• Question: how much training did u do at universe to really understand what scince is about ( years)?

    Asked by iluvwilmas to Adam, Joanna, Louise S, Louise W, Marcus on 20 Nov 2012.
    • Photo: Louise Stanley

      Louise Stanley answered on 20 Nov 2012:

      Hello!

      I think the understanding of science it is a continual learning processs as there is always new things to challenge and excited you – so really the “training” is never over! As far as my university days went, I spent three years doing my undergraduate degree in Bristol which covered a vary broad range of topics and then I spent another 3 years carrying our research for my PhD – I loved my time in Bristol, I made loads of really close friends as well as learning lots of science! After finishing my PhD I entered a training scheme as a Clinical Scientist in genetics in the NHS which was really a whole new area to me but my skills learned previously enabled me to suceed to where I am now! I learn something new everyday – it is what it keeps it interesting!

    • Photo: Joanna Giles

      Joanna Giles answered on 20 Nov 2012:

      I was going to say the same thing – that learning is never over for scientists!
      But to get my qualifications (and I agree with you- a good understanding of what science is really about!), I spent 3 years doing an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry, 1 year doing a Masters in Biochemistry and then 3 and a half years doing my PhD. So 7 and a half years (!) – it seems so long! And it was difficult, but was worth it because I love science and I love what I do 🙂

    • Photo: Marcus Wilson

      Marcus Wilson answered on 20 Nov 2012:

      Im still not sure what science is all about. Its such a big area that you have to specialise more and more. As scientists continue their careers they know more and more about less and less.

      I went to university for 4 years learning really broad things and am now doing a PhD in a very specific area (im still a student!) for another 4 years.

      Im constantly learning new things, and events like this really help becasue you get to read what (more specialised) scientists think.

    • Photo: Adam Paige

      Adam Paige answered on 20 Nov 2012:

      BSc degree 3 years.
      PhD degree 4 years.

      And just as the others said, I too am still learning. The whole point of doing scientific research is to find out new information. So you have to spend a lot of time reading new discoveries by other people, and finding and publishing your own new discoveries.

      As a lecturer I also find I am often teaching or marking work on subjects I do not know a great deal about, and therefore I have to keep reading, researching and learning in order to understand these new things all the time. It is what makes science such an interesting career, and hopefully will keep my brain active enough to help me have a long and healthy life.

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