• Question: why do you like science

    Asked by lauren to Franco, Claire on 11 Jun 2016. This question was also asked by ellie, meg.
    • Photo: Franco Falcone

      Franco Falcone answered on 11 Jun 2016:

      Lauren, Ellie, Meg – why do I like science?

      For me science explains most of what is around us, from the very small (atoms and smaller) to the very big (galaxies, stars etc.). In particular biology for me has all the answers to all the questions that I ever had, much more than Religion. The theory of evolution reigns supreme in my mind, it explains so much! Not to say that religion does not have its place in our world, it does for many people, and I respect that, but not for me; it just doesn’t explain much, I prefer a world view underpinned by science. Religion can be divisive, science much less so?

      On a practical side, I like the freedom to operate that comes as a scientist, the freedom to take my research into any direction I want (as long as I manage to secure funding for it). I find this quite satisfying.

    • Photo: Claire Bourke

      Claire Bourke answered on 14 Jun 2016:

      This is a great question! To me science isn’t just a subject, it is a way to see the world because it uses what we know to come up with questions (also called theories or hypotheses) that we can then find a way to answer through experiments, which allow us to test whether or not our theory is true or false. This is a really fun approach because I need to use my problem solving skills, I also have to be creative when I design my experiments and think ‘outside the box’ as many scientific questions haven’t been answered because they are tricky! I like the challenge of proving whether something is wrong or right; I like the fact that I constantly have to try new things and talk to a variety of people so that I can keep coming up with new questions and approaches; and I really like my particular area of science, parasitology and immunology, where I am lucky to be able to combine all of the scientific approaches that I like with topics that I am fascinated by. What other profession would allow me to watch fluorescent green parasites swimming under a microscope, grow blood cells to see how they become activated & work with researchers in Zimbabwe to better understand how treatments for schistosomiasis and HIV affect immune responses, all as part of the same job?

Comments

  • Photo: Mark

    Mark commented on :

    I like science because it is forever revealing new things to us that help us understand life, the universe and everything. It is challenging, thought provoking, sometimes scary. But if you ever want to reflect on the bigger questions you need science to guide you.