Question: When did you start to want to be a scientist?

Carl Peter Robinson answered on 1 Feb 2024:

It was around the early 2010s, when I was looking for a change in my career. I used to be a software engineer but after several years doing that, I felt I needed to change something, to progress my career and challenge myself. It was around then that I toyed with the idea of getting into science and artificial intelligence or robotics. I’m glad I did, because I feel very happy with what I have since achieved and the kind of work that I am able to undertake these days.

The important thing here is, I didn’t realise till later in life that I could be a scientist. When I did figure that out, I went and did something about it. It’s never too late to do something new, or try something new. You never know, it might open up a whole new world to you! So don’t be afraid to make changes later in life. Where you are and what you do at age 16 or 18, or even 21, is not necessarily where you will be or what you will be doing for the rest of your life. It’s very important to realise that and I wish someone had said that to me when I was that age.