• Question: what is your lifetime achievement so far?

    Asked by kbarbie to Laura, Nicola, Norman, Sandra, Thanasis on 11 Mar 2013.
    • Photo: Laura Soul

      Laura Soul answered on 11 Mar 2013:

      In terms of science there are a few things that I’ve achieved that I’m proud of, like getting my degree (I had to work very hard to pass all the exams) and the first research paper that I wrote. For that research paper I developed a new method for looking at brains of fossil animals, and the first research paper you write is always the hardest becasue it’s the first time you’ve done it. However I’m still very early in my career as a researcher so I definitely think my lifetime achievement is yet to come. At the moment I’m working on some really interesting new ways of understanding evolution, and I think when I have finished this work it will lead to something that could be my lifetime achievement.

      Outside of my current job, I hiked all the way to Everest base camp on the side of mount Everest. That was really hard because the high altitude makes it hard to breathe so it’s very tiring and tough. While I was hiking I did experiments on myself to see what happens to the human body as you go to altitude, and recorded it all to go on a radio show. I felt like I’d made a big achievment becasue I kept going with the science and the recording and the hiking even though the altitude was making me feel ill!

    • Photo: Sandra Phinbow

      Sandra Phinbow answered on 11 Mar 2013:

      For me it was getting my degree and qualifying as a scientist.

      I had been a bit of a naughty girl at school, I didn’t listen, I joked too much, I talked too much. And I didn’t pass any GCSEs because of this. So it was much later as an adult that I went into science. And it was a lot harder as an adult to study and pass exams, especially because it wasn’t known until I was 27 that I have dyslexia.

      So actually getting my degree and training in a lab was my biggest achievement. And I did this as mum to a 2 yr old boy.

      But I didn’t stop there, I went on a did a Masters degree in Science, and I also became a Chartered Biologist and a Chartered Scientist, I’ve published a few articles, and I have 2 children also. And 2 days ago I was proposed to, and now I’m getting married. I’m happy with my lifetime achievements.

      And I was 16 or so I became the first female fire fighter in Kent. So I think I’ve done some pretty cool stuff.

      And I also have a medal, that I earned from being a soldier serving on a tour of duty in the British Army when I was about 19.

    • Photo: Nicola Wardrop

      Nicola Wardrop answered on 11 Mar 2013:

      I’m very proud of what I have achieved – I was the first person in my family to ever go to university, and I have managed to get an undergraduate degree, a masters degree AND a PhD! That’s something i never thought I would be able to do when I was still at school and I think it probably surprised my parents.

      I’ve also been chosen for a 3 year fellowship – this is where I proposed a research project and they have selected my project and agreed to pay for my salary and my research costs for 3 years. It’s quite hard to get these, so I am very proud that I managed to get one!

Comments