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"I
Wanna Be A SCIENTIST!" -
A Day in the Life of an Ecology Undergraduate
David
Murray
Ever
wondered what it's actually like to study science at university?
David Murray is an undergraduate student at the University
of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. He has almost completed
three years of a degree in Science Communication. Despite
the often long hours spent working on assessments, David will
often admit that he does not really want to leave...
BEEP!...........BEEP!BEEP!..........BEEP!BEEP!BEEP!
I role over and turn off the alarm on my mobile phone.
The time on the screen says 6.30 and it feels as if I have
barely slept. I was up late the previous evening putting the
finishing touches on a report for my Conservation
Biology course. It was on the Consequences of Disease
Control for the Conservation of Endangered Species and I thought
I had almost finished.
The last 500 words, however, proved to be a lot more difficult
to get out than I had anticipated and in the end I didn’t
get to sleep until 2am. By the time I drag myself out of bed,
shower, change, consider then dismiss breakfast, and jump
in the car, it’s 10 past 7.
Lost and Confused
Two hours later, after battling traffic and train commuters,
I finally arrive at uni. First up this morning is an Animal
Physiology
lecture. The class lasts for an hour and it didn’t take me
long to become horribly lost and confused. It’s an interesting
subject, but there are a lot of little details and long words
that are a struggle to remember at 9am. Hopefully in the long
run, it will provide a bit more variety to my knowledge -
which can’t hurt if I want to be a science writer.
Fish, Chips & Computers
Apart from the 9am Animal Physiology lecture, the most frustrating
thing about Wednesdays is the four hour break I have between
10am and the start of my next class at 2pm. Occasionally,
I pass the time by going snorkelling down at Coogee however
this week I have plenty of things to occupy me during the
void. First up I head to the BEES (Biological, Earth and Environmental
Sciences) undergraduate office to submit my Conservation report
- done and done.
I then stop in at the Mathews food court for a late breakfast
of hot chips with grated cheese and gravy - unhealthy, but
also delicious. After stuffing myself senseless I pass the
remainder of my break checking e-mails and researching for
assignments in the BEES computer labs. I also remember to
check the arrangements for tomorrow. In the morning I’m heading
up to Smith’s Lake (about 4hrs north of Sydney) for a week
as part of a field biology course. I'm really looking forward
to it.
"All in the name of Science"
At 2 o’clock, I leave the computer labs and head upstairs
for my next class. It is animal physiology again, but this
time we have a lab, which is easier and much more interesting.
Today, my group is studying the effect of different stimuli
on circulation in the Cane Toad. This will involve partially
dissecting an anesthetized toad and connecting electrodes
to its heart.
The electrodes will record information on the mechanical beating
of the heart as well as the electrical
impulses in the heart muscle. Unfortunately the toad dies
at the end, but I suppose it’s all in the name of science.
My animal physiology lab runs late tonight and I miss a little
bit of my science communication class which began at 5pm.
When I get there everyone is talking about what they saw during
the week related to science communication. I contribute by
talking about my trip to the zoo the week before. When the
class wraps up at 7pm I’m starting to feel very tired indeed.
I doze on the train on my way home and eventually walk through
my door at about 8.30. Wednesdays are a big day, and I’m glad
that I get to sleep in a bit on Thursday before leaving for
Smith’s Lake.
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