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Asked by CurlyFries001 to Alex, Ali, Kerry, Philip, Theo on 13 Nov 2014. This question was also asked by jenny.
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Kerry O'Shea answered on 13 Nov 2014:
I studied Physics at university and then did a PhD in Physics. I applied for the job I’m in now right after that. I don’t have any regrets – I think it’s a waste of time having regrets as you can’t change the past! I think the best you can do is learn from your experiences.
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Alex Pool answered on 13 Nov 2014:
I did a degree in biochemistry and then applied to do a PhD through the charity Cancer Research UK who fund me.
Just like Kerry I have no regrets. Part of science is learning from mistakes, so if we didn’t have any we wouldn’t learn as much. So take them as a learning experience and a positive not a negative.
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Philip Ratcliffe answered on 13 Nov 2014:
I worked very very hard! There is no other way, even for a genius (which by the way I am not).
Let me say that again in another way, if you want to become a scientist, you have to be prepared to work harder than you imagined was possible.
It’s nice to read about Greeks running naked and dripping wet down the street shouting “Eureka” (I’ve got it), but it’s just not like that.
First of all, it doesn’t matter what you’ve just invented you’d get arrested. Second, you don’t just discover things playing in the bath – except perhaps that the harder you try to grab the soap the more it slips out of your hand (and there’s a very deep lesson to be learnt there).
Regrets – “Non, Je ne regrette rien” as Edith Piaf used to sing (ask your parents, or perhaps grandparents). Certainly not anything I did. Things I didn’t do (like play for Enland at rugby), yes. But at some point we all have to make choices without knowing what the future holds. I made mine and that got me where I am now.
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