Question: did anything or anyone inspire you to do the job that you do?

Daisy Shearer answered on 10 Mar 2022: last edited 10 Mar 2022 8:13 am

For a long time, I’ve been really inspired by the mathematician/theoretical physicist Emmy Noether. She studied and lectured on mathematics even though women weren’t really allowed to at the time but she didn’t let it stop her. She also developed several theories which we use across physics which help us understand things from subatomic particles to black holes.

The main reason I decided to become a physics researcher comes from my experience doing a research placement during my undergraduate degree. I was working for a telecommunications company developing and testing lasers, essentially to make the internet faster. This was my first taste of research that used quantum mechanical phenomena to make useful technology and I loved it! My colleagues there also encouraged me to apply to do a PhD, so I did and I’m now in my final year. I really love doing research and feel super lucky that I’m paid to do something I’m so passionate about!