I'm an outgoing, chatty guy from Scotland. I'm a researcher at Glasgow University (I make miniaturised gravity sensors for volcanic eruption prediction). In my spare time I love to play sport, read, travel and cook. I'd rather do all of these things - with the exception of reading, perhaps - in the company of other people: with my wife, family and friends.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've done bits of travelling alone, but I enjoy it best when I get do share the experience with others. I like to make new friends and experience new cultures, food and drink. I end up going to a few conferences a year to talk about my research, so while I'm in a different country it would be great to meet people other than those who study the same sort of science as I do! It's always great to be shown bits of a new place by someone who knows it well. I love the city where I live - Glasgow - so it's always good to have an excuse to share my favourite places with other people.

Music, Movies, and Books

I enjoy listening to a lot of different music depending on the situation. For a party there's nothing better than some funk or electrofolk (peatbogfaeries, Afro Celt Sound System etc), but on my own I probably end up listening most to Jazz and Classical.

Film-wise, I'd more often go for a drama than an action movie, but I'll watch most things.

I'm not sure it's possible to pick a favourite book... Some favourite authors that come to mind: Bill Bryson, Evelyn Waugh, Jane Austen, Tolkien, P. G. Wodehouse and John Wyndham. J.K Rowling should be in there too!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

My wife and I travelled to the Faroe Islands to try to repeat the first experimental verification of General Relativity. We made a documentary about the whole thing too. It was hard work at the time but I look back on it fondly. The combination of a total solar eclipse, with the magical location in the far north atlantic was rather special! The film is here if anyone is interested in hearing me ramble about science for 20 minutes: https://vimeo.com/167538821

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm very happy to show people the sights in Glasgow. It's a vibrant place filled with great music, great food, great architecture and great people! I live in the west end of the city, near the University. I can recommend lots of great places to visit in Scotland and England. Since I spent a lot of my childhood on the Isle of Lewis - I may be biased towards the Islands and Highlands...

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Faroe Islands, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Romania, Turkey, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, England, Scotland