Jonathan Lowndes
Jonathan is a database and applications manager at NERC's British Geological Survey in Edinburgh.
I manage projects delivering information over the internet, such as the UKDEAL website. This requires an extensive knowledge of web and database systems technology to ensure information is easy to access and use. We are always looking to the future and how new technologies can help improve our web services so there is always new technologies to learn, which keeps the job interesting and fresh.
I originally joined BGS as a database and application developer and over the years I have worked my way up to managing projects. To do this requires a good head for maths and an enjoyment of problem solving, so a degree in Geology or IT or something similar is definitely useful.
At school I was always interested in the environment so did a geology degree and worked as a logging geologist for the oil industry. While I liked the geology aspect of the work, I didn't like the long periods away from home. I was getting more involved in IT so when a job came up here I jumped at the chance.