On Tuesday 19 January we were lucky enough to have Dr Anna Ploszajski, a materials scientist, writer, and storyteller, give a (virtual) talk about her experience of swimming the English Channel. Through her talk, which encompassed many different topics, we learnt about not only the feat itself but the collection of science and engineering that goes into every aspect of these events. Dr Ploszajski spoke about everything from the life cycle of jellyfish who live in the channel to the gravitational pull and strong spring tides which prevent people from swimming in a straight line. She even explained how the chemical structure of chocolate mini rolls and Battenberg cakes made them ideal snacks for during her swim – buoyant, carrying lots of energy, and tasty of course!
We were amazed at how she consistently swam for 15 hours and 37 minutes, through the middle of the night – not to mention 7-hour long training sessions every weekend prior to the event. The dedication and enthusiasm she used to complete the swim is something that can inspire us all to always ‘do one more lap’ and never give up, whatever we are trying to accomplish.
Clara Livingston (Lower 6)
