• Question: How old can you be a scientist for ?

    Asked by 07kearneyl to Alastair, Emma, Hywel, Keith, Vicki on 23 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Alastair Sloan

      Alastair Sloan answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Well I guess you can be a scientist for as long as you want. Although most people retire at 65, alot of scientists carry on after that, more in a voluntary way. Professors can hold a position called Professor Emeritus and can continue to work, advise and support research in their departments. I know three in particular who hold that position

    • Photo: Keith Brain

      Keith Brain answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      You can be a scientist for long as you like! While the retirement age is around 65, many scientist in Universities continue to enjoy keeping in contact with their field even after they retire. For example, there is one Emeritus (retired) Professor in our department who is a very lively 75, and he continues coming in do experiments part time. Of course, this is not compulsory!

    • Photo: Vicki Stevenson

      Vicki Stevenson answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      the UK has a retirement age which applies to all jobs (65), so that isn’t different for scientists. However, a lot of professors are very good at bringing in money and manage to keep funding beyond their retirement age. Also, if you love science you can do it at home! You probably won’t do the same things as at work (because you won’t have the equipment) but the same concepts can apply. My science has mainly been based on physics – I never studied biology. However, since last summer I’ve started keeping bees. Now I’m learning about bees and the problems they have (particularly from a parasite called varroa which only started affecting UK bees in the last 10 years). I can use my science background to work out which of the available treatments are best for my bees! Some of these don’t require chemicals and I think that’s a good thing if it works! I know beekeepers in their 80s so it looks like I could still be doing science when I’m 80!

    • Photo: Emma Carter

      Emma Carter answered on 23 Jun 2010:

      An interesting thing about scientists (the ones in academic research in particular) is that they never seem to go away! They officially retire but then keep coming back as Emeritus Professors – or as consultants – or just for the cakes.

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