Testing Defence Scientists' ideas

Carl Jeanes is a solid individual. He looks like not much would ruffle him, the sort that looks like he'd keep his head in a crisis. Which is exactly what you need if you are experimenting with explosives, or testing the effectiveness of some improved armour.

Carl is the Trials Conducting and Liaison Officer at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in Porton Down and has been associated with the range there for 35 years. He describes his role as being like a circus ringmaster:

"You've got to keep control of a number of elements, you can't necessarily juggle yourself, but you know where to place the safety net," he said.

He says he is one of those lucky people who gets up every day knowing that he is going to face something different:

"I work with the cleverest people in Defence Science doing a huge variety of things; helping them with their experiments means I get to see close-up the fascinating things they are doing. It's all about giving an edge to our Armed Forces."

That can mean testing kit that will defeat explosive ordnance devices, or putting a suite of counter-terrorist equipment through its paces:

"People in our organisation produce brilliant ideas, and it's my job to test and evaluate them."

Which often means to destruction. Or as he puts it:

"We conduct trials with high energy materials. There are some hazards, but we control that with a robust risk assessment. We don't fool around."

Once the scientists have come up with their ideas and tested them with computer models there comes a point when they need testing in the field. Carl talks to the scientists, they discuss the methodology and how they are going to achieve what they need to get from the trial.

That's where his experience pays off:

"I wouldn't say I've seen it all before. But I've usually seen something similar," he said.

Whatever the problem, whether it's making sure a heavy cargo vehicle wheel rolls over an exact spot to test mine damage, or working out a way to produce a smoke screen in front of a helicopter, Carl and his team use their ingenuity to find a solution:

"It can be a bit 'Scrapheap Challenge' at times, but the simplest solutions are usually the best," he said.

Setting off explosions is also in Carl's job description. As you would expect, a lot of planning goes into making sure that when things do go bang, everything goes according to plan, and that the scientists get the results they need, safely. He said:

"You never get complacent. We set it all up, and make sure everyone knows what they have to do. I feel like a school teacher sometimes as I have to make sure everyone's been to the toilet before we start, because once we have, no-one can leave the hard cover till the trial is over.

"And we also have the unpleasant job of clearing up after the explosions. We do make a hell of a mess."

If there is a misfire, CCTV footage of the firing area allows for a remote analysis of the situation back in the safety of the hard cover. When he is quite sure that it is OK to do so, Carl goes for a quiet walk to sort out the problem.

Carl clearly loves working at the cutting-edge:

"I've never been a person to dwell in the past. I love new ideas and get excited by the future. I ask questions and learn from people.

"I'd like to be able to freeze myself and come back in 150 years time to see what's happening. I'd love that."

This article is taken from the November 2009 edition of Defence Focus - the magazine for everyone in Defence.