Overview

Fiona Erskine, chemical engineer turned novelist, shares the fascinating journey from her 40-year career in manufacturing to writing Phosphate Rocks: A Death in Ten Objects. Drawing on her early days at a Scottish fertiliser plant, Erskine blends industrial chemistry with gripping fiction. Inspired by Primo Levi’s The Periodic Table, she explores how real-life process safety and engineering mishaps shaped her storytelling, offering a unique perspective on science, memory, and mystery.

Speaker

Fiona Erskine, Professor of Process Safety, Sheffield University & Author

Fiona Erskine is a professional engineer and acclaimed author based in Teesside, England. Born in Edinburgh, she studied chemical engineering at Cambridge University and has worked globally in fertiliser plants, oil terminals, and major construction projects. Her writing blends technical insight with gripping storytelling, most notably in her novel Phosphate Rocks: A Death in Ten Objects, which draws on her early career experiences. She is also the author of the Jaq Silver thriller series, including The Chemical Detective and The Chemical Reaction.

The material presented in this webinar has not been peer-reviewed. Any opinions are the presenter’s own and do not necessarily represent those of IChemE or the Manchester Members Group. The information is given in good faith but without any liability on the part of IChemE.

Time

17:00–19:30 BST.

Software

The presentation will be delivered via Microsoft Teams. We recommend downloading the app from the Microsoft website, rather than using the web portal.