Profile
Nicola Rennie
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About Me:
I live just outside Edinburgh. By day, I make charts 📊 and in the evenings, I run, paint 🎨, bake (and eat 🍰!)
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My pronouns are:
she/her
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My Work:
I make charts and maps of data about the United Kingdom, to help people understand what’s going on in the country. I work with data about crime, the economy, health, the environment, and more!
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My Typical Day:
I’m not a morning a person so I usually wake up quite late and have coffee in bed. Some days I work from home, other days I go into the office after a walk through the woods. I mostly work on a computer during the day, although sometimes I use pen and paper to sketch ideas. I usually finish working around 6pm and head out for a run before dinner.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I’d love to create an art gallery of data visualisations, where members of the public collect data from their everyday lives, create charts, and share it with the world. You might collect data on how many times a year you sneeze; whether stairs have more odd or even numbers; or how many different dogs you see a week!
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Qualifications:
I did Standard Grade (equivalent to GCSE level in Scotland) Maths, English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Geography. I then did Higher (equivalent to A-Levels in Scotland) in Maths, English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Music, and Art & Design. I also did Advanced Higher Maths, Physics, and Music.
After that I went to the University of St Andrews where I did a degree in Maths. I then kept studying even more, and did a Masters degree and PhD in statistics and operational research.
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Work History:
After I finished studying, I worked as a data science consultant where I helped lots of different companies to use data in a better way. I worked on projects related to public health, counting fish, and looking at bones! I then worked as a lecturer in a university, teaching medical students about statistics and how we can measure and prevent diseases.
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Current Job:
I’m now a data visualisation specialist, where I make charts and diagrams to help people explain the data they have more clearly.
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Employer:
I work at the Office for National Statistics (UK Government).
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My Interview
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What did you want to be after you left school?
Artist
Were you ever in trouble at school?
No
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Something creative or where I spend time outdoors
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Bruce Springsteen
What's your favourite food?
Pizza
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
Travel the world; with a dog, eating endless pizza.
Tell us a joke.
What's red and smells like blue paint? Red paint!
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