• Question: Do you teach your kids (if you have kids) science? What do you spend your money on and why? How long do you spend a week on your work?

    Asked by bwbi99 to David, Helen, Ian, rhysphillips, Sarah on 22 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Ian van der Linde

      Ian van der Linde answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      1. I don’t have any kids (yet!); 2. I spend my money on travelling abroad, visiting friends and going to music concerts and festivals. 3. The amount of time I spend at work varies widely according to the time of year. In a busy period I might work long into the night to get things done, but in the summer period things are less busy so I might do fewer hours, so things balance out in the end.

    • Photo: Helen Fletcher

      Helen Fletcher answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      My eldest is 4 yrs old and when he asks me questions I try to give him scientifically correct answers but in a way he can understand. I have been telling him that he has to wash his hands because he might get a bug in his mouth that will make him sick. This morning he said that if he didn’t wash his hands the bugs would make a nest in his mouth and then climb out and pinch him – so my explanation wasn’t that great! My money is mostly spent on nursery fees (approx £900 a month per child for a full time nursery place), stuff for the kids and latte’s. I’m working mostly 9-5 at the moment and do about 2 hrs each weekend

    • Photo: David Corne

      David Corne answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      I have a son, 12 years old. He is interested in alien biology (Pokemon, and the Spore computer game). I spend a lot more money than I should on travel – this is because I often forget to claim it back on expenses, or just leave it too late. Otherwise, I like to buy good food, and I have a bad habit that costs money (but I won’t tell you what that is). But I’m trying not to spend much money, instead saving to try to pay the mortgage off. But that’s still a long way away. I don’t count the hours I work. If the hours were important, I wouldn’t want the job.

    • Photo: Rhys Phillips

      Rhys Phillips answered on 22 Jun 2011:

      I spend around 40 hours a week on my lightning work plus another 5 hours or so talking about it to schools etc. I don’t have kids yet – I’m only 24!

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