• Question: How long did it take you to realise you wanted to become a scientist? Did it take a long time or happen overnight?

    Asked by anon-216540 to Robert, Olly, Nicola, Jasmin, Dennis, Caroline on 10 Jun 2019.
    • Photo: Dennis Relojo-Howell

      Dennis Relojo-Howell answered on 10 Jun 2019:


      I decided to do psychology at 16. It took a long time for me to start doing something I enjoy. I have been blogging for 15 years now. I first started as a travel blogger (I go to different countries and write about it) and then five years ago I launched my mental health blog.

    • Photo: Robert Dempsey

      Robert Dempsey answered on 10 Jun 2019:


      I think I always had an interest in science but it took me a bit of time to work out what sort of science I wanted to explore. I thought it was something like Biology or Chemistry that I was interested in when actually I was interested in ‘clinical psychological science’ (the science of the psychology of mental health). I think it took a few years to figure this out!

    • Photo: Oliver Clabburn

      Oliver Clabburn answered on 10 Jun 2019:


      I started studying psychology during my a-levels at 16 (2 yrs). I then went and did a psychology degree (3 yrs), and then a PhD (3 yrs). So 8 years in total… but I had some breaks in between!

    • Photo: Caroline Brett

      Caroline Brett answered on 10 Jun 2019:


      I was never all that interested in the science side of psychology (I didn’t even do science A-levels), and studied it as a social science for my degree (there were two entry routes at Edinburgh – science or social science). However, in the third year of my four year degree I discovered neuropsychology and became fascinated by the science of the brain. Psychology is one of those amazing subjects that spans all the way from philosophical questions about who we are as human beings, through social aspects and behaviour, how we think and feel within ourselves, right down to the cellular changes in the brain that influence how we think, feel, and act. There’s something for everyone!

    • Photo: Jasmin Moon

      Jasmin Moon answered on 11 Jun 2019: last edited 11 Jun 2019 9:52 am


      During my undergraduate degree I knew I wanted to put the things I was learning into practical use to help others, but I wasn’t sure exactly how. After uni, I worked and volunteered in various mental health jobs and became particularly interested in the way that mental and physical health interact which is why I chose to do my master’s degree in Health Psychology 4 years after graduating. Trying out different jobs after university was very helpful for me to realise what I wanted to do and would recommend this to anyone who isn’t sure how they want to use their skills. It’s ok not to know what job you want to do and to take some time to work this out!

    • Photo: Nicola Johnstone

      Nicola Johnstone answered on 12 Jun 2019:


      I feel it’s very much who I am and I don’t remember wanting to do anything else but learn and discover.

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