SoapboxScience

Tosin Onabanjo is a Research Fellow in Energy Systems at Cranfield University, UK. Her research is actively contributing to the development of the Nano-Membrane Toilet, a project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and designed for people lacking access to modern sanitation. Here, she shares how a microbe ‘Saccharomyces cerevisiae’, popularly known as baker’s yeast, influenced her non-conventional multidisciplinary career path. Meet Tosin on her Soapbox on Saturday, 9th July in Milton Keynes, as she speaks on “The Role of Microbiomes in the Energy Economy”.

SS: How did you get to your current position?

TO: I have a non-conventional career path! I started out as a Microbiologist with the intention to become a medical doctor. I got fascinated by microbes and their applications, so I completed my Bachelors in Microbiology at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria and went on to get a Master’s degree in Biotechnology at University of Hertfordshire, UK. Prior to my Masters degree, I worked as a Technologist in a leading environmental consultancy firm in Nigeria for about 2 years.  Because, I had strong interests in applied microbiology and environmental sustainability and was also picking interests in bio-fuels and applications, I obtained a PhD studentship at Cranfield University in 2011, to investigate bio-fuels application in gas turbines. For 3 years or so, I immersed myself in internal combustion engines and the engineering discipline. It was like ‘learning backwards’ and a great leap out of my comfort zone, but it was worthwhile, especially because  I had a baby within this period. A few months to the completion of my doctorate programme, I saw an opportunity to be part of the ‘Nano-membrane Toilet Project’ as a Research Fellow in Energy Systems. I was offered the position and didn’t have to think twice, because the project matched my interests and was for a greater good.

SS: What, or who, inspired you to get a career in science?

TO: I would say my mother, although quite a number of people and circumstances have additionally influenced it. My mum was a public health nurse. She was actively involved in public health interventions including health education, setting up of local clinics, disease screening and immunization. So, I was surrounded by volumes of science books and magazines. I was conversant with diseases, vaccines, human anatomy and medical subjects such that chemistry and biology came naturally to me. Based on this influence, I chose science subjects and wanted to become a medical doctor.

However, in 2002, I picked up a medical literature that had a list of qualities of a good doctor with a checklist for young adults. I thoroughly went through the checklist and I could not find myself on that page. This led to a period when I wasn’t sure of what I wanted to do as a profession, as I could no longer find a reason to follow the medical career path. About the same time, I picked up baking as a hobby (which I still do). I made quite a lot of pastries and was using baker’s yeast, although I didn’t realize at the time that I was handling a beneficial microbe. I noticed that my kitchen wooden mat was degrading and every effort to clean this up weekly resulted in a pile of some sort of substance that I didn’t understand. On this occasion, I noticed that the substance had a similar resemblance to baker’s yeast and it just fascinated me. It took me another year to put a name to it and learn about the role of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the food and alcohol industry. In my fourth year in the university, I took up a research project in fermentation and picked up many more interests. I was interested  in researching more applications of similar organisms and the discovery spurred my interest in sciences and was the basis for which I furthered my studies in Biotechnology. So my career in science has been a journey, but my mum sparked that interest.

SS: What is the most fascinating aspect of your research/work?

TO: One of the main aims of my project is to recover energy from faeces (poop) for the development of a next generation toilet that would not require external energy or water supply and would not require sewer connections. Considering the amount of environmental pollution, land degradation and spread of parasitic worms and infectious diseases that are associated to poor sanitation, this research can provide a global solution. It can significantly shift the way we utilise or treat human waste. It could change the life of a girl child and enable more children to have complete education and that is very motivating for me.

SS: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place?

TO: I like to call soapbox ‘Science out of the box’. Soapbox brings science to the wider society in a non-conventional pattern — a relaxed, non-technical atmosphere. I also think it is a way to give back. I have been inspired by other female researchers who dared to let others in their world. I believe science is for everyone, irrespective of interests, abilities, skills, tolerances, likes, and dislikes, and our passion helps us to overlook our limitations, so I saw the opportunity to share, build and inspire.

