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Asked by katie14 to Emma, James, Jayne, Kara, Sharon on 17 Mar 2011 in Categories: About.
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Sharon Sneddon answered on 15 Mar 2011:
Hi Katie,
No not really, mainly because I didnt really know what scientists did! I thought I wanted to be a dentist until I did some work experience in a lab and then I decided that doinga science degree was more suited to me! I’m glad I ended up as I have!
What do you want to do after school??
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Emma King answered on 16 Mar 2011:
Hi katie14 – great question. I certainly didn’t think I would end up where I am now as a scientist. I always wanted to work in a lab and be the kind of scientist who wore a lab coat and did experiments. Unfortunately I never really thought about what sort of experiments I would like to be doing! I did a year-in-industry and it showed me that you really have to love your topic to do lab work, some of it is very boring and the only thing that keeps you going is knowing that the results you get at the end will be worth it. I never found anything though that I was that excited about – all I was really interested in were the ELSI issues (Ethical, Legal and Social Implications) of science. So that’s when I decided not to do lab work any more and just concentrate on studying scientists instead!
So no, I never thought I would be where I am now but I’m glad that I’m now doing something I really enjoy. -
Jayne Charnock answered on 16 Mar 2011:
Hi katie,
The funny thing is- I never wanted to be a scientist!
I wanted to be a doctor and although I was offered a place at university to study medicine, but I didn’t get good enough A-levels. I decided I’d study Biology instead and use that degree to get into medical school afterwards.
I did quite well in my 1st year at uni and I was offered the opportunity to go and work for a pharmaceutical company for a year in Germany for my 3rd year. I really didn’t want to go as I hated the lab work part if our course, with 200 other people all trying to do the same experiment at once! But, other students who had been before said it was great, so I thought I’d bite the bullet, pack my stuff and go.
Within about 15 minutes of arriving at the lab in Germany I realised I’d nearly made the biggest mistake of my life by not going! I loved it, it was so different to university practical work and I was working on a method to find new drugs to cure lung disease. It was great doing something useful! I decided there and then I’d carry on in science for as long as I still enjoyed it, and 6 years later I still am 🙂
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James Chan answered on 16 Mar 2011:
Nah, I had no idea what I wanted to do! I started off wanting to do graphic design cos I loved art, then wanted to do architecture, then I actually worked for an advertising agency before university for a few months. I then studied medicine cos I liked science and how you can apply your knowledge to help people directly – then I wanted to do some research myself… I never planned much and I think when you enjoy what you do, doors tend to open up themselves..
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Kara Cerveny answered on 17 Mar 2011:
When I was younger, I had no idea that I would have enjoyed lab research so much that I would earn my PhD and then apply for (and be awarded) a post-doctoral fellowship that took me to a different country to pursue research on retinal stem cells in zebrafish. The best thing about science is that it has opened many, many doors for me. I love the variety and constant learning.
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