I will be running this year's London Marathon with the aim of setting a new world record for the "fastest marathon dressed as a scientist (male)".

Not all scientists are middle-aged men in white coats. However, Guinness say a scientist's uniform consists of  "a white long sleeve lab coat, full-length trousers, safety goggles/glasses, lab gloves, and a lab-related accessory", and so my outfit will look something like the picture above (the test tubes are stolen from my daughter's science kit).

I am running in support of WaterAid, an international charity working to provide clean water and decent toilets to people all over the world. Everyone reading this page probably takes clean water and decent toilets for granted. However, millions of people across the planet are not so fortunate. So please offer whatever support you can because it's going to a great cause...

It's not required for the record attempt, but I am actually a "real" scientist, based at UCL in London. I work with a team of researchers focused on better understanding water and ice. In particular, we are working towards the molecular-level insight needed to develop innovative solutions to some of the world's water problems. For more information on research in our team see: www.chem.ucl.ac.uk/ice