why are you a scientist? What made you want to become a scientist? Did you like science when you where young? In the

Question: why are you a scientist? What made you want to become a scientist? Did you like science when you where young? In the future do you want to settel down have a family or become a famouse scientist?

Asked by sciencegeekjade to Sarah, Paul, Mark, Lily, Laura on 15 Jun 2010 in Categories: About. This question was also asked by luxs.
- Laura Maliszewski answered on 15 Jun 2010:
  
  I always liked science when I was a kid, not because it was science per se, but more because I was nosy! If you start asking “why” and “how” and “what if” something sciency is often the answer. I was always taking apart things like tape players and the lawn mower to see how they work.
  
  I wanted to be a pharmacologist (drug maker) or a microbiologist at about 13 when I learned about HIV/AIDS. There are some people who are exposed to HIV but don’t get sick (these are called multiple-exposure-non-progressors) and someone had worked out that they had a mutation that kept them from being infected. That was fascinating to me and many years and classes and studies later, I got to do my own research on HIV.
  
  I did want to become a famous scientist, but it’s hard! The hours are long, the funding is super competitive, and there’s still a stigma attached to being a woman scientist, it’s tough to have a family and be at the top of your field. It can happen, and does, but it’s hard.
  
  After 10 years of research I decided to work to support famous scientists rather than to be one. This way I enjoy what I do, I still support science, and I get holidays and time with my friends and family.
- Sarah Bardsley answered on 15 Jun 2010:
  
  Hi sciecegeekjade – love your name. I guess I always wanted to be a scientist from a young age. My Dad was a scientist and I wanted to follow in his footsteps although I wasn’t sure what type of scientist to be. When I chose my A-levels I went for Biology because it didn’t involved too much maths (not a strong point). At college I really enjoyed Biology and went on to study it at University too. I like learning about the natural world around us and understanding stuff like how plants live, how ecosystems work, why it rains, and how the environment supports everything we do.
  
  I am unlikely to ever become a famous scientist…..unless I accidentally stumble across a cure for cancer while going about my daily life…..which is unlikely. So my plan is to keep working, have a family at some point and continue working.
- Mark Roberts answered on 15 Jun 2010:
  
  I’ve always been fascinated by life and how it works – the fact that we can walk and talk is amazing when you think about all the chemical reactions that are needed for us to work
  
  So was always fascinated by that which made me study science at school and then biochemistry at uni.
  
  I was always interested in science and particularly enjoyed chemistry at schools
  
  As for the future – well I’d like to do both as I don’t think you have to do one or the other as a lot of noble prize winning biochemists have families etc.
- Lily Asquith answered on 15 Jun 2010:
  
  I always wanted to be a scientist because I like experimenting. I think I chose physics because I was always fascinated by space, but I ended up choosing particles over space as my specialist area. I already have a family, I had my daughter when I was very young and she is 11 now, but I don’t think I will ever ‘settle down’.

Question: why are you a scientist? What made you want to become a scientist? Did you like science when you where young? In the future do you want to settel down have a family or become a famouse scientist?

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