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"A
glimpse from across the corridor to the other side of the world!"
Robyn
Barden, CSIRO
I wasn’t really sure of my career direction when I was in
high school. I was interested in marine science at the time,
but I was warned by a few people that jobs were few and far
between.
So, after high school, I started a Bachelor of Science with
the Australian National University. That way, I figured I’d
still have the option of transferring to another university
if I really had my heart set on becoming
a marine biologist.
Once I finished uni, I was still interested in marine science,
and managed to start working for an aquarium that opened up
in Canberra at the time. Here, I provided talks and educational
tours of the aquatic displays for school groups and other
visitors.
I really enjoyed the education and communication aspect of
science while working in the aquarium, and this set me on
my career to go on to work in this area with CSIRO Education;
the Cooperative Research Centre for Cardiac Technology, based
at Royal North Shore Hospital; the Cooperative Research Centre
for Waste Management and Pollution Control, based at the University
of New South Wales; and the University of Technology of Sydney.
From here, I took a break from working for 3 years, had 2
kids and now I’m back doing casual work for CSIRO Education.
It’s never a dull moment as a science
communicator. There are so many amazing people
you meet along the way, and you feel quite privileged to be
able to glimpse at a kaleidoscope of research activity from
across the corridor to the other side of the world.
Day's activities
6:00am -- woke up. My two kids are staying at their Grandma’s
house for the first time. It is a rare opportunity to sleep
in, so I close my eyes for another hour.
7:00am -- 8:00am -- took my two dogs to the park for a run
around. Threw a slobbery ball continuously for half an hour.
8:00am -- 9:00am -- brekkie & getting ready for the day.
9:00am --10:00am -- clean up house a little, make beds to
prepare for 4 extra kids plus 3 adults staying tonight (all
going to the Royal Easter Show tomorrow), along with my 2
kids, back from Newcastle.
10am -- 12noon -- Take the opportunity to work a little for
CSIRO Education - enter student information in an Excel spreadsheet
who have applied for research projects under the Student Research
Scheme.
- RSVP’d to an Australian Science Communicators event, ‘Communicating
Climate Change: Science or Politics?’. Looking forward to
meeting up with Susannah Eliott, one of the speakers (I worked
with Susannah while at UTS, and haven’t seen her since she
recently returned to Australia from Sweden)
12:30pm -- ride bicycle from Annandale into the city
1:00pm -- 2:00pm -- Pilates session
2:00pm -- 2:30pm -- physiotherapy to assist in healing an
injury earlier in the year.
2:30pm -- 3:00pm -- ride bicycle back from city to Annandale
3:15pm -- 5:00pm -- drive car to Stanmore to pick up a birthday
present for my niece, stop off at a bike shop to buy a front
light and back reflector. Drive to a friend’s place in Leichhardt
to pick up a Tupperware order (was wondering if I should admit
to this one ‘sounds very housewife-ish’). Stop for a chat.
5:00 -- 5:15pm -- drive back from Leichhardt to Annandale
5:30pm -- Meet up with my kids, who arrived with their uncle
and his 2 kids. All very excited about going the Easter Show
tomorrow. Have a truck load of ‘art’ from Granny’s house.
6:00pm -- 6:30pm -- Out to dinner at a local Thai restaurant
with everyone.
6:30pm -- 7:30pm -- In the local park for a quick play with
the 4 kids to work off excess energy before bed.
7:30pm -- 8:30pm -- kids bath, PJ’s, clean teeth, in bed
8:30pm -- 10:30pm -- parents relax with glass of wine and
slump in front of the TV
10:30pm -- 11.00pm -- Brother arrives from country Victoria
with his family.
11:00pm -- Asleep at last. Not looking forward to the usual
5am wake-up call by my 3 year old.
The highlight? It had to be riding to and from the city on
my bike, enjoying the sights, working up a sweat and thinking
about rising petrol costs.
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