• Question: why did you want to become a scientist

    Asked by they532tabu on 18 Sep 2025. This question was also asked by grab532hush3.
    • Photo: Sandra Raimundo

      Sandra Raimundo answered on 18 Sep 2025:

      I was always fascinated by the Universe and all the questions that we don’t have an answer for. I decided to become a scientist to learn more about the Universe.

    • Photo: Hannah Blyth

      Hannah Blyth answered on 19 Sep 2025:

      I always loved science in school, although I originally wanted to be a medical doctor because I was really interested in helping people by understanding what made them ill.

      I did some work experience in medicine and science (actually in Astronomy!) and realised I was more suited to the laboratory work. My lecturers in the Plant Science modules at the University opened my eyes to plant/crop health, and now I work to try to help farmers feed the world 🙂

    • Photo: Rachael Eggleston

      Rachael Eggleston answered on 22 Sep 2025:

      I’ve always been curious about everything, especially how things work, so I chased things that could teach me more. Honestly, I became a scientist by accident- just asking questions and following topics that interested me.

    • Photo: Michael Capeness

      Michael Capeness answered on 3 Oct 2025:

      The Sciences were always my favourite classes at school, I had some great teachers, who were passionate about their subjects and who I kept annoying by constantly asking questions about the world, and what made things the way they are. I also really liked that no one knew the answers to some things I asked

    • Photo: Felicity Carlysle-Davies

      Felicity Carlysle-Davies answered on 3 Oct 2025:

      It sounds super cheesy but I wanted to do a job that made a difference.

    • Photo: John Clark-Corrigall

      John Clark-Corrigall answered on 6 Oct 2025:

      I LOVED science and science fiction (star wars, star trek, doctor who, ghostbusters, evolution etc) when I was little, my dad fixed things at home and developed health issues which meant he spent a lot of time in hospital. So there was a lot of STEM topics surrounding life at that time (and still is now) and I had a lot of questions and wanted to know how things worked.

      I did well in well in science subjects at school and wanted to do something related to medicine but didn’t get the necessary A level results to do medicine, so I applied for and studied Biomedical Sciences for a degree with the idea of doing graduate entry medicine. I loved the different topics and working in the lab on the practicals and projects in Biomed at Sunderland, and after a chat with some of the lecturers I thought I could probably be a research scientist, so that’s what I turned my attention to. This was reinforced when I did my postgraduate degree at Newcastle and then PhD.

    • Photo: Timothy Nixon

      Timothy Nixon answered on 6 Oct 2025:

      I loved physics at school but I wanted to work in the outdoors. I eventually discovered that I could find a job that allowed me to do science in the outdoors and that is what I have been doing every since.

    • Photo: Georgia Brittain

      Georgia Brittain answered on 9 Oct 2025:

      I never really set out to become a scientist. In school, I always enjoyed science. I had a great science teacher who made learning really engaging and interesting. When I was at school, I changed my mind as to what I wanted to do so many times. From teaching, to policing, to just keeping doing what I enjoyed. And that’s how it led me to pursuing science and Chemistry specifically. I kept doing what I enjoyed in A-Levels, I did Chemistry at university, and here I am now with a job in chemical research! Not all paths are planned, but they can still be great.

    • Photo: Olivia Williams

      Olivia Williams answered on 14 Oct 2025:

      I wanted to be able to find solutions to real world problems, and to really feel like I was making an impact with what I was doing.

    • Photo: Mark Ridgill

      Mark Ridgill answered on 15 Oct 2025:

      I had no idea what I wanted to do after school but after working as a lab technician I was hooked on chemistry.
      What motivates me is that I might find a new medicine tomorrow, or the next day or…

    • Photo: Laura Durrant

      Laura Durrant answered on 18 Oct 2025:

      I’ve always had a curious mind and like to understand how things work. Growing up, I really wanted to study medicine and become a doctor so that I could use those traits to help people. Then at school, I learned about biochemistry which involves ‘behind the scenes’ research into understanding why people get unwell at a molecular level, which I thought was really interesting! Even better, is that biochemical research drives the discovery of medicines and treatments for doctors to use to treat patients. Knowing that what I do for a living is contributing to helping people gives me a lot of satisfaction.

    • Photo: Julie Willecomme

      Julie Willecomme answered on 3 Nov 2025:

      I was very good at science and languages at school, pretty average (I’m being kind to myself…) at other topics so the decision was made for me.

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