ICE group members did the Triathlon to support WaterAid
Members of Professor Angelos Michaelides’ ICE group once again swam, ran and bicycled in support of WaterAid at the Castle Howard Triathlon in July.
This is the fifth Castle Howard event that the ICE group has participated in (briefly interrupted by Covid). All money raised goes to WaterAid, an international charity which works to provide clean water and decent toilets to people all over the world.
“WaterAid is very related to what we’re doing,” explains Niamh O’Neill, a first year PhD student in the ICE group, who ran the 10K leg for her team relay. “A core part of our research is to do with water and trying to understand everything about it at a molecular level. Water is a very important thing that many people take for granted.” The ICE group is also working towards developing solutions to some of the world’s water problems.
Six group members competed in the multi-sport competition, held once again in and around the stunning grounds of Castle Howard in North Yorkshire. Along the sidelines other group members cheered them on, in
cluding group leader Professor Angelos Michaelides, who had been unable to train this year due to illness.
Niamh’s team, amusingly dubbed “Better Call Angelos,” included fellow PhD student Flaviano Della Pia for the 1.5K swimming section, which was held in the Great Lake, while postdoctoral researcher Christoph Schran cycled the 50K middle leg. Last year Christoph took part in the triathlon for the very first time, and clearly enjoyed his experience. “Christoph was very enthusiastic,” says Niamh. The team took second place in a field of 14.
A second team, “The Spice Boys”, had a last-minute hitch, which meant that Part III student John Hayton nobly completed both the swimming and running, while visiting scholar Alex Epstein cycled. “It was very impressive,” says Niamh, “because the course is very hilly and Alex was on a single-speed bike with no gears. And despite doing two parts of the relay, John had the fastest running time!”
And finally, final-year PhD student Michael Davies, who was unable to compete last year due to Covid, more than made up for that by entering the singles standard distance Triathlon, placing 32nd out of 242 entries.
Just before the event, members of the ICE group stayed in York, where they held a Surfaces and Materials Symposium for collaborators and current and former group members. The annual symposium is an opportunity for the group to discuss their research and think about the direction they should be heading. “This used to happen every year, but this was the first time since Covid,” says Niamh. “It was a good opportunity for the group to discuss the pressing issues we want to tackle, and group strategy. I also got to present my work, which is always good to practice.”
The group has raised close to £700 for WaterAid through their JustGiving page, which will remain open for several months after the event.
