Daniel Sandford BSC Physics/Electronics, 1988

BBC News Home Affairs Correspondent

I studied Physics because I enjoyed the intellectual challenge it presented. University level Physics can at times seem impossibly difficult, but the degree course taught me not to be afraid of hard problems, to take an issue back to basics, and work it through.

Scientists are a rarity in the world of news and being someone who actually understands mathematics, science and statistics is a great asset.

In my third year at Southampton, I saw a job advert for someone with a ‘technical degree but a creative flair’. It was for the computer graphics department at ITN, the news provider for ITV.

After three years, I moved into journalism and once I’d travelled the world with ITN I moved to the BBC.

My current job is Moscow Correspondent, and sure enough my Physics degree was very helpful when reporting from Chernobyl earlier this year.

Scientists are a rarity in the world of news and being someone who actually understands mathematics, science and statistics is a great asset.