• Question: how much time do you spend at work and what do you do in one day .. it must get boring at times?? :):):)

    Asked by xxsozxx11 to Claire, Greg, Jane, Jo, Vicki on 24 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Jane Cleal

      Jane Cleal answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      Hi,
      I normally spend 8-10 hours at work each day, but have time for food breaks!
      I do different things each day and through out the day so i don’t get bored. I sometimes start an experiment in the morning like measuring genes or proteins in the placenta. This experiment could take a few days but I don’t have to be doing it full time just an hour here and there. I do other things in between like reading about science and writing about my data. We also have meetings to discuss the results of experiments and I spend quite a bit of my time teaching students which is never dull!

    • Photo: Vicki Onions

      Vicki Onions answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      Hi xxsoz
      Usually my day starts at 8-8:30 and i aim to leave by 4:30-5; though some days can be a bit longer (and therefore i sometimes leave a bit early to compensate!!)
      My days are never the same so i can’t give you a typical day – but have a look on my profile where i’ve tried to give some examples of what i do on a typical day – mostly e-mails, different types of lab work and maybe some writing.
      Science jobs can be like any other job and of course there are some bits that are going to be boring – its just one of those things i’m afraid. However, we did have a question asking if science was boring and i was the only one of the scientists to say that yes, sometimes it was boring…and so then i felt really guilty for saying it!! Its true though, in my job at least, there are bits i enjoy less than others but you just have to get on with it 🙂

    • Photo: Claire O'Donnell

      Claire O'Donnell answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      I work part time so I’m not very like most scientists. The science doesn’t get boring but going to meetings where people drone on and on without gettign anywhere gets a bit boring. I try to aviod them:)

    • Photo: Greg FitzHarris

      Greg FitzHarris answered on 24 Jun 2010:

      I spend a lot of time at work! And, unfortunately with the computer at home i work there too (which is BAD – my wife wants me to stop that). The thing is most sciebntists like me are in science because we love it, and so dont mind staying late when its needed… or working late at home. The key is an understanding wife!

      No, i very rarely get bored (in meetings sometimes – they can be dull).

Comments

  • Photo: xxsozxx11

    xxsozxx11 commented on :

    i dont like the talking bit or the writing bits by favourite bit in sciene is doing all the experiemnts

  • Photo: Vicki

    Vicki commented on :

    xxsoz – i’m not so keen on the writing bit either but in my job it has to be done as you have to show people what you have done. Whilst i don’t like the writing bit so much, the first time i had some of my work published in a scientific journal was absolutely fab! So every cloud has a silver lining i guess!