phatMattBaker

I grew up in New Zealand and Australia, and went to university at the Australian National University in Canberra where I completed my honours degree studying the fluctuation theorems which govern how often things go backwards. Recently I completed my PhD at Oxford University studying the Bacterial Flagellar Motor, a nanoscale rotary electric motor which makes bacteria swim.

In Canberra I began MCing at local venues and parties, and eventually discovered slam poetry, where I loved entertaining audiences with only 3 minutes. I am still involved in science and poetry performances, where I combine my interest in the oddities of nature's nanomachines with the rhythms of spoken word. In the last two years I've performed at the Green Man Festival, the Cheltenham Science Festival, the Cheltenham Literature Festival, London's first Ignite event, the Festival of the Spoken Nerd and opened the Geekpop Live Bristol Launch.

I have fenced for over 15 years and currently fence Mens Epee in the Australian Fencing squad. I enjoy dancehall and DJ it alongside jungle and balkan music. I also have a strong interest in prison reform.

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