Words to the Wise for New Scientists
Peter Griffiths shares his wisdom for aspiring and early-career scientists
“Look to see what’s hot and where it’s going. Don’t get stuck doing the same old stuff over and over again, but have fun doing what you’re doing. The other thing I would say is to go to as many conferences as you can (this is perhaps even more possible now that so many are online) and join scientific societies. Societies allow you to meet people in your field and gain a grasp of the big things that are happening before they appear in print. Most importantly, have the courage to go and talk to the big names in your field! You’d be surprised how many people really love talking with young, enthusiastic scientists who are just getting into the field, so why not give it a try?”
– Peter Griffiths, Professor Emeritus, Department of Chemistry, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA
By the time I finished my degree in Microbiology I had come to one conclusion – I did not want to work in a lab. Instead, I decided to move to the south of Spain to teach English. After two brilliant years, I realized that I missed science, and what I really enjoyed was communicating scientific ideas – whether that be to four-year-olds or mature professionals. On returning to England I landed a role in science writing and found it combined my passions perfectly. Now at Texere, I get to hone these skills every day by writing about the latest research in an exciting, creative way.