SS: Sum up in one word your expectations for the day – excitement? Fear? Thrill? Anticipation?

TO: A mixture of excitement and anticipation.

SS: If you could change one thing about the scientific culture right now, what would it be?

TO: Nothing in the world works in isolation —our body, the environment, galaxy etc. We should take cue from this but unfortunately our educational system and work spaces are different. I would like to see more interdisciplinary research and multidisciplinary education. I look forward to the National Microbiome Initiative that plans to understand the microbial communities in humans, animals, crops, soils, oceans, etc and how they influence the global system.

SS: What would be your top recommendation to a female PhD student considering pursuing a career in academia?

TO: To have a dogged determination, develop resilience to nay-sayers and systems. The world is struck by ‘negative mindedness’ and this could be self-imposed or from people, rules, systems, processes, policies etc., so resilience and bouncing back from setback is key. Also be certain. If you don’t know what you want, people can make you believe in what you don’t want. So I would advise that a (female) researcher be clear about the answers to the questions, ‘who are you?’ and ‘what do you want?’. To surround herself with motivation. My family has been a strong support. I also have a Christian belief system that has greatly influenced me in this regard, even when I personally think I cannot do something.

Dr Joanna Bagniewska is a zoologist working as a teaching fellow at Reading University’s School of Biological Sciences. Her research interests encompass ecology and conservation biology, particularly the subject of invasive species. She is a very keen science communicator – she won FameLab Poland, gave a talk at TEDxWarsaw, and she even does science stand-up comedy.  Meet Joanna in our Reading event, where she’ll be discussing “How Disney & Science don’t always go hand in hand”

SS: Joanna, how did you get to your current position?

JB: While completing my undergraduate in Biology at Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany, I did an internship with the University of New South Wales. I spent two months in Australia’s Snowy Mountains examining road ecology – i.e. the impact of roads on the surrounding wildlife. I found the subject absolutely fascinating, and from that point onwards I knew that I wanted to research ecology and conservation biology. To get more international experience, I decided to spend a semester abroad at Rice University in Texas, where I obtained a lot of hands-on experience in herpetology and animal behaviour. After completing my undergraduate degree, I went on to obtain my MSc from Oxford University; my research focused on the methods used for monitoring South African canid species, such as jackals and foxes. I then stayed at Oxford for my doctorate, which examined the behavioural ecology of the American mink in the UK. After graduating, I worked for a start-up company for a few months, and then went on to be a lecturer at Nottingham Trent University. Eventually I moved back to West Midlands to take the post of a teaching fellow at Reading University’s School of Biological Sciences.

SS: What, or who, inspired you to get a career in science?

JB: My earliest inspiration came from countless books on animals that I received from my parents when I was very little. I’ve always had very diverse interests, and up until the very end of high school I wasn’t sure what to study. I was torn between studying architecture (like my mother), Chinese language (because I lived in China for a few years) and animal science (because I really liked animals). Eventually I settled for biology, even though it was my weakest subject in school – mainly because I was very passionate about wildlife, but not any of the other aspects of the curriculum! Going to university was pretty much the default option in my family, but as I was the first one to choose a science degree, my parents were very apprehensive – they did not think that biology was a viable career choice. In fact, it was only when I went to South Africa with my students last year, my mother finally admitted “wow, you really do have the coolest job in the world”.

SS: What is the most fascinating aspect of your research/work?

JB: There are several. Making sense of the world around us, interacting with animals, travelling, and finally meeting inspirational and passionate people.

SS: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place?

JB: Talking to people about what animals do is one of my favourite activities of all time. Well, that and ceilidhs.
SS: Sum up in one word your expectations for the day – excitement? Fear? Thrill? Anticipation?

JB: Woohoo!

SS: If you could change one thing about the scientific culture right now, what would it be?

