• Question: how do you think your job effects people in their every day lives?

    Asked by izzylutkins to Duncan, Grant, Julie, Nik, Rachel on 10 Mar 2013.
    • Photo: Grant Campbell

      Grant Campbell answered on 10 Mar 2013:

      @izzylutkins. I teach chemical engineers, they go on into jobs in industry and those jobs help provide us all with many necessities of life including fuels, water, plastics and food. But in teaching them, I’m not just training them to be able to do something useful or to get a job that pays well – I’m also helping them become more educated and hence more able to engage meaningfully with the world, both to enjoy it and to contribute to it.
      My 6-year old asked at dinner the other night “Daddy, am I a good citizen?” It’s a bit early for her to be worrying too much about this – but I do think my job, like that of all teachers, helps people to be better citizens.

    • Photo: Duncan Gaskin

      Duncan Gaskin answered on 10 Mar 2013:

      For my research, it takes time to transfer the kind of detailed knowledge and info I generate into something that effects people. But it might lead to new ways or products to prevent food poisoning and stop people getting ill.

      But some of the other things I do as part of my job, such as going into schools and doing science activities can effect people immediately as they discover the fun of science (hopefully!).

      And like Grant, I teach a variety of students.

    • Photo: Rachel Edwards-Stuart

      Rachel Edwards-Stuart answered on 11 Mar 2013:

      I try and make food more delicious and exciting. I know I’m not discovering medicines and saving lives, but I try to make the day to day things in life, like eating, more exciting.

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