• Question: ( ͡° ᴥ ͡°) How is everyday life as a scientist?

    Asked by anon-193440 to Morwenna, Jamal, iainstaniland, Heidi, Emma, Carl on 6 Nov 2018. This question was also asked by anon-193393.
    • Photo: Emma Crawford

      Emma Crawford answered on 6 Nov 2018:


      Variety is the spice of life, and I can say that is definitely true in my job!

      I’m working on 3 different clinical trials all in different stages of the drug development cycle so there are always different problems that I need to find a solution to on a day-to-day basis.

    • Photo: Iain Staniland

      Iain Staniland answered on 6 Nov 2018:


      Like Emma I would have to say one of the greatest things about my job is the variety. My days can be very different.
      In the Antarctic I am busy working with animals, getting data, making sure the equipment is working properly. I am also often busy just doing things to survive like pumping and purifying water, making sure my tent is secure, keeping warm and safe if there is a blizzard.
      In the UK in Cambridge where my office is I will be looking at and analyzing the data I have collected. Talking to my students to make sure their work is going well. Answering emails, filling in forms and hopefully writing scientific papers!
      Or if I am lucky talking to students such as yourself about science

    • Photo: Heidi Gardner

      Heidi Gardner answered on 7 Nov 2018:


      Just like Iain and Emma – my days vary hugely!
      Today for example, I came into the office at about 8.30am, answered emails and had a catch up over breakfast with a colleague, and now I’m answered questions on here. Later on today I have a meeting with students that are looking at doing research projects with me next year, and I have a Chinese language lesson over my lunch break (my university offers them for free for staff and it’s been so cool to learn a new language). Around all of that I have a big report to write – one of my projects is ending at the end of the year, and the funder of the project (the Scottish government) wants a report to explain what we spent the money on and what our research found.
      Tomorrow and next week look completely different because I’m not going to be in the office a lot – I’m going to other universities to give talks and meet with people who work in clinical trials so that I can work out how to make their jobs easier.

    • Photo: Carl Heron

      Carl Heron answered on 8 Nov 2018:


      Frantic but fun!

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