JB: The lack of stability. I understand that mobility is good for science, but I really don’t think it’s that good for scientists. We’re not science automatons – we’re people, we want to have relationships, start families, have a good night’s sleep without worrying about where our money will come from tomorrow. Continuous searches for funding, applying for grants, looking for jobs is what really sucks the fun out of science. Currently in some scientific circles revealing that you have a life outside of academia leads to, in the best case, a few funny looks, in the worst – being labelled a weak scientist.
SS: What would be your top recommendation to a female PhD student considering pursuing a career in academia?

JB: I have a dilemma here. The optimistic advice would be: believe in what you do, be kind to everyone, and build a supportive contact network around you. The truly heartfelt (although painful) advice would be: find a rich husband/wife, prepare for an extremely competitive environment with very little money to go around, and always have an escape plan. I know the second set sounds incredibly harsh, but when I look back at my academic career, I wish someone had given me a reality check like this – not to put me down, but to really allow me to prepare myself for any worst case scenarios.

Erika Degani is a PhD student at the University of Reading. Her research combines agriculture and ecology which is ideal as she’s equally passionate about both. She has been involved in a wide range of science outreach activities and is a firm believer that science should be accessible to everyone.

Catch Erika on her soapbox in Reading where she will be talking about “Food security: How can biodiversity help?”.

SS: Erika, how did you get to your current position?

ED: In my early 30’s I decided to change my career and did a part-time degree in Environmental Science while still working full-time. I had the opportunity to do my dissertation based on a research farm and got a real taste for research. Once I finished my degree I was lucky enough to be funded to do a MSc so I could quit my job. It led to a few local and international internships and by then, I knew I wanted to be a researcher. While on an internship abroad, I came across my PhD project which combined both my passions of food security and ecology. I applied for it, got offered the position and never looked back!

SS: What, or who, inspired you to get a career in science?

ED: It is hard to narrow it down. Many people, many events, but above all, science answers important questions and solves problems. Who is not inspired by that?

SS: What is the most fascinating aspect of your research/work?

ED: On a general level, the fact that every day is different and that I have to be creative and come up with ways of answering the questions my research focuses on. On a more specific level, I love the idea that I’m studying crop rotations which is a concept that is thousands of years old. It’s great to be able to recover precious knowledge from the past and re-use it in a much more innovative and informed way.

SS: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place?

ED: It’s a great opportunity to be part of something bigger for the greater good and to showcase my work. Science should be accessible to everyone. I believe public opinion has a great impact on the decision making process so we need to make sure the general public is well informed. Soapbox science is a great platform for science communication as it doesn’t necessarily preach to the converted. The fact that it might inspire young women to continue closing the gender gap in science is the icing on the cake.

SS: Sum up your expectations for the day

ED: Wooohoooo!

SS: If you could change one thing about the scientific culture right now, what would it be?

ED: The “publish or perish” culture. There are other ways to measure people’s impact and progress and putting young researchers under so much pressure to publish is possibly detrimental in the long run. Besides it prevents risk-taking and researchers end up asking safe questions which can be answered relatively fast to guarantee they will get published. If we look at the history of great innovations and ideas, they were preceded by failures. Original thinkers have a lot of bad ideas before they have a breakthrough. If scientists are not allowed to fail, they will stop taking risks, which is a great shame in my opinion.

SS: What would be your top recommendation to a female PhD student considering pursuing a career in academia?

ED: I’m lucky enough to work in a female friendly and gender balanced environment so I’m grateful to my predecessors who have made great progress in closing the scientific gender gap. So I’d probably say to any new comers: lets keep the trend going!

Kathryn Woolley is an air quality consultant with Hilson Moran. Her job involves her undertaking all kinds of air quality assessments from residential site suitability assessments to permit applications for power generation.

Come and meet Kathryn in Reading, where she’ll be talking about how she creates air pollution

SS: Kathryn, how did you get to your current position?

