• Question: What is the most difficult thing you have experienced in science so far?

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      Asked by anon-282390 on 4 Mar 2021. This question was also asked by anon-287539, anon-287394.
      • Photo: Isolda Romero-Canelon

        Isolda Romero-Canelon answered on 4 Mar 2021:

        Failure… especially when it happens after I have done my best efforts. However, failing allows you to learn, so that when you fail next time…. at least you fail better!

      • Photo: Jesko Koehnke

        Jesko Koehnke answered on 4 Mar 2021:

        The very, very long time it can take before getting a permanent contract in academia.

      • Photo: Martin McCoustra

        Martin McCoustra answered on 4 Mar 2021:

        I was very lucky and got my permanent position very early (at 25) so I couldn’t say getting a permanent job. I would probably say that having a student give up on their PhD is probably one of the hardest things to deal with.

      • Photo: Zahra Rattray

        Zahra Rattray answered on 4 Mar 2021:

        In science we are not just dealing with the science. We are dealing with people, ethical dilemmas and conflicting opinions. This adds a layer of complexity to everything.

      • Photo: Amy Sanders

        Amy Sanders answered on 4 Mar 2021:

        Part of my job is the initial diagnosis of leukaemia, a blood cancer. It’s always hard knowing that you’ve just changed someone’s life and that they’re about to get some really tough news, on those days I try and remember that because I found it they can start their treatment and hopefully recover

      • Photo: Matt Foulkes

        Matt Foulkes answered on 4 Mar 2021:

        I would say that you have to prepared for days in the lab when the science doesn’t work as you expected… or doesn’t work at all! None of us know everything, and we have to accept that. But sometimes it can still be a bit difficult – it can be disappointing when an idea you had didn’t work, or you got something wrong. But it’s OK really – there’s always a different solution or method, and these things happen – it’s all part of science! I find the key is to not let it get me down, and instead to see it as a challenge that I will rise to, and something new that I’ve learnt that day!

      • Photo: Ane Valera

        Ane Valera answered on 5 Mar 2021:

        For me the worst part has been to see that there are experiments that you can’t control what is going on! Sometimes you have to have faith and wait for the expected results, or no results, or weird results…who knows!
        But yes, not being able to control all that I am doing has sometimes frustrated me!

      • Photo: Zuzanna Konieczna

        Zuzanna Konieczna answered on 5 Mar 2021:

        I think science can be quite frustrating at times. There are days when even though you have planned everything really well, and had a great idea that you were super hopeful about, things take a turn and don’t work at all. It’s important to know that this happens to everyone, and is a part of being a scientist! If it was all super simple (and worked the first time round), all the big questions would have already been answered.
        I find that taking a step back, having some chocolate (or other favourite snack) and starting fresh the next day is the best thing you can do.

      • Photo: Michael Walford

        Michael Walford answered on 9 Mar 2021:

        Grenfell tower. To work in fire science, where most of the time no one knew your job existed, and then go to a point where all anyone was talking about was fire science, and everyone wanted to knew what we had or hadn’t done that caused this. The work I do has no bearing on Grenfell tower, but some people weren’t able to understand that

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