My first degree was in Geology and Geophysics (Otago 1994, UWA 1995) and I have spent the past 23 years working in the resources industry and research. I am now a PhD candidate in History at the University of Notre Dame Fremantle under the supervision of Deborah Gare and Charlie Fox. My thesis is investigating the communion of science and politics with a particular case-study on the Australian scientist Mark Oliphant, from 1939-1965.