• Question: What is your favorite aspect of your research and why? Would you encourage me to persevere in what you do?

    Asked by bweckfast to Andy, Chris, Harriet, Jess, Nikki on 4 Mar 2016.
    • Photo: Christopher Blanford

      Christopher Blanford answered on 4 Mar 2016:

      Hi again, Dab,

      I like finding out new things, whether I expected them or not. Sometimes you get great discoveries just by paying attention. You know how they teach about the scientific method? It doesn’t always work like that. Sometimes you get an unexpected discovery, and you have to work backwards from that. I really enjoy that.

      Sometimes science can be really boring. But it’s like sport. You have minutes where it seems like nothing’s happening, then … GOOOAAAL! So, yeah, stick with the game. You don’t always score right away, but it’s thrilling when you do!

      Chris

    • Photo: andy chapman

      andy chapman answered on 5 Mar 2016:

      I love inventing things and coming up with wacky solutions. The feeling you have when you design something from tiny atoms and molecules you can’t see that behaves in the way you predicted is amazing.

      I would encourage you to do so. I would encourage you to do loads of things though.

    • Photo: Jessica Groppi

      Jessica Groppi answered on 6 Mar 2016:

      Hi Dab,

      thanks for the question!

      The thing I prefer about the research I pursue is that it involves various aspects of chemistry and also biochemistry. This means that I get to do a lot of different things: one day I do reactions to make molecules, one day I use instruments, another I work with enzymes, and hopefully I will produce something useful for everyone!

      I think that if you like science and you are ready to take all the challenges that might come with research, you should definitely be a scientist!
      It’s a hard job, but it’s also very rewarding: if you obtain good results, you get to publish articles on journals, you travel all around the world to present your research, you are appreciated for what you do and you get to meet a lot of cool people who share your interests.

      Jess.

    • Photo: Nikki D'Arcy

      Nikki D'Arcy answered on 6 Mar 2016:

      Hey Dab

      Thanks for the question. I think the fact that I am always doing new things is the best part of my research. I have researched HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, mad cow disease, flu and loads more. I learn new things all the time and get to meet lots of interesting people. There’s a buzz when you work in science and with people who love their jobs which is great!

      I would say that if you like finding out new things and solving problems, asking questions and never taking no for an answer, you would make a great scientist. It’s a really worthwhile career and you can do so many interesting things. I hope you are inspired to become a scientist!

    • Photo: Harriet Reid

      Harriet Reid answered on 7 Mar 2016:

      It’s got to be that moment when months and months (sometimes years) of work all comes together and you discover something new!

      On a more day to day basis I love that I do loads of different things, and everyday is different. I’m not good at just sitting behind a desk all day! Being a scient is great fun and you have the opportunity to make discoveries that can make a difference.

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