KW: I completed a degree in Environmental Science at the university of Plymouth in 2013. During my second year I undertook a field trip to Hong Kong and southern China I completed an assessment of air quality in partnership with Sun Yat Sen University of  Guangdong China and City University of Hong Kong. The assessment included taking air quality samples in a variety of locations from main land China to Hong Kong to understand sources and dispersion.

This increased my interest in air quality, I had a basic understanding due to my siblings being severely asthmatic and therefore had a hands on understanding of the health impacts. My dissertation in the final year of my degree helped me to further my knowledge on air quality.

My dissertation was an assessment of air quality in Greater London over the past 6 years; including an investigation into the effectiveness of the low emission zone. This involved using the raw data from 13 AURN monitoring stations downloaded from DEFRA. This data (over 100,000 data points) was the summarised and statically analysed along with traffic data from TFL to determine trends. the determination of potential sources at each site was important , to understand why breeches where occurring for example London Marylebone road, where a street canyon effect occurs along with high volume of traffic.

SS: What, or who, inspired you to get a career in science?

KW: I’m dyslexic and science was one of the main subjects at school that I didn’t struggle with and I enjoyed . Two main teachers inspired me and got me through my A levels, Mr Hartland biology and Mr French Chemistry and these two subject along with some physic and computer modelling are relevant to my career every day.

SS: What is the most fascinating aspect of your research/work?

KW: Making a difference, I am very fortunate that I get to leave the office knowing my modelling or monitoring alter a design to reduce the exposure of air pollution on future occupants.

SS: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place?

KW: To inspire the next generation to want to understand more about science and hopefully pick a career in science.

SS: Sum up in one word your expectations for the day – excitement? Fear? Thrill? Anticipation?

KW: Enthusiastic

SS: If you could change one thing about the scientific culture right now, what would it be?

KW: I would increase the understanding of the practical uses of science for careers.

Manuela Gonzalez-Suarez is a Spanish ecologist who recently became a lecturer at the University of Reading. Her research is largely motivated by her concern about the current widespread loss of biodiversity. In the hopes to prevent future extinctions she studies ways to identify the most vulnerable species and the most damaging threats. Meet Manuela in Reading, where she’ll be talking about “The problems of having a big brain and other things that increase extinction risk” 

SS: Manuel, how did you get to your current position?

MGS: The short answer: with perseverance and being flexible on where I live and work. The long answer is that I completed my undergraduate degree at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid in Spain (the country where I was born). I then moved to the USA where I got my Master’s at Binghamton University (New York State) and later my PhD at Arizona State University. After completing my PhD in 2008 I returned to Europe, where I first had a 1-year postdoctoral position in Paris, which was followed by two different fellowships adding to 5 years in Seville (Spain). Finally, last year in May I was interviewed at the University of Reading and offered the job which I now have: Lecturer in Ecological Modelling.

SS: What, or who, inspired you to get a career in science?

MGS: My mum often tells the story of how I came home from primary school one day rather preoccupied because I was unsure what to answer to the question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”. Apparently, I could not make up my mind about whether I wanted to study plants or animals! I think biology was just my “destiny”.

SS: What is the most fascinating aspect of your research/work?

MGS: I love learning new things every day. Things that I read or hear from colleagues, or those that I discover myself. Although I am not a statistician, I actually enjoy conducting statistical analyses to extract answers from data; I feel like a detective searching for clues to solve a mystery.

The ideal is when I manage to combine this computer time with going out into the field and collecting the data myself; seeing the animals and ecosystems that I want to understand better and then getting back to my office and exploring the data to find some answers is just the perfect combo.

SS: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place?

MGS: I believe that scientists need to communicate their research findings and their passion for science to society. If we want people to value science and encourage young people to do science, we need to let them see how wonderful and fun it is. Soapbox Science provides an opportunity to do just that with an added bonus. The role of women in science is greatly undervalued, and not just by men, women have biases too! So for me being part of Soapbox Science was really was a golden opportunity to not only share my passion for science but also let people see that we (women) can do it too!

SS: Sum up in one word your expectations for the day – excitement? Fear? Thrill? Anticipation?

