George Burton

Mr Hugh Anderson was the 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 the best out of them. Hugh's example showed me how to be patient with students, academic staff and others. If someone broke their 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 has always motivated me is helping others, especially students. When someone comes to me, and they are not really sure what they want, then when they leave with a piece of glass that will fulfil their needs, that's what really motivates me.

Chemistry is everywhere: the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the transport we use to get around, the 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 role in tackling global warming.

I think the highlight of my career happened recently when I took up the role of Technical Manager in the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering here at Queen's. Taking up the role of glassblowing workshop manager in 1997 would be a very close second.

Collaboration and teamwork are vital. Collaboration between research groups, the 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 them to engage in cutting edge research and world-class teaching.

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.