• Question: why are you a scientist, was it your dream to become one or was it all of a sudden?

    Asked by simone2001 to Alan, Deepak, Francesca, Lilly, Nick on 7 Mar 2014.
    • Photo: Nick Wright

      Nick Wright answered on 7 Mar 2014:

      It wasn’t my dream to become a scientist as I didn’t know when I was growing up what job I wanted to do. When I was a teenager I saw images of the planet Jupiter that we’re being sent back from the Galileo mission and I became really interested in astronomy from that point onwards!

    • Photo: Deepak Kar

      Deepak Kar answered on 7 Mar 2014:

      I guess I was into science in school. I would say it was a combination of two factors. My dad was a professor of Physics in the local university, so that was certainly an inspiration. Then I read a few books by/on the famous physicist Richard Feynman, and those were deeply motivating. I would recommend this book for everyone: Surely you are joking, Mr. Feynman. It is hilarious. For more advanced students, see if you can get your hand on the book Genius by James Gleick. It is a bit more technical, but immensely motivating even ignoring the hard bits.

    • Photo: Alan Fitzsimmons

      Alan Fitzsimmons answered on 8 Mar 2014:

      I was always interested in science, and chose it in my subject choices at school. I didn’t set out to become a scientist , but by continuing to study science I eventually ended up with a degree in physics and astronomy from University. At that point I decided I’d try to become a scientist, and it worked out!

    • Photo: Francesca Day

      Francesca Day answered on 9 Mar 2014:

      I think it was always my dream to become a scientist since I was about 10. Now I’m in the first year of my PhD, and so excited that I can finally call myself a scientist!

    • Photo: Lilian Hunt

      Lilian Hunt answered on 10 Mar 2014:

      I wanted to be a scientist of some form since I was probably about 11 after watching CSI on the TV. It was the first time that I thought of something where my interest in solving puzzles and know how things work could become a job. My grandad was a bit of an inspiration as he helped me discover new things and would always want to help me find out the answers to the questions I would ask. Although he was more interested in physics and engineering, I worked out through school that Biology was more my thing!

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