• Question: How does being a scientist affect your life and wheny ou were younger did you always want to be a scientist of some sort?

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

      Alastair Sloan answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      That’s an interesting question. I can work long hours, and tend to work most evenings. I travel a fair bit so can be away from home. On the other hand, I have met some really interesting people, have friends in lots of different countries and been able to chat to politicians and governments so it can e exciting.

      I didn’t always want to be a scientist. I was always interested in science and for a few years I couldn’t decide between science or music

    • Photo: Vicki Stevenson

      Vicki Stevenson answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Hi
      I didn’t always want to be a scientist – probably because I didn’t really know what one was! I’ve always loved reading, so my first ambition was to be an author. Later on I wanted to be a vet because I love animals. I didn’t really know what I needed to do to become a vet, although I was told I’d have to get good grades at school! When I was 16 I went to an open day at an engineering company which made mining equipment – they had developed equipment where all the copper wire was replaced with fibre optic cables to reduce the chance of sparks setting off an explosion underground. When I realised that fibre optics could save lives I decided I wanted to study laser physics and optoelectronics.
      Since then I’ve been a scientist in a couple of different areas – I became an electron microscopist using lots of jazzy equipment to find out problems affecting steel. Then I started developing coatings to prevent steel corroding. Now I develop alternatives to fossil fuels!

      I really love my job, so I wake up wanting to go to work in the morning and don’t mind doing some extra work in evenings or weekends! I think I’m really lucky to have a job where I get paid for finding out new things then telling others about it!

    • Photo: Keith Brain

      Keith Brain answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      I enjoy doing science, and having a significant level of control on how I spent my days. Its also nice to have the excuse to be able to read broadly about science. I married a scientist, and my children have science gently introduced at home … just a little!

      I didn’t always want to be a scientists – I used to want to be an air traffic controller, or an accountant! (oh, dear …) or a professional tennis player. That lasted until I realized how bad I was … although I did win a prize for “most improved”.

    • Photo: Emma Carter

      Emma Carter answered on 23 Jun 2010:

      Being an engineer / scientist means I get to work on very interesting projects, with very interesting people. Also I have had loads of opportunities over the years to travel which is something I really enjoy. For example, when I worked in industry, I would travel to the USA every 3 months for Engineering meetings and since I have worked in research, I have presented my work in Washington DC, Brussels, Paris, Singapore and Christchurch (New Zealand). Next year I’m hoping to go to Mexico!

      I was always interested in how things worked when I was younger – but wasn’t decided on a career in engineering until I was about 16.

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