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Protecting
the birds from Bird Flu
Stephanie Bannister
On
April 12th 2006 - world-wide day in science, I was at work
at CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratories as an honours
student.
The highlights of my day were as follows ....
Attending a meeting about trials of new vaccines in chickens
against a viral disease threat.
Presenting a talk to my fellow scientists and other honours
and PhD students at CSIRO about my honours project and what
I hope to achieve from my research this year. This was a hugely
daunting experience, talking to a group of my peers about
my research, knowing that they all know more than I do about
my topic of interest. However, I was well prepared for the
talk and had designed my slides well and was able to demonstrate
my depth of knowledge and understanding successfully.
It was also a great opportunity to get feedback on ways to
communicate scientific information and I learnt so much from
the process of preparing and executing the presentation I'm
now excited rather than intimidated by future presentations
required of me!
I’m completing my honours degree in biotechnology/molecular
biology at CSIRO as a Deakin University student so the experience
of presenting an overview of my project was important as a
practice for a talk I did later that week at uni, but was
useful in helping me to understand the research I was undertaking
and how it contributes to the aims of the CSIRO Australian
Animal Health Laboratories.
My research group at AAHL is involved in developing therapeutics
and vaccines to protect chickens and the Australian poultry
industry from potentially crippling poultry diseases.
My project contributes to developing technology to target
the genetic material of viruses which infect chickens and
to thereby stop the virus from replicating and spreading through
the chicken to cause disease and subsequent transmission of
the virus between animals. So it was great to be able to put
my work into perspective by this exercise.
The meeting I attended also addressed ways to combat poultry
diseases using a different type of vaccine technology and
it was interesting to learn about this process. It also made
me more aware of the variety of different science that can
be conducted to achieve a similar aim.
It makes me -- as a young scientist still acquiring all the
knowledge and skills I will need to be successful -- very
motivated to continue my studies and involvement in research.
I know there is potential to contribute to much larger goals
which benefit Australia in so many ways.
If you had asked me when I was in years 10, 11 and 12 what
I wanted to be when I 'grew up' I would have told you either
a doctor, physiotherapist or maybe... a forensic scientist.
While all of these careers encompass a knowledge of science,
it was my year 11 and 12 chemistry teacher Jak Denny whose
passion and enthusiasm for science and the career possibilities
it offered which truly inspired me to pursue a scientific
career.
From this revelation, I set about exploring different aspects
of science which existed and finally applied for a biotechnology
degree at Deakin Uni in Geelong. So far its been the best
decision I've ever made in terms of my prospective career.
I find biology fascinating and the more I learn the more curious
I become.
As a research student, I'm now learning how I can personally
contribute to making discoveries and expanding the pool of
knowledge which I find hugely rewarding. Molecular biology
and biotechnology are extremely challenging but this only
makes me more determined to succeed.
If there was a message I could give to any secondary students
disillusioned by the enormity of making career decisions it
would be this;
Find something you're curious about, something that intrigues
you, fascinates you or captures your interest.
Find out how to get involved in it and get involved. Never
limit your options to your first idea, if you find something
more interesting, investigate it too and grab every opportunity
that comes your way.
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