• Question: Why did you become the scientist you currently are?

    Asked by mubmoheinstein to Jamie, Jodie, Kat, Mark, Niamh on 16 Mar 2011 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Jamie Pringle

      Jamie Pringle answered on 14 Mar 2011:

      Hello mubmoheinstein,

      I was always inquisitive and wanting to know the answer to things even when I was young. I got into Geology, did that for a few years, and then into geophysics as I wanted to know what was under the ground. Then after looking for mineshafts, I got into forensics as it was really interesting and am currently loving this area of research!

    • Photo: Katherine Davies

      Katherine Davies answered on 15 Mar 2011:

      Hello

      I became a forensic scientist because it was something I was interested in. I liked the way we can use science to help people and society. I liked the idea of being able to help bring justice to victims of crime, and solving a mystery or challenge.

    • Photo: Niamh Nic Daeid

      Niamh Nic Daeid answered on 15 Mar 2011:

      Partly because when I was growing up I wanted to contribute something to the World around me and that’s inspired me to keep developing my profession as best I can through the science that I do.

    • Photo: Mark Hill

      Mark Hill answered on 16 Mar 2011:

      Hi Mubmohenstein,

      I have always had a keen interest in science, from year 7 onwards, and I hoped to become a doctor. However, for some reason, I cannot remember why, I became a police officer.
      I have always been interested in investigating crashes, so found my way onto Traffic. The science behind collisions is fascinating and links the dry and sometimes dull maths and physics at school, with the world around us. Now, the more I look in to what the causation factors of a collision are, the more that I find science, in many forms, can help me explain it, from vehicle speeds, injuries, reasons why people drive the way they do, why they don’t see motorcyclists sometimes, and other matters.
      Particularly the last factor – seeing, or not seeing other road users has led me to look at how the eye works, in relation to the brain. I now understand it to be, not a camera, but a data collection device, from which the brain interprets data according to what it expects to see in many instances e.g. schemas (or schemata). I am sure that our science teacher can explain this further. If not, then send me another question and I will try and explain in a simple way.
      So that is why I wanted to follow science – to make some sense of real world events.
      This allows me to explain crash scenarios in court, for the benefit of defence, prosecution, judge and jury, so that with a better understanding of the facts, the innocent are found not guilty and the guilty are brought to justice.
      Thank you for your good question.
      Good luck in your science.
      Mark.

    • Photo: Jodie Dunnett

      Jodie Dunnett answered on 16 Mar 2011:

      I think that having good teachers at school sparks an initial interest in science and then from doing my forensic science degree and working towards my PhD has helped to shape the person that I am.

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