• Question: You really inspire me Do you have any tips for me about having a carer in science like yours ?

    Asked by anon-208429 to Tori on 15 Mar 2019.
    • Photo: Tori Blakeman

      Tori Blakeman answered on 15 Mar 2019:

      Ah, thanks! Great to hear.

      Yes – always do other things alongside your studies that show you’re interested in science communication. Some ideas:
      – volunteer at a science museum, science event or STEM group (e.g. Big Bang Fair)
      – get involved with a science charity (e.g. British Science Association, Science Grrl, Stemettes)
      – set up a blog and write science articles, or write science articles for your school website
      – start vlogging about science (Greg Foot and Maddie Moate are great – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9AxMqTw4HlAcnmCXXCGGVA)
      – set up a radio show with your local radio (or school) station on science
      – post on instagram or twitter about science news you’re interested in
      – listen to science podcasts to stay up-to-date (e.g. Guardian Science Weekly, BBC Radio 4 – The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread?)
      – look out for internship opportunities e.g. with The BBC Academy, the Royal Society of Chemistry, Royal Society of Biology, Institute of Physics, STFC
      – work shadowing (if you/your school knows anyone who could host you)

      Also, make sure to do varied subjects at school so you have your science knowledge as well as your creative knowledge. But please make sure you’re taking the subjects that will get you into a science degree – for science communication I’d advise doing a science degree before any qualifications in communication, as you need the prior science knowledge. Then when you’re at uni make sure to continue the extracurricular stuff from above!

      If you want to be a scientist/engineer, I’d recommend university or apprenticeships. But in science communication, I don’t know anyone who has done an apprenticeship. However, that’s not to say it isn’t possible!

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