pandakidI’m a Scientist is like school science lessons meet the X Factor! School students choose which scientist gets a prize of $1000 to communicate their work.
Scientists and students talk on this website. They both break down barriers, have fun and learn. But only the students get to vote.
This zone is the Boron Zone. It has a range of scientists studying all different topics. Who gets the prize? YOU decide!
It is just fun to find out new stuff. I’m not really driven by a big, burning question, but I enjoy the twists and turns of research.
I doubt myself quite a lot to be honest (don’t tell my bosses!) There are some pretty smart people out there in my area, and in comparison I feel quite dumb sometimes! I console myself by thinking that I have other qualities that are useful!
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The inspiration comes from trying to, and sometimes actually, making a difference. Of course there is doubt especially when things dont go as expected. The challenge is to learn from the doubt and the mistakes and make improvements. Science is a cycle of trying, failing, trying again and then sometimes achieving. Scientists also make the mark by publishing their results and to get your work published it has to be reviewed or examined by other experts… so sometimes people try and be as critical as they can of your work. This can be a painful process, but we have to be resilient & persistent.
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I love the thrill of discovery in research, but I also love telling people about the research that I and others do and trying to inspire them.
Like Matthew, I’ve had my doubts over the years, and there are lots of people out there smarter than me. I must be doing something right though! Things don’t always go according to plan, but that’s part and parcel of science.
And I’ve never wanted to stop!
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I really really like my job! Not many people can say that. I feel very sorry for people who hate their job and spend their working days counting the hours until home time.
Have I ever wanted to stop? WEll yes, actually. When I was studying for my PhD (that’s how you become a “Doctor”) I was so fed up that I actually went to my supervisor’s office to tell him that I wanted to quit. Luckily he wasn’t there. Not quite sure where I would be now if he had been in his office that day! Science can be very frustrating at times, when you feel like you’re not making progress or you don’t know what to do next. It can also be annoying when you have to deal with a lot of admin and management stuff on top of the science.
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Many scientists keep working in their field long after they have retired. We have 90 year olds at the museum who come to work 5 days a week and many other retirees that come in regularly – if not full time! How many other professions do you know that continue to “work” when a pay cheque stops coming in?
I think “meaningful work” is important and the work I do makes a difference! That and the excitement of enquiry/discovery is what inspires me to continue being a scientist.
Yes I’ve doubted myself at various times throughout my career, but never “science” or the career itself.
No I’ve never wanted to stop being a scientist – although for a time I did, however my passion for wildlife and my training brought me back! For which I am incredibly grateful!
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