• Question: What inspired you to be a scientist?

    Asked by mayzie129 to Andrew, Beth, Bruce, Lindy, Lizzie on 18 Jun 2012. This question was also asked by burger356.
    • Photo: Bruce Alexander

      Bruce Alexander answered on 18 Jun 2012:

      I blame my chemistry teacher!

      I was really fortunate to have a chemistry teacher who was able to enthuse us with a sense of how important and useful the subject could be. Sure, there were a lot of explosions and fireworks (sometimes literally) in the lab, but he really made the subject come alive.

      My memory is that during my school years, the question about environmental problems such as pollution, the ozone layers and global warming were just becoming mainstream I was fortunate enough that he allowed me to work on my own project that was meant to be developing a new way of detecting carbon monoxide in car exhaust fumes. Of course it didn’t work, but that is not the point. I was given the chance to try to answer some of the fundamental questions that we, as school pupils, thought were absolutely critical to be addressed.

    • Photo: Beth Mortimer

      Beth Mortimer answered on 18 Jun 2012:

      I’ve always loved animals, especially going to zoos, which was an enjoyment I have never grown out of. I love learning about all animals, not just the ones that I study now. I’ve stuck with animal biology because of that interest really. So zoos inspired me!

    • Photo: Lindy Heath

      Lindy Heath answered on 18 Jun 2012:

      My chemistry teacher at school was awesome! She made chemistry really exciting and would even stay behind after school to answer all of my extra questions. I couldn’t get enough of learning about new things and understanding how chemistry impacts us every day. My motivation and inspiration now comes from a real desire to make materials which will improve our standard of living.

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