• Question: is being a scientist fun or a lot of pressure

    Asked by 758furk43 to Chris, Joanne, Kathryn, Kieran, Sarah on 7 Nov 2017.
    • Photo: Kieran Fraser

      Kieran Fraser answered on 7 Nov 2017:

      A bit of both to be honest, but definitely more fun than stressful. Today for instance, I was working on developing an android app – which was just fun! Last week I had a deadline for writing a paper – so I was under a bit of pressure to get it done on time (totally my own fault for leaving it to the last minute!!). So it varies depending on what I’m doing. In general though, there’s no one that’s going to give out to me for doing something wrong – failing at science is just as important as succeeding because it shows others what solutions don’t work. Maybe you’ve heard of Thomas Edison (inventor of the light bulb)? Before he found the solution a reporter asked him how he felt about failing 10000 times, he replied: “I have not failed 10,000 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 10,000 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”

    • Photo: Kathryn Schoenrock

      Kathryn Schoenrock answered on 8 Nov 2017:

      I think it’s fun, which is why I do it. But it does take a lot of your time, and can be very demanding which creates a lot of pressure.

    • Photo: Chris Werner

      Chris Werner answered on 8 Nov 2017:

      Kieran is right for sure, its definitely both, its really fun when you’re discovering new things, but at the same time you have to deliver the goods! Sometimes you have deadlines and you’re under pressure to produce good results by that time, but most of the time its fun, hard work!

    • Photo: Sarah Guerin

      Sarah Guerin answered on 9 Nov 2017:

      Yup, definitely both, but a lot of jobs are like that. Once you can balance the pressure and use it to motivate yourself then it’s all good- and I think science is a lot more fun than other jobs! 🙂

    • Photo: Joanne Duffy

      Joanne Duffy answered on 10 Nov 2017:

      It’s a lot of fun. Like, SO MUCH fun. I get excited about my work all the time, even about the simple things. That’s what’s so great about doing research; every day is different and you’re always learning something new. There is pressure of course, but it’s in a good way I guess? I’ve worked in lots of different jobs where I’ve been really stressed out, so even though there are times when research is lots of hard work, when you love doing it, it doesn’t feel so bad.

Comments