• Question: What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a scientist

    Asked by chloebannon to Cathal, Ciara, Emma, Michael, Sive on 13 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: Sive Finlay

      Sive Finlay answered on 13 Nov 2013:

      Hi Chloe,
      The main thing is to take an interest in as many different types of science as possible because it’s important to try lots of things before you decide what exactly you want to do. I entered the Young Scientist competition when I was at school and that was a great way to find out if I liked doing research. Do at least 2 science subjects for the leaving cert and keep up honours maths if you can. Then I’d say do a degree which allows you to study general science at the start before you specialise. Science is a really diverse subject so I think it’s important to try as many different things as possible.
      Sive

    • Photo: Michael Nolan

      Michael Nolan answered on 18 Nov 2013:

      Hi Chloe,

      It will depend on where you are

      1. If you really really like, say, Chemistry and your teacher thinks you are good at it, then you must do it at leaving cert. Take physics or biology, depending on your likes, and honours maths. Take a language and something like history – gives you a different set of skills and perspective on the world.
      Come start of 6th year, you have to decide do you go general or subject specific – think again on what excites you and if you are still like that about chemistry, then go that way. Most Univerisities offer a direct chemistry course which is what I did.
      Obviously this holds if you like physics/biology/maths.

      2. If you are not sure, but think science is where you want to go, take at least honours maths + two science subjects + language and one more subject. Think about what you are good at and interests you. There are then a number of general entry University science courses where you later specialise. This gives you a change to dabble in everything, see what you like.

      In both cases, work hard, do your homework, look up ideas and concepts on the Internet, read biographies of scientists, go to events that are on in science week, in your area.
      Write to scientists (our emails are usually publically available if you search), ask them about their work, if your school does science fairs, goes on trips to universities, take part. go to the science gallery, or blackrock observatory or dunsink.

      In short, live science for a while, see if you like it!

      M

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