• Question: hi, could you tell me ,what do you like about being a scientist

    Asked by allan0501 to Donna on 14 Jun 2010 in Categories: . This question was also asked by abigail9742.
    • Photo: Donna MacCallum

      Donna MacCallum answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      I love my job as a research scientist! Apart from the disappointment when some experiments don’t work, there are so many things to enjoy about my job.

      I love being the first to find out new things, and being able to publish what I find in science journals. I love being able to enthuse undergraduate univeristy students about science, particularly my areas of research, through giving lectures, tutorials and practical classes.
      I also love the chance to travel. In my job, there are conferences all over the world – which we apply to attend and to present our work (either as talks or as posters). I wouldn’t have the same chance to travel if I didn’t have my job (and certainly wouldn’t have chosen some of the locations that I’ve been to!).

      I also like the fact that every day is different. Science is not one of those jobs when you know what to expect when you go into work… you can plan your experiments, but often the results you get will send you off down a new line of investigation. You are also continually learning (which is good for people who get bored easily).

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