• Question: What do you do?

    Asked by daniel1 to Wei, Verity, Rebecca, David, Simon on 21 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by chloehallam1997, williamboothman1, laurenorourke96.
    • Photo: Wei Xun

      Wei Xun answered on 13 Jun 2011:


      Hi again!

      If your question is about what I do as a scientist, you can see my profile page for more info.

      But if you’re asking the philosophical question of what’s a single person’s contribution to the progress of mankind or the universe as a whole, then I’m afraid that I don’t have an answer for it yet, just existing is exhausting! 😀

    • Photo: Verity Nye

      Verity Nye answered on 15 Jun 2011:


      I’m doing my PhD (which is essentially training to be a researcher) and I’m a marine biologist. I go on research cruises to find undiscovered hot springs (hydrothermal vents) in the deep sea and collect samples of the animals that we find living there. These animals come back to the lab with me where I figure out what species they are. Sometimes we find new species and I get to describe and name them. I also study the biology of the vent animals, such as how they reproduce and disperse, and find out where related species have been found. All of this helps us to understand their patterns of life in the oceans and the factors that shape those patterns. I hope that answers your question.

    • Photo: David Armstrong

      David Armstrong answered on 17 Jun 2011:


      I’m a Junior Research Fellow. This means I do some teaching of undergraduate students, I supervise a couple of research students and I run my own research project. As you can see on my profile most of the work I do is to do with advanced materials for nuclear fusion.

    • Photo: Simon Trent

      Simon Trent answered on 21 Jun 2011:


      Im a scientist at post-doctoral level (Ive done a PHD). My job includes experiments (genetic stuff and behavioural testing using mice), data analysis, writing up papers for publication, attending conferences, giving talks presenting my work, problem solving and drinking lots of coffee!

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