• Question: how old were you when you decided you wanted a career in science?

    Asked by xlaurax to Davie, Nuala, Gemma, James P, James V on 26 Jun 2012. This question was also asked by xchloex, donnawatkins, higgj003.
    • Photo: Nuala Carson

      Nuala Carson answered on 26 Jun 2012:

      Hey xlaurax,

      I never actually decided I wanted a career in science, it just naturally happened like that. I went to university to study oceanography and climate science and really enjoyed it. I then got offered the opportunity to stay on and study for a PhD. A PhD is kind of like doing another degree but you only work on one project for about 4 years! A PhD is thought of as a training course for having a career in science.

      I don’t think you can really plan how you life turns so my advice is if you are interested in science then study it and work hard and things will progress naturally

    • Photo: James Pope

      James Pope answered on 27 Jun 2012:

      Hi xlaurax, xchloex and donnawatkins

      A bit like Nuala, I was always doing what I really enjoyed and this happened to be science. I have also been really lucky in that I have worked hard and things have also come together in such a way as to allow me to study this PhD in a field of science I really enjoy and so I am grateful for that happening.

      I’ve known people who know what they want to do (in whatever career) since they were very young and I have also known people who are 30 and only just work out what they want to do, so my advice is to find your own way, doing what you want to, and don’t worry if you aren’t sure when you are 16 or 18 or even 21+!

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