MGS: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

*if you do not know this word google “Mary Poppins” and find out.

SS: If you could change one thing about the scientific culture right now, what would it be?

MGS: I would like to see a more holistic appreciation of success. I feel that today there is too much emphasis on being the best, and not just in science. We always want novel and amazing findings; people want to be stars in movies or in science. However, completing a puzzle, like understanding nature, requires putting small pieces together. Each of those pieces may not be that amazing in itself but it is still important to get the whole picture. One can do great, solid science without ever making the news or getting a Nobel Prize (or Nature paper). On the other hand, searching for stardom may encourage people to do apparently amazing but unsubstantiated science, things that make the news but do little to help us complete the puzzle.

SS: What would be your top recommendation to a female PhD student considering pursuing a career in academia?

MGS: Work hard, love what you do, and have fun doing it! (Which is, by the way, the same recommendation I would give to a male PhD student.)

Siobhan Gardiner is a PhD student at Cranfield University. Although she is currently on placement as an ice cream scientist with the likes of Walls and Ben & Jerry’s – Siobhan’s background and passion is in plant sciences, and she hopes to inspire others to explore the amazing world of plants and everything they do for us. Here, Siobhan lets us in on some advice in STEM careers based on her experience as an early career scientist. Meet Siobhan on her Soapbox at the Milton Keynes event on 9 July, where she tells us about the importance of plant science in helping us face the great challenges facing society – from food security to climate change.

SS: How did you get to your current position?

SG: I am sponsored by the Biotechnology & Biosciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Unilever who make foods, personal care and homecare products. It’s an industrial collaboration which means I have the fantastic opportunity to do placements alongside the PhD project – and as such I have worked in flavour expertise in the Netherlands, and the ice cream global design in the UK. My PhD research has also taken me to Asia, and I’m heading to Australia later this year!

SS: What, or who, inspired you to get a career in science?

SG: When I was studying economics at A-Level, we did case studies on two big companies that work in FMCGs (fast-moving consumer goods) – Procter & Gamble and Unilever. It was the first time I really understood how scientific research & development drives the production of things I used every day – from the food I ate to the make-up I wore. From the start I thought this was very exciting, and little did I know that in the years ahead I would go on to work with both of these companies.

SS: What is the most fascinating aspect of your research/work?

SG: I love turning my research into a story that everyone can understand. As scientists, we are experts in jargon, but the key to making an impact with our research is to communicate it in a way that is accessible to all. To quote Professor Anne Glover (ex-EU chief scientific advisor) – research not communicated is research not done.

SS: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place?

SG: Since starting my PhD three years ago, I have been building my repertoire in science outreach and public engagement – however Soapbox Science is a platform of science communication that I have never come across before. It’s not a practiced lecture at a school or university. Instead, there is a large element of improvisation and showmanship to engage the public who may not have even known the event was going on that day.

SS: Sum up in one word your expectations for the day – excitement? Fear? Thrill? Anticipation?

SG: Thrill ! (and fear)

SS: If you could change one thing about the scientific culture right now, what would it be?

SG: There is a transition in scientific culture going on at the moment, from the traditional academic route in STEM careers – to the diverse nature of the rapidly expanding careers-base in other sectors like industry, science communication and science policy. I’d like to see better advisory services provided by schools and universities (at both undergraduate AND post-graduate level) that reflected these changes.

SS: What would be your top recommendation to a female PhD student considering pursuing a career in academia?

SG: Make a comprehensive list of your technical skills, research output, transferable skills and aspects of your work that you have found most rewarding. Then make sure you have explored other options in STEM careers too, by comparing this list to these other types of job sectors. Talk to senior colleagues and professionals in your network. Perhaps you will feel that you ARE best-suited to academia, perhaps you won’t – regardless – please don’t think that once you choose, that you will be restricted to that one sector for the rest of your career.

