• Question: how did you get to where you are today

    Asked by Callum6787 to Hazel, Fiona, Daniel on 7 Mar 2018.
    • Photo: Fiona Macfarlane

      Fiona Macfarlane answered on 7 Mar 2018:

      I was never really sure what I wanted to do at school, but was quite good at biology so chose to do a biology degree at university. A few months in I really started enjoying the maths that I took as an optional course. I discovered i could switch to do a degree in Mathematical Biology, this sounded interesting so I did.

      After I finished my degree I wasn’t sure what to do next, but one of my lecturers said I should continue in research by doing a PhD so I did, which is what I am doing now!

    • Photo: Hazel Gibson

      Hazel Gibson answered on 7 Mar 2018:

      A very very roundabout route. I know some people have a plan for their career and follow that, but I have never really had a plan. Instead I know what I like to do in my job and what I don’t like to do. I don’t accept failure at something as being the end, unless it’s not enjoyable any more – I will totally quit something if I don’t enjoy it, but I will never quit just because I failed. I have always looked for jobs that I will enjoy and will be fun for various reasons.

      When I finished my first degree, I was upset at how I had done (not great) and so wanted to prove myself, I also wanted to study volcanoes because they are awesome, so I started a Masters degree in natural hazards and did really well. I like to travel and because of this after my Masters I looked for work in any country, eventually getting to work in Australia in engineering geology and the USA as a volcano ranger. After this I moved back to the UK (because my visa ran out) and got a job doing what I loved – talking about geology – at the Natural History Museum in London. Because I have worked in lots of different types of jobs, in lots of countries, I was perfectly suited for my current field of study combining lots of different disciplines when the opportunity to do a PhD came along, but my job now kind of didn’t exist 10 years ago, so it was all about being in the right place at the right time. I have been very lucky, but also worked hard to get where I am today.

      Basically I am persistent in what I want, don’t accept defeat in things I enjoy, but don’t force myself to suffer things I don’t and am always open to opportunities.

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