• Question: What was your most challenging task?

    Asked by 352susb52 to Samuel on 9 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Samuel Ellis

      Samuel Ellis answered on 9 Mar 2015:

      Unfortunately scientists aren’t superheros (not yet anyway..) so lots of things are pretty challenging.

      For me I usually find stuff outside the lab can be the most difficult. For example, I can be rubbish at making myself write up long reports, I get very easily distracted. Also you often have to give talks and presentations of your work in front of lots of other scientists, which can be pretty scary.. especially if they ask tricky questions at the end!

Comments

  • Photo: Richard

    Richard commented on :

    For me, working in science research is constant problem solving – and I love it!
    Most of my work involves the development of a computer simulation, so some of the trickiest problems I’ve had come from that. It can be pretty demoralising at times, banging your head against the screen when everything looks right, but you get the wrong answers. But then, that moment when you figure it out, the last piece falls into place and the whole thing just… works, that’s what it’s all about for me.
    The bigger the challenge, the greater the reward 😀

    P.S. I definitely agree with Sam though, report writing can be really tough

  • Photo: Nicki

    Nicki commented on :

    I find multi-tasking the hardest. On a daily basis I deal with teaching a class, followed by a meeting with colleagues to discuss curriculum changes, then I might see a student about their dissertation, then I might have to write a paper review… and then Skype with a colleague about a new research project. I love the excitement of doing so many different things but other times it can be quite tiring not being allowed to do the same thing just for a few hours… it certainly keeps me on my toes!! But I really love my job and I am still really excited about the research after all this time, so I guess I must be doing something right :))