Lauren Samet is one of our Milton Keynes speakers. She volunteered as a Research Assistant on biodiversity monitoring projects with Operation Wallacea whilst undertaking a BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences degree at the University of East Anglia. She has worked within several animal industries (including equine, zoological and companion animal rehoming). This led her to pursue an MSc in Animal Welfare at the University of Northampton, producing her thesis in Dairy Cow welfare. After her MSc Lauren volunteered as an intern in the RSPB’s Parliamentary Campaigns department before applying for a PhD studentship at Moulton College. The studentship includes a warden and teaching role, in which she teaches at both FE and HE level in the Animal Welfare and Management department. Lauren is completing her PhD part time in association with animal feed manufacturers Dodson & Horrell Ltd. The title of her PhD is “The Efficacy of Herbal Nutraceuticals in Improving Animal Welfare”

 
SS: How did you get to your current position?

LS: My biography probably indicates through somewhat trial and error! After completing my MSc in Animal Welfare I interviewed for a PhD studentship, which included a part time teaching and warden role.

SS: What, or who, inspired you to get a career in science?

LS: A love of animals since a young age started off my interest in science, later on my supervisor Wanda McCormick encouraged me to apply for a PhD after supervising me at MSc level. Her confidence in my ability initially gave me the confidence to apply. I knew I always wanted to “help animals”, through the MSc I realised science was key to supporting beneficial changes in welfare legislation.

SS: What is the most fascinating aspect of your research/work?

LS: Learning something new every day. That and taking part in CPD and research in the field of animal welfare, which feeds my passion and grows my interest further – I feel lucky that I get to work in such a stimulating environment.

SS: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place?

LS: It sounded like a fun and interesting venue to speak at within a broader forum of science.

SS: Sum up in one word your expectations for the day…

LS:Fun?

SS: If you could change one thing about the scientific culture right now, what would it be?

SL: Pretentiousness. Science should be accessible to all, all you really need is to put in effort and have an interest. That and closed mindedness – open mindedness fuels discussions and inspires change.

SS: What would be your top recommendation to a female PhD student considering pursuing a career in academia?

LS: Work hard and take all the opportunities you are given. Have courage and don’t give up. Also find a good mentor.

Laura Crook is currently a research technician at Rothamsted Research, an agricultural institute in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. She is a weed ecologist studying herbicide resistance in black-grass, a major weed affecting yields in cereal crops in the UK. Here, Laura explains how she ended up as a technician but loves the role because no two days are the same. Come and meet Laura on her Soapbox at the Milton Keynes event on 9 July, where she tells us about “Black-grass: the farmers number one nemesis”

SS: How did you get to your current position?

LC: I greatly enjoyed studying the broad range of subjects included in my Environmental Conservation degree at Bangor University, from agriculture to invertebrates and soils to conservation policy. I assisted PhD students in the labs during the summer holidays and undertook two breeding seasons of lapwing surveying for the RSPB after completing my degree in 2008. I became a research technician at Sheffield University in 2011 and thus began my career as a weed ecologist. I spent two years measuring all aspects of weeds at sites across Sheffield and the Peak District before moving to Rothamsted Research in May 2014. I continued my role as a research technician but this time specifically on black-grass, a weed causing huge problems to UK farmers through herbicide resistance.

SS: What, or who, inspired you to get a career in science?

LC: I have always had an interest in science, nature and being outdoors so I knew I wanted to pursue a career in one or all of these areas. In the couple of years after I first graduated I tried to get a job in conservation which proved to be difficult.  But during all these job applications I applied for a technician role at Sheffield University, got an interview and I suppose the rest is history! To be honest, being a technician wasn’t a role I had decided upon, I sort of fell into the job but I have really enjoyed the past 4 years.

SS: What is the most fascinating aspect of your research/work?

LC: The fact that no two days are the same!! There is such a lot of variety being a technician, from spraying plants, measuring plants, harvesting plants to sticking labels on bags and fighting with spreadsheets.

SS: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place?

