Question: What inspired you to pursue science? Would you suggest students of science to pursue careers in science?

Constance Schéré answered on 11 Jul 2025:

I have always been interested in how the world works, but I was never very good at physics and chemistry. That’s OK, because I realised that I could study the natural environment without having to be an expert in physical sciences. It took me a while to get there though. I did my first undergraduate degree in history with a concentration in political science. About a year before graduating, I turned my attention to environmental sciences so, after graduating, I decided to shift my focus on the natural world and went on to pursue studies in biology, environmental science and conservation management, and finally in marine science. I got my PhD in marine conservation biology last year.

I would suggest that you study as many topics as you can to figure out which one(s) you enjoy most. If I had had more opportunities to study environmental science in secondary school, I probably wouldn’t have gone into a history degree. That being said, social sciences and arts are really important in the natural sciences, too, especially when working in ecology and conservation. As such, I don’t regret my choices, even if it took me longer than others to get here!