Mark McClemont
Senior Technician - Teaching and Glassblowing
Responsibilities
Provision of Scientific Glassblowing Service: consultation, design, manufacture, modification and repair of laboratory scientific glassware.
Laboratory Technician: activities including, but not limited to, preparation for, technical support during and cleardown after undergraduate and outreach practical lab sessions plus lab-based examinations held at SCFP by external bodies (e.g. RSC).
Laboratory Coordinator
Fire Warden
Wellbeing Peer Support Volunteer
Professional experience/ previous jobs:
University of Reading, Scientific Glassblower.
University of Reading, Senior Technician, Organic Teaching.
TRRL (research project), six-month placement.
Six-month research project (novel sulphonamides syntheses) at Brunel.
Dr. Augustus Voelker Public Analyst (sample collection and preparation plus wet and instrumental analytical chemistry), six-month placement.
Printed News Media Distribution and Delivery Operative.
Education/ professional registration/ professional membership:
Brunel University, "Thin sandwich" study includes three six-month industrial or other placements/ BSc. (Chemistry).
City & Guilds Scientific Glassblowing Part 1, (Distinction).
Full Member of the BSSG (British Society of Scientific Glassblowers).
Areas of interest
Member of and Activist for AVEN (Asexual Visibility and Education Network) since 2004. Been interviewed for and contributed to media visibility opportunities involving appearances on TV, national and local radio (including BBC Radio 4's "Saturday Live", BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Berkshire) and articles in national and local newspapers and magazines (including The Times). Panellist in several events including two conferences. Participation in multiple Pride parades with AVEN walking groups.
Videogaming - solo and multiplayer coop. Preferred genres: RPG, FPS, story-driven adventure and open-world.
Music - as audiophile (via Hi-Fi) and attending live performances. Favourite band: Porcupine Tree; preferred genres: rock, metal and indie/alternative; taste ranges from ambient and classical minimalism to death metal.
Motorbikes: have a Honda X4 and did have a rare 1982 US import Suzuki GS1000SZ Katana (had to sell due to lack of proper storage).
Sci-Fi and Fantasy - particularly hard sci-fi and cyberpunk - via multiple media: books, graphic novels, cinema, film (2D and 3D Blu-ray) and TV.
Single malt whisky, Scottish and other origins. With four others (including a postgrad alumnus and TS colleague) have organised a number of whisky tastings in Reading to which a number of Reading staff and academics have attended and enjoyed. A "Friend of the Dram Takers" (a select membership that can order tickets to tastings) - the Dram Takers, based at Imperial College organise six-monthly tastings which I regularly attend.
Aviation/aircraft - have parachuted, parascended, bungy - jumped and flown in a variety of aircraft from a glider and a microlight to Concorde.
Space/rocket science and astronomy - take an interest in and like learning about these. With the help of another member of TS Staff viewed a transit of Mercury (Mercury passes in front of the Sun) on the 11th November 2019 from just outside the Chemistry building.
Awards/ honours:
Winner: "Bibby Cup" (BSSG competition for student glassblowers).
Publications and involvement in projects:
Keen supporter of Diversity and Inclusion activities including participation in "Faces of Reading" project and contribution to #DiverseReading blog.
D&I Working Group.
Wellbeing Peer Support Network
iAuditor Working Group
Workload Assessment Working Group
Competency Assessment Working Group