• Question: Are you the type of lab scientist or the adventurous ''out and about'' scientist?

    Asked by shyamgarara22 to Ceri, Arttu, James_M, Monica, Philip on 15 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by mashie118.
    • Photo: James M Monk

      James M Monk answered on 15 Jun 2011:

      I’m not sure there’s any such distinction. It’s true that most of my work takes place in a lab or at a computer, whereas I guess a geologist might do field work up a mountain, but I also like to get out and about

    • Photo: Philip Dolan

      Philip Dolan answered on 15 Jun 2011:

      I think quite a lot of physicists require some type of laboratory, as often it requires fairly sensitive equipment. Saying that I guess telescopes are often build on top of mountain ranges, and you can’t get much more out and about than that. I’m in an optics lab, which can suck cause we have to keep most of the lights out, and any sunlight is a definite no no.

    • Photo: Arttu Rajantie

      Arttu Rajantie answered on 15 Jun 2011:

      I am not even a lab scientist, because I only do theoretical research, so I work in my office.

    • Photo: Ceri Brenner

      Ceri Brenner answered on 15 Jun 2011:

      i’m a lab scientist. laser experiments are always conducted in a target chamber, which is inside a room surrounded by radiation shielding and so on. check out the youtube film on my profile and you can see what it looks like for yourself. laser plasma interactions have to be carefully sealed so that we can protect ourselves from the vast amounts of radiation that is given off (it’s all about the safety). In terms of being ‘out and about’ though, i’ve travelled to lots of laser labs across the world and been to lots of conferences as well so i don’t just work in one place and in that way i do get out quite a lot which is one of my fave parts of the job!

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