Pen Portraits In Reading Week

With the popularity of Twitter encouraging people to compose short profile summaries, pen portraits are becoming ever more popular.  First started in business by marketing experts for defining an audience, these are now being used as micro CVs and on blogs to capture a reader's interest.

A pen portrait, in five or six sentences, should provide an informal description of a person or group of people, while including 'hard' variables like a name as well as some softer dimensions such as attitudes, appearance and lifestyle. As part of our 2015 Reading Week, Miss Sam Holyman (Junior Science Co-ordinator and Chemistry) tasked 3SEW with writing pen portraits for famous scientists who had inspired them.

Here is a selection of the best:

• Albert Einstein was an amazing scientist! In 1921 he won a Nobel prize. Born on 14th March 1879, he died on April 18th 1855. As well as his famous equation, E=mc², people also knew him for his big grey hair and moustache. When he was little, he was already naturally inquisitive about Maths and science, and showed great ability. As well as being one of the planet's most well known scientists, surprisingly, he struggled with dyslexia. Best quotation: 'Whether you can observe a thing or not depends on the theory you use'. #FunFact: he played the violin! (Written by... Maryam Kazmi)
• John Dalton, a great English scientist born in Cumberland, was famous for his modern atomic theory. He lived until he was 77 and his legacy has carried on with a building at Manchester University named after him. He became the first scientist to describe the behaviour of atoms in the measurement of weight. (Written by... Khushi Dhadda)
• Born in Warsaw, Poland, this famous scientist was part of the most important medical movement of her time. Winning two nobel prizes with her husband, she enjoyed her work and had her own charity. Her research led her to find out about plutonium and radium. She went to Paris-Sorbonne University and is still respected even now. Have you guessed who she is? Marie Curie, whose work on cancer treatment is still respected. Unfortunately she died of radiation poisoning. (Written by Caragh, Leanne and Meridith.)
• Isaac Newton was a great lad who was born on 25th December 1642 and died on 20th March 1727. His hobbies included going out for a pint and trying to understand some of the laws of Physics. One day, Isaac was just chillin' under a tree, contemplating the laws of motion and his theories on gravity when 'BAM!' and an apple fell next to him; just like that, a few years along the line, he was able to turn his 'rad' ideas into important laws. Nowadays, many people view this top geezer as one of the most important scientists ever to have lived. (Written by Alex Hyde.)
• This 'swag' scientist lived a great life! Born in 1827, Joseph Lister had plenty of scientific experience. His great ideas came from the University of London and he liked all things Chemistry. His biography is impressive: he was a famous chap best known for his love of football and antiseptic medicine; he liked his books and went on to publish a few of his own. This scientist truly was a great person, but very underrated for what he discovered. He was one of the world's most exciting scientists!!! (Written by Seb and Jack.)
• Albert Einstein was born on the 14th March 1879 and died on 18th April 1955. He was one of the most important scientists ever and became famous for the theory of relativity. He was a German scientist and a pioneer of his time. He studied at the University of Zurich. (Written by Charlie Squire.)
• She is an explosive Chemistry teacher who works at a top independent school in the Midlands. She graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2001, after reading Chemistry with Business Studies and obtaining a PGCE in Secondary Science. She maintains an interest in innovated pedagogy and is a keen advocate of appropriate ICT in the classroom. Not only is she a full time teacher, but also an academic author writing text books for pupils and teachers and electronic resources for a variety of publishers including OUP and Pearson. In her spare time, she plays Roller Derby for Birmingham Blitz Dames under her alter ego Cyanide #270 - the PPM (parts per million) count that HCN becomes toxic! Who is she?! (Written by ...!)

Why not have a go at your own pen portraits and send them to us?!