LC: When the email came into my inbox, I thought ‘I could do that’ then I sat on it for a couple of days and wondered if I actually could, before deciding that it would be a great opportunity to challenge myself and build my confidence so I applied. It’s a fantastic way to promote women in science which I’m a big supporter of and would also be a chance to engage the public in my subject, particularly as a technician.

SS: Sum up in one word your expectations for the day – excitement? Fear? Thrill? Anticipation?

LC: Nervous

SS: If you could change one thing about the scientific culture right now, what would it be?

LC: I would address the balance between scientists and technicians to ensure that all levels of research have a voice and can contribute to the work being carried out.

SS: What would be your top recommendation to a female student considering pursuing a career as a technician?

LC: Being a technician is actually a very important role as without us a lot of the research work couldn’t be done. You will need to work hard but it’s very rewarding and fun at the same time. And you don’t necessarily need to have a PhD to be a scientist. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty, the variety of tasks is the best part of being a technician!

Rosie Johnson is a PhD student in space plasma physics at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester. The focus of her research is the infrared aurora of Jupiter. Here, Rosie tells us how she went from studying the Earth’s aurora from the cold Northern island of Svalbard to observing Jupiter’s aurora from the top of a volcano in Hawai’i; and how it is important to break stereotypes and make women in STEM ‘unsurprising’.

Catch Rosie on her soapbox Saturday 9th July, in Milton Keynes, where she’ll be talking about ‘The Aurora: from Earth to the gas giants and beyond…’

SS: Rosie, how did you get to your current position?

RJ: I completed my undergraduate Master’s degree in Physics with Planetary and Space Physics at Aberystwyth University. My favorite lectures were about the planets, especially their atmospheres. For my third year dissertation, I studied Saturn and I loved learning about the icy, volatile moon Enceladus, which has active water geysers. In the second semester of my fourth year I had the amazing opportunity to study at UNIS, Svalbard, which is situated inside the arctic circle at 78 degrees North. It was incredible to not only study to aurora, but to witness it firsthand! After my time in Svalbard I was successful in securing a project at the University of Leicester to study Jupiter’s aurora. I am now in my second year of studying for a PhD, the focus of which is the infra-red aurora of Jupiter.  I use a combination of spectroscopy and the principal of Doppler shift to calculate the velocity of the charged molecules in Jupiter upper atmosphere, which create part of Jupiter’s infrared aurora, and this reveals the dynamics of Jupiter’s magnetic environment.

SS: What, or who, inspired you to get a career in science?

RJ: For some reason it seemed natural to me that if I were to go to university to study, I would take it all the way to PhD level. Perhaps this was because my Dad has a PhD and maybe I chose physics because he was a physics lecturer. Growing up my Mum always made it very clear that girls can do whatever they want and this was reinforced by my fantastic physics teacher Mrs Hill. During my A levels I attended Space School UK which is a week-long residential summer school, hosted by the University of Leicester. I think being at this summer school, along with other boys and girls who were passionate about physics gave me the confidence to study physics at university. During my undergraduate years several things inspired me to get a career in science: I guess it was no coincidence that that my favourite subject of planetary science was taught by my favourite lecturers and my experiences in Svalbard definitely were key in my decision to study the aurora for my PhD. Even though I’ve always had a strong interest in science I think it’s the people I’ve met along the way that really encouraged me to get a career in science.

SS: What is the most fascinating aspect of your research/work?

RJ: The most fascinating part of my research is the data collection. I’m really lucky to have visited the Mauna Kea Observatories in Hawai’i twice now and the second time as the Primary Investigator (PI). We observe Jupiter’s aurora using the NASA Infra-Red Telescope Facility (IRTF). Jupiter is a fantastic object to observe; even when I’m not taking images and doing spectroscopy, the raw data looks pretty cool. The best thing about infrared is I can choose the colour table, so I usually go for the most garish and fun colours, turning Jupiter’s aurora green and pink! I think it’s great to be able to collect your own data and experience the more practical side to astronomy.

SS: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place?

