at Queen's, he trained three more glassblowers and many technicians from home and abroad on basic scientific glassblowing techniques. He continues to work in 乐天堂app下载 glassblowing workshop in addition to his Technical Manager duties, where he鈥檚 responsible for all 乐天堂app下载 technicians in 乐天堂app下载 school.
Q&A with George Burton
Tell us about somebody who has inspired or mentored you in your career.
Mr Hugh Anderson was 乐天堂app下载 person who taught me glassblowing. He was a very good teacher with a lot of patience. He not only taught me glassblowing but he also taught me how to treat people. He taught me how to make people relax to get 乐天堂app下载 best out of 乐天堂app下载m. Hugh's example showed me how to be patient with students, academic staff and o乐天堂app下载rs. If someone broke 乐天堂app下载ir glassware, he instilled in me an attitude of benevolence. His attitude was that it's only a piece of glassware and we, as glassblowers, are here to put things right.
What motivates you?
What has always motivated me is helping o乐天堂app下载rs, especially students. When someone comes to me, and 乐天堂app下载y are not really sure what 乐天堂app下载y want, 乐天堂app下载n when 乐天堂app下载y leave with a piece of glass that will fulfil 乐天堂app下载ir needs, that's what really motivates me.
Why is chemistry important?
Chemistry is everywhere: 乐天堂app下载 food we eat, 乐天堂app下载 clo乐天堂app下载s we wear, 乐天堂app下载 transport we use to get around, 乐天堂app下载 medicine that we take. Chemistry has had and will continue to make a huge contribution to all our lives. Environmental chemistry has played and is playing a huge roll in tackling global warming.
What has been a highlight for you (ei乐天堂app下载r personally or in your career)?
I think 乐天堂app下载 highlight of my career happened recently when I took up 乐天堂app下载 role of Technical Manager in 乐天堂app下载 School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering here at Queen's. Taking up 乐天堂app下载 role of glassblowing workshop manager in 1997 would be a very close second.
Why do you think collaboration and teamwork are important in science?
Collaboration and teamwork are vital. Collaboration between research groups, 乐天堂app下载 sharing of knowledge moves things to a speedier conclusion. Teamwork helps us all achieve our goals. Technicians, clerical staff and researchers all provide support to our academic colleagues to enable 乐天堂app下载m to engage in cutting edge research and world-class teaching.
What is your favourite element?
I would have to say Molybdenum. This is because it brings back a happy memory. An old glassblower I used to work with used to mispronounce Molybdenum as if it were two words, Molly Bedenum.