CSci : About : Profiles

About CSci

Nigel Pattenden

CSci FIFST

I currently work as a Senior Food Technologist at Marks and Spencer, where I oversee the safety and quality of the food sold through the Delicatessen category, the largest category in the M&S Food Group. This involves knowledge and application of a wide range of skills, from food microbiology and processing to HACCP. M&S is known for its innovation and my second major job role involves working with chefs to bring to market new product developments in this area that are safe, nutritious and tasty. I am also Chairman of our Chemistry Policy Group determining product testing policy for the food group.

Each role provides a great deal of job satisfaction in its own way. The first involves constantly reacting to food scares and managing adverse microbiological issues as they arise, most recently the nationwide all-retailer withdrawal of houmous due to possible Salmonella muenchen contamination. How could it have happened? How do we restart production and prevent a reoccurrence? All these are challenging questions. Equally, it is always satisfying to participate in the development and success of a new line. Joining IFST was important as I believe that in today’s 24-hour media world, with analytical techniques constantly evolving to bring to light new issues, the practising Food Technologist needs a professional body to represent them and advise where necessary. Moreover, it is essential to maintain industry standards to have a degree of professional recognition beyond one’s employer.

My application for CSci was extremely straightforward. CSci is valuable in providing professional recognition beyond one’s own industry to be able to influence the daily change agenda. For example, we know so little about irradiation and once we have it we cannot undo that. There is a ‘creep’ of irradiated foods and ingredients into Europe and I wonder where this will end.

Food as a building block of health is a science still in its infancy. Almost daily I hear a new pronouncement – ‘eat more fat, eat less fat, eat more tomatoes, eat more fruit’, and then fruit gets a red traffic light because of sugar! And with the effect of things like beef from South America and vegetables from the Far East on food miles, I have a feeling the diet in a decade may be very different from today.

Bob Patton CSci CPsychol AFBPsS I have been a member of the BPS for over 20 years, as a student, a graduate member, an associate fellow and finally as a chartered psychologist.

Professor Stephen Palmer CSci CPsychol CBiol AFBPsS Membership of professional bodies is an important part of one’s career development. They provide a framework for recognised qualifications and continuing professional development.

Bob Sargent CSci CEnv FCIWEM CIWEM is in many ways a natural home for an environmental hydrologist like me, but I recognise it may not meet the needs of all people.

Helen Wright MSc CSci CChem CEnv MCIWEM I started out as a Chemist in the water industry, working on the analysis and testing of rivers, focussing on potable water.

Nigel Pattenden CSci FIFST I currently work as a Senior Food Technologist at Marks and Spencer, where I oversee the safety and quality of the food sold through the Delicatessen category, the largest category in the M&S Food Group.

Ruma Tamuli CSci MIFST My interest in joining a professional body was at first mainly to have my qualifications and experience recognised and to be differentiated from less qualified personnel.

Professor Pankaj Vadgama CSci CChem CPhys FRCPath FInst I was nominated to become a Chartered Scientist by the Institute of Materials, of which I am a Fellow, in a special presentation evening.disciplines, involving biomolecules, chemistry and metals.

Dr Christopher Corti CSci CEng FIMMM Dr Christopher Corti has over 25 years experience in the precious metals industry. As Managing Director, International Technology sector at World Gold Council, London.

Dr Heather Thompson CSci CBiol MEI Dr Heather Thompson is the Energy and Environmental Management Systems Officer for one of Northern Ireland’s largest local authorities.

Don Lack CSci FEI I have been a member of a professional body since starting at Nene College in 1970 and as my work experience changed and specialised over the years I became a member of the Energy Institute, where I am now a Fellow.

Professor Sir Christopher Evans OBE CSci CChem FRSC Sir Chris Evans is regarded as one of Europe’s leading biotechnology entrepreneurs with a proven track record of establishing successful, high quality science companies.

Dr Mark Heslop CSci MIChemE As a Lecturer at the University of Strathclyde, my duties include teaching undergraduate courses, supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students, and carrying out research projects.

Nira Chamberlain CSci MIMA I am a Chartered Scientist and a member of the Institute of Mathematics and its Application (IMA). Since 2002, I have been a Mathematical Modelling Consultant for the LSC Group.

Dr Liz Campbell CSci CPsychol AFBPsS I am a member of the British Psychological Society, the professional and learned body for psychologists in the UK. The British Psychological Society has its own Royal Charter for awarding professional awards.