Tommy Collison

EDIT ~ Interview is being broadcast on the 7th of January. Will also be available via the web

Did interviews today for Nationwide in school today. Interviewer and Cameraman really nice, helpful etc.

Firstly did up a mock science class learning about Anaerobic Respiration. Will be ahead for that class in second year!

Then they did a piece with me working on my project on my laptop, with Patrick giving helpful hints and recommendations.

After which they started interviews. They began with Patrick, talking about the two Young Scientist comps he was in, then moving on to starting a company, how it became Auctomatic, the buy-out, and then me!

Then I was interviewed. To be honest, the interview is more about the blog then the YS. I was asked ‘what exactly is your project’, so I summarized it. Next question: “So, you own a blog?”

I was kind of taken aback. I mean, this is the nationwide Young Scientist special after all. I took it in my stride and told them, yep, I started good ol’ Trust Tommy back in April. I was asked what a blog was.

Well, a blog is a website, and there are two main types. Personal and others. Personal blogs are kind of an online diary, while you have other types, like Food Blogs* or Tech blogs, which just gather information

*Had Niall in mind there, although it’d be an insult to say that all Niall did was gather news. I felt though that the whole online-cooking-videos were a different day’s discussion!

She said that “well, I know that your blog gets a lot of hits and is extremely well known, was it always like that?

I said “no, when it started out it was very quiet and low-key”

When did all that change?

“Well, I guess I started blogging seriously after I got linked to. One of the most prolific bloggers in Ireland is Damien Mulley, from Cork. He linked to me a few times and then others started, and it began from there”.

Then she asked what I wanted to do after school. I said (truthfully) that I had no idea. I didn’t think that it’d be something science-y. She pressed me (not in a bad way) for a hobby and I said I loved acting, but again didn’t see a career in it. Professional blogger? Maybe.

Am I proud of Patrick and John? Yeah, it’s cool. I mean, when they were at it I felt a bit “but what’s the point” but now I see it and think it’s fantastic*. So, yeah, it’s cool

* I used the word “fantastic” about 5 times. It’s my catchphrase.