• Question: what is your favourite type of science

    Asked by savage_banana to Hannah, Lucy, Phil, rochellevelho, Stephen on 7 Mar 2017.
    • Photo: Lucy Kissick

      Lucy Kissick answered on 7 Mar 2017:

      The interdisciplinary kind, where several subjects come together to solve bigger problems than one small area. For instance, I’m broadly a geologist: I look at rocks. But I have to use chemistry to understand what rocks are made of, and physics to understand how they’re formed, and astronomy to understand external influences a planet comes under (like sunlight). Often the biggest breakthroughs are made in interdisciplinary areas, like the new CRISP-R machine. This combines engineering with biology to alter genomes and perhaps one day cure genetic diseases. The scientists involved must have needed an understanding of both subjects to make it work!

    • Photo: Phil Sutton

      Phil Sutton answered on 7 Mar 2017:

      For me it would be physics. I think physics can help understand most of the world around us and underpins a lot of the technology we use. Going even further I would say that astrophysics is my favourite type of science. In astrophysics you have to use an understanding of physics to explain very massive and distance objects. I always incorporate how simple experiments we can do in our labs can be used to explain the stars and planets. Its like a practical application of physics.

    • Photo: Hannah Sargeant

      Hannah Sargeant answered on 7 Mar 2017:

      I’m a physicist at heart but in my career I get to do a lot of engineering, chemistry and geography/geology too. I think it’s way more fun to use different skills, that way I never get bored! For example, today I’ve been preparing my machine (engineering) for my chemical experiment which only works because of the physics equations I used. Tomorrow I’ll be looking at rock samples (geology) which I will use in my machine 🙂

    • Photo: Rochelle Velho

      Rochelle Velho answered on 7 Mar 2017:

      I love all the sciences, which is the main reason I decided to do medicine. As a critical care doctor I use all the sciences.

      When I am in hospital:
      I apply my knowledge of biology to work out which body systems are malfunctioning and why they are not working. Then I use chemistry to work out which drugs can try and fix the problem. And I use physics to understand the machines to help a poorly patient breathe better…

      When I go on Mars analog (pretend Mars missions) expeditions:
      I also use all three. I have to know that the astronauts are healthy enough to get into a suit and climb high mountains. I use my knowledge of chemistry to work out which drugs work for their mountain sickness and the physics to understand why the atmosphere has less oxygen for the astronauts to breathe.

      The sciences are difficult to split as a medic or in space medicine, and there is so much overlap! For me it is just easier to say I love science 🙂

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