• Question: Which scientist inspired you the most to become one?

    Asked by njade to Ben, Dave, Ed, Sam, Susana on 25 Jun 2013. This question was also asked by curlysue2000.
    • Photo: David Briggs

      David Briggs answered on 25 Jun 2013:

      Carl Sagan – he was an american astronomer – he’s died now, but look him up on YouTube.

      The guy is awesome.

    • Photo: Sam Horrell

      Sam Horrell answered on 25 Jun 2013:

      I don’t think i really knew of many scientists when I was younger apart from Einstine and maybe Flemming.

      Probably Doctor Bunsen and Beaker from The Muppets.

    • Photo: Susana Teixeira

      Susana Teixeira answered on 25 Jun 2013:

      Like for Dave, Carl Sagan was a major inspiration, there was a TV programme when I was a young teenager. I also loved the books he wrote, like Contact and others: these gave me a glimpse into his mind and I realised a scientist can also be a very down to earth person. Even a brilliant scientist like him.

      Watson and Crick discovered the structure of DNA before I was even born, but the boom of genetic engineering and molecular biology followed… they too were an inspiration when they used somewhat rudimentar hand-made models of molecules to figure out the code of life!

      Bunsen and Beaker are fantastic too though 🙂

    • Photo: Benjamin Hall

      Benjamin Hall answered on 27 Jun 2013:

      A few people.

      When I was an undergrad I was really interested in work by; David Baulcombe, Detlef Weigel, Enrico Coen, Elliot Meyerowitz, Sophien Kamoun, Jonathan Jones, Jeff Dangl and Brian Staskawicz.

      It’s only been a year since I finished my undergrad but I’ve already been lucky enough to work for one of them and then go on to work at the same institute as three of them.

      Pressed to choose one scientist though, I’d have to go for Professor Peter Urwin at my old university. He’s not a particularly famous scientist, although he is a talented one. He’s the guy that sat down with me when I had serious doubts about my ability to do a PhD. He told me I shouldn’t have doubts and that I did have the ability.

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