• Question: How do you go far and do well in Science?

    Asked by 925satm27 to Helen, Hollie, Matt, Phil, Steve, Sylwia on 10 Mar 2018.
    • Photo: Hollie Heard

      Hollie Heard answered on 10 Mar 2018:

      I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer to this one, I can only give you my advice based on my journey so far. I think you just have to be prepared to work hard, be open minded to trying all different types of things and listening to everyone’s idea. Be patient, (it takes a fair amount of time and effort), and apply yourself as best you can to all the situations you come across whether they are good or bad. Read anything and everything, ask questions, even if you think they may seem silly, take part in any opportunity that comes your way whether it be going to an event or being asked to give a presentation. Part of makes a good scientist or engineer isn’t just your technical skills or how good you are at maths. It’s also about you. Being dedicated and passionate and able to communicate with people is just as important. You need to, and will want to, tell people about the work that you do in some way so you want to try and develop those skills too. Is a career in science something you’re thinking about?

    • Photo: Sylwia Nikel

      Sylwia Nikel answered on 13 Mar 2018:

      I think together with skills and knowledge one would do better than another if they had also a passion for it. It is important to know yourself too, to know the limits and not to try to do too much at one time. It is very hard sometimes when you see the awesome things and possibilities to improve, invent, etc.
      It is as well important to understand the importance of taking a break and having a relaxed time.
      I would also very much agree with Hollie, be patient 🙂

    • Photo: Steve Williams

      Steve Williams answered on 22 Mar 2018:

      I believe science and engineering is probably the same in this regard to just about anything you might chose to do in life and that is the more you put into it the more you will get out. Firstly of course science has to the subject that interests you the most because you have to follow your own interest. I don’t think it would work very well if someones greatest interest is say music and decides to go for a career in science. The reason I say this is you will generally get further in any subject if you enjoy it. So to go far in science you need to be dedicated to it and never allow yourself to think its too hard for you because in all probability it isn’t. I also believe that the people that do best in science and engineering are those that deal will failure well. Failures are inevitable so you need to be able to live with them and just as importantly learn the lessons they are teaching you because you learn more when things go wrong than when they go well. I think the one particular characteristic that perhaps all scientist have in common is a great sense of curiosity. Here’s a thought, if you think science or engineering is for you then do some research on your own on any subject that interests you. You might need to spend some time on this or at least until you feel you have reached a good understanding then put together a 10 minute presentation to your class. It could be any subject from say how a transistor works to how a massive ships engine is built. Or any of millions of other topics you might think of.

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