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

    Asked by jury520quag on 11 Jul 2025.
    • Photo: Constance Schere

      Constance Schere 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!

    • Photo: Ieva Jankute

      Ieva Jankute answered on 17 Jul 2025:

      I got interested in science (in particular, relating to space) from a video game called Hugo in Space when I was about 6-7 years old. My granddad, who was a meteorologist, also played a big role, since he liked to talk to me about space, planes and spacecraft. In the end, I chose to pursue science since I like to challenge myself and solve complex problems. Science questions felt like a big puzzle that I would like to solve.

      I would suggest that students follow what they like doing the most as a career path, and if it is science, then go for it! Even if later you realise that this isn’t what you want to do as a career, that’s OK because it’s never too late to switch careers. A lot of the skills we learn in science can be applied elsewhere, so it is definitely not a waste of time!

Comments

  • Photo: Jasmine Lau

    Jasmine Lau commented on :

    To me, science is fascinating. It’s all about exploring the unknown and turning the impossible into possible! However, pursuing a career in science isn’t always easy. It comes with its ups (which are rare) and mostly downs. There were times when I doubted whether science was right for me. But after exploring different industries, I regained my passion for science and have stayed motivated since.

    Whether you pursue a career in science really depends on how you define it. Besides the traditional research path, there are many roles where science is applied without doing lab work, such as in the patent field, science communication, or policy-making. Studying science provides you with a valuable mindset that can be applied to many different careers, so even if you don’t become a lab researcher, the skills you gain are useful in many areas.