The last few months have seen quite a lot of comings and goings at ECOE. We’ll be gradually introducing the new faces to you so that you don’t wonder who they are when you meet them. First up is Andy Extance, who joined the board as a director in June 2018. You can follow him on Twitter here.
What is your role at ECOE Andy?
My principle responsibility is looking after marketing. If you read our social media, newsletters, and articles elsewhere, that’s usually me. I am also driving development of new installations for solar PV3 in the push to get things pre-registered for feed-in-tariffs by the end of March, when the government will withdraw the scheme.
What’s your background?
I’m a freelance science writer, treasurer of the Association of British Science Writers, and director of my own editorial services company Exeter Empirical. I primarily write for geeky outlets like Chemistry World and Nature, but occasionally reach into more popular publications like The Guardian and New Scientist. I often cover solar power, climate change, and other environment-related topics. Before I shifted into science writing I was group leader at Cornwall-based pharmaceutical laboratory Tripos Discovery Research, which included operational management within a £90 million contract.
What motivated you to join ECOE?
On my computer I have a document entitled ‘Just what the hell do you think you’re doing Andy Extance?’ in which I list my hopes and goals, and track how I’m doing on them. One of the most stubbornly difficult to do has been ‘Win a battle on climate change’. I used to think a climate change blog I ran was the best way to do it, but I was wrong, it was just talk. I love the way ECOE walks the walk, it is actually doing things, helping the community and the environment at the same time. Supporting that marketing-wise is great. And now, in helping deliver solar PV3 installations, I really do feel like I’m winning a battle.
What should members and supporters talk to you about if they bump into you?
I really enjoy music, football, surfing, board games and books and would happily talk about any of those. Perhaps weirdly given that climate and community can be very political topics, I generally dislike talking politics – I think the scientist in me finds it all too irrational.
