• Question: i would like to have a career in science. what is the best advice for a 15 year old?

    Asked by anon-197811 to Matthew, Marleen, Dan, Atreya, Sonal on 2 Mar 2019. This question was also asked by anon-198042.
    • Photo: Marleen Wilde

      Marleen Wilde answered on 2 Mar 2019:

      I guess I would focus on doing a variety of science subjects at school, so you get the basics and an understanding of which of the science you are most interested in. Is it physics? Or Biology? Or Chemistry? Or something in between?
      Maybe you can also go to open days or visit days of nearby universities or science centers such as Diamond to get some insights and inspiration. Some place offer the opportunity for a mini-placement or shadowing a scientist for a few days.
      Do a bit of internet search on the different science degrees that are available and read what subjects they involve, so you get a better idea in which direction you might want to later.
      However, don’t get to stuck on one idea, be flexible. You never know what happens in future and there will be all sorts of influences in your decision making. Hardly anyone of us scientist is doing what they were imagining or hoping to do at the age of 15.

    • Photo: Matthew Selwood

      Matthew Selwood answered on 2 Mar 2019:

      Keep enthused! I didn’t find school science as interesting as it could have been, but reading things like New Scientist (I assume that is still a thing??) and doing these outreach events is a good place. Keep enthused, keep excited and over time you will realise what specialism excites you most!

      I agree with Marleen entirely, hardly any of us are doing what we thought we would be at 15 🙂

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