• Question: When did you first begin thinking about being a scientist?

    Asked by shreedesai to Lyn, Katy, Paul, PB, Ruth on 14 Jun 2013. This question was also asked by itstommyyall, evieb123, romi7890, esraduyar, ollierackley, marthabarnes, hellotherehowreyou.
    • Photo: Paul Waines

      Paul Waines answered on 14 Jun 2013:

      although i’ve always had an interest in all things scientific, and have done various science-related (and non-science-related) jobs over the years, i dont think that I really began thinking about it seriously until I started working here at the university as a technician about 10 years ago, and was able to find out what being a scientist was all about. Before that, I’d done a few jobs- some I liked, some I hated- but I learnt something from all of them. The longer I worked at the uni, the more I began to think ‘hey, I actually really like doing this!’ and then I was lucky enough to be able to do a PhD in a subject I really enjoyed. I’ve kind of gone on from there really and now get involved in all sorts of things!

    • Photo: Peter Balfe

      Peter Balfe answered on 14 Jun 2013:

      At University. Before then I didn’t think I was good enough. My lecturers said I could do it, so I gave it a try and went for a Ph.D. As they say, the rest is history…

    • Photo: Ee Lyn Lim

      Ee Lyn Lim answered on 14 Jun 2013:

      If you mean just ‘thinking’ (whether seriously or not) then my first memory dates back to age 8, when I declared enthusiastically that I was going to ‘be a geneticist!’. At which my brother rolled his eyes and asked me if I even knew what genetics was (I did…but not really). Afterwards I almost forgot about science for a while, until the time came to apply to university, and I had to choose between studying Biochemistry and English Literature. I thought really hard about it, and in the end decided that if it was something I would do for the rest of my life, I would rather be a scientist. I can’t tell you how thankful I am that I chose this route!

    • Photo: Katy Brown

      Katy Brown answered on 14 Jun 2013:

      I always liked science, but I only started thinking about being a scientist as a job at university – before that I wanted to be a doctor. When I did my first research project in a lab (chopping up beetles and studying their DNA!) I realised how much I liked research – when you find something out it’s really exciting, and even if you don’t it can be fun to look.

    • Photo: Ruth Mitchell

      Ruth Mitchell answered on 16 Jun 2013:

      I feel like “scientist” is a big title and I still feel like I am a scientist in training. But I first started thinking about science at school, where I was interested in biology and the human body and disease. That influenced my decision to do a more scientific route at A levels and then still enjoying learning about the human body but wanting to be pratical, I applied for medicine at university. I didn’t get in but was offered a place on a Biomedical Science course which I went for thinking it would give me a good base for applying for graduate medicine. At university, I met PhD students (scientists in training! (a degree gives you the theory about science and a PhD gives you the practical aspect)) and that got me thinking about scientific research. After my undergraduate degree, I re-applied for medicine but didn’t get in and I’m now doing a PhD and I’m enjoying it – doing the research behind medicine!

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