RJ: I like that Soapbox Science engages with members of the public that may not be particularly interested in STEM subjects. By breaking down the stereotypes of what people usually think of when they imagine a scientist, Soapbox Science can show how STEM subjects are for everyone!

SS; Sum up in one word your expectations for the day – excitement? Fear? Thrill? Anticipation?

RJ: Nervcitement – a strong combination of nervousness and excitement!

SS: If you could change one thing about the scientific culture right now, what would it be?

RJ: I would redefine the word normal so that nobody has to be surprised when it turns out a scientist is female. Even if women aren’t common in STEM, it’s definitely a normal thing for us to want to be here and to love science – we’re really not that surprising!

SS: What would be your top recommendation to a female PhD student considering pursuing a career in academia?

RJ: Find out what imposter syndrome is early on in your PhD and fight it! 🙂

Dr Lydia Cole is an ecologist who got distracted by peat.  Generally interested in how people and the environment mesh, or not as the case may (mostly) be, she has spent quite a bit of time exploring how people interact with different tropical and temperate ecosystems.  She carried out her PhD research in the tropical peat swamp forests that fringe the coast of Malaysia Borneo; looking at their long-term ecological change, resilience and contemporary management.  Since then, she has been helping to map important aspects of temperate and tropical peatlands for the people that are managing them, including getting to know peat intimately, in all sorts of weather conditions! Lydia will stand on one of our soapboxes in Reading, on the 9th of July

 
SS: Lydia, how did you get to your current position?

LC: Something along the lines of….the company I currently work for needed a peatland scientist, at minimal expense, as soon as possible; I needed to work on peat again, as soon as possible (it was calling me!); and my self-assigned mentor fortuitously had lunch with the company director.  This happening taught me that it’s always worth talking to people, so they are aware of your situation, your passion and aspirations, and also worth being prepared to try things.  I have high hopes to get back to tropical peatland research as soon as funding allows, but am very grateful for the experience and insights my foray into the business world has given me, which I’m sure will prove invaluable as I try to navigate conservation ecology again in the future.

SS: What, or who, inspired you to get a career in science?

LC: Probably tropical forests, or specifically the destruction of these wonderful ecosystems.  The conservation challenge was brought to my attention in my naive youth by some of the charities prominent at the time (e.g. Friends of the Earth), and as I grew up and learnt of the inspirational Jane Goodall, the plight of the Great Apes (especially the hairy orange people of the forest (the peaceful Pongo)) and the proliferation of oil palm plantations, I felt compelled to find the solution to this challenge as best I could.  And for me, that best way appears to be through independent scientific research at present.

SS: What is the most fascinating aspect of your research/work?

LC: Aside from the ecological change in tropical forests that I am observing and measuring, and attempting to decipher the reasons underpinning that change, I find it fascinating to consider the anthropogenic elephant in the room.  “Conservation is about the management of human behaviour”, so understanding how people interact with different ecosystems and why, and how those ecosystems respond, is what interests me the most.

SS: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place?

LC: The desire to get involved in communicating science, specifically the knowledge I’ve gained on environmental change and impact that I’m passionate about, to the masses.  It sounds like such a fun, interactive forum/stage from which to spread the word on peatlands and their conservation, and disseminate information on how Joe Bloggs and his family can get involved.

SS: Sum up in one word your expectations for the day – excitement? Fear? Thrill? Anticipation?

LC: Boom! ….and excitement, with a bit of thrill, and intrigue, and masses of enthusiasm.  I’ll make sure I have my weetabix that morning…

SS: If you could change one thing about the scientific culture right now, what would it be?

LC: That the focus of people’s work shifts from publishing as many papers as possible, to producing and communicating as much useful knowledge as possible: information that helps us all to better understand how we can live with, not at the expense of our environment.

SS: What would be your top recommendation to a female PhD student considering pursuing a career in academia?

LC: Pursue your passion, push boundaries as you see fit and don’t be restricted by gender, culture or boxes in your gathering of useful knowledge.