• Question: What made you decide to be a scientist, has anyone else in your family been a scientist?

    Asked by bellsbee to Debbie, Glyn, Jon, Kat on 20 Mar 2013. This question was also asked by idontwanttobehere.
    • Photo: Jonathan Stone

      Jonathan Stone answered on 20 Mar 2013:


      I went to go and see Mt St Helens, a volcano in the USA when I was 5 years old. There was total devastation with loads of snapped trees etc. It made me crazy about volcanoes. I didn’t necessarily know I was going to be a scientist at that age, but growing up, both of my parents and one sister are doctors, and my other sister is a science teacher! I think people who question things and want to understand how they work become scientists.

    • Photo: Debbie Crockard

      Debbie Crockard answered on 20 Mar 2013:


      I decided I wanted to be a scientist after having seen free willy when I was younger. No-one in my family is a scientist, most work in banks, and I was the first to go to University. But my dad and mum learned a lot about marine biology so they could help me which was amazing!

    • Photo: Kathryn McMahon

      Kathryn McMahon answered on 20 Mar 2013:


      Hi Bellsbee! There are no actual scientists in my family, but my dad is a doctor who loves science so he was a big influence. Lots of my family are doctors and nurses, so that is probably why I’m so interested in health and disease. I always loved nature and creepy crawlies as a child, but the biggest influences for me were getting my own microscope as a teenager (and discovering a whole new world!) and reading Jurassic Park. I was fascinated by the description of the scientists in it (who all worked on genes), and how they cloned the dinosaurs. It got me interested in genetics in a big way!

    • Photo: Glyn Barrett

      Glyn Barrett answered on 20 Mar 2013:


      I was travelling through Cambodia about 10 years ago and worked with a conservation organisation working on saving the Irawaddy river dolphin. I wanted to work with animals and conservation so went back to university to study biology. I kind of got side tracked as there are so many interesting facets of science that its sometimes hard to choose from. But yes I guess it all starts with a passion for wanting to know things and discover new things.
      No one else in my family is a scientist but they all support me which is great

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