Bernie Hobbs - ABC Science Journalist

Sometime in Year 12 a really weird thing happened to me. I got totally into Science. Suddenly all that organic chemistry and protein synthesis fell into place and I understood how genes worked, why kidneys are built the way they are, and why all life is based on carbon – at least on this planet anyway.

There was something about not only understanding how things worked, but being able to take some basic principles and work out a heap of other stuff that made me drunk with power.

At this point it became obvious that science teaching was the ideal career for me. And then I got a job in it. Unfortunately, there was something about the smell of Year 9 boys and those incessant bells which drove me to look elsewhere.

Medical Research was my next passion. With an honors degree in Biochemistry I set out to help develop a vaccine against a potentially killer disease, dengue fever. I failed. I don’t take failure well … and something about the smell of laboratory mice once again drove me to look elsewhere.

Finally I found my home in the ridiculous world of broadcasting. I get to rave on about Science on radio, TV, the web – they even let me out in public. Incredible. And great fun. I still can’t believe I get paid to do this stuff!

And that’s the great thing about careers in science. As long as you love your science, there’s bound to be a job that’s just right for you.

NOTE: If you don’t love science, please stay away – you’ll be bored, frustrated and really annoying for the rest of us.

Have a great life in Science!