• Question: How do you get to become a scientist?>?>?

    Asked by graciiecallery12 to Jess, Edd on 17 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by bilal11.
    • Photo: Edward Codling

      Edward Codling answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Hi graciie!

      Thanks for the question – are you thinking about becoming a scientist?

      I did science A levels (maths, further maths, physics, chemistry) and then I did a maths degree. As part of my maths degree I did a module on ‘mathematical biology’ – using maths to study problems in biology and ecology. This really caught my interest so I then did a PhD in this area (using maths to study animal movement behaviour). After my PhD I then carried on doing research, first at the Irish Marine Institute (where I looked at fish and fisheries) and then when I got my job at the University of Essex. I can now choose what research I do – as long as I keep finding out new things and publishing science papers!

    • Photo: Jessica Chu

      Jessica Chu answered on 17 Jun 2011:

      Hiya!

      So if you do the science GCSEs in school then you can pick some of the Science A-Levels.
      Different universities have different entry requirements for different science degree courses- so if you have a uni you want to go to.. google their name and check out what grades they want!

      So if you want to do science at uni, the routes might look like this (I will try make this like a flow chart):

      A-Level science –> BSc (Bachelor of Science) degree, 3 years —> PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) research (3 years)
      OR
      A-Level science –> BSc degree, 3 years —> Master’s degree, 1 or 2 year –>PhD research (3 years)

      You can choose to stop at any stage after a degree

      My route looks abit like this : Biology, Chemistry and Maths A levels—> Biochemistry BSc —> Oncology MSc—> PhD Pharmacy

      For degree courses – try looking up the websites of universities that you want to go to! And actually visiting the place and the town/city that it is in is very helpful too – can you picture yourself there for 3 years?
      I am sure you will have a really fun time at uni 🙂 everyone I know have- although there are stressful times but we learn to be more independent and deal with more issues (if there’s any!) – mostly things like finding accomodation etc. 😛

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