Just finished your GCSE or A-Level exams? Wondering which career path to take? To give a helping hand, we chatted to Sophie (@soph.talks.science) about her job as a Science Communicator and how the path to success isn’t always linear.
One of the best ways to learn about the world of work is to talk to people who have been in your shoes. That’s why we’re speaking to inspiring individuals about their careers, and the advice they would give their ‘little me’.
This week, we talked to Sophie Milbourne, behind the popular Instagram account @soph.talks.science.
As a science communicator, she tells stories about science, so that she can inform, educate and shine a spotlight on the latest ground-breaking discoveries and research.
Here she chats about working in science, the hurdles she’s faced and what career advice she would give to her younger self.
What inspired you to pursue a career in science? Was there a ‘eureka’ moment?
"I had always been fascinated by biology, particularly cells and genes, as well as the life cycle of stars. But growing up in rural Wales, the only career that I thought I could have with an interest in science was a doctor.
Fast forward a few years, I realised that a medical degree wasn’t for me. I was stuck with which path to choose. But I was still fascinated by science so chose to study it at university and work out my next step once I was there.
More of a ‘eureka’ moment came later in my career, when I was introduced to the world of science communication. It was perfect for me because I could still learn about the latest scientific discoveries but flex my creative skills too."
What obstacles might some young people face as they try to get a job in science? What advice would you give them?
"An obstacle for me was just realising what options were out there, so don’t be afraid to ask questions and search for someone who might be doing your dream job.
The best advice I could give to my younger self, is that you don’t have to choose a career at 16 years old and then be stuck with it. Your career will evolve as you move to the next step, and you might choose to completely change your path. That is absolutely fine and possible.
Sophie Milbourne
Science Communicator
Another piece of advice is to know that you can combine your passions together in a job. I loved science and being creative, whether it is writing, making videos or drawing. But I didn’t think there would be a job matching those two passions of mine. How wrong I was!"
What do you enjoy most about your job and why is it important?
"The variety and the creativity of being a science communicator is what I love most.
One day I could be creating a YouTube or a TikTok video to share the latest science news. The next day I could be writing a press release, working with journalists or training researchers to be more confident sharing their research stories.
Perhaps naively, I had no idea that science communication was a career option until about five years ago, but it couldn’t be more important. You have almost definitely been exposed to some science communication before without even realising it.
Scientific research is no use to anyone if it stays behind closed lab doors. It needs to be shared and that is where science communicators come in.
It could be the news story you read, or the book about fungi you have just finished, or even that David Attenborough documentary that you watched last week. All of these are types of science communication and ways of sharing science with different audiences."
Why is it important to inspire the next generation and offer career advice?
"Science is part of our everyday lives: from the medicines that help us get better, to the devices you are using to read these words that I’m writing, to solving global issues like climate change.
We are all trying to understand how things work so that we can improve what we have or find solutions to big issues, and I truly believe that in order to do that we need a diversity of people, knowledge, skills and backgrounds working in science.
You never know who is going to have that life-changing or maybe even world-saving idea and it is why I am passionate about sharing the range of roles that exist in a career in science.
Science communications is all about sharing what research is happening right now because you never know who it will inspire and what ideas they will get from it.
Barnardo’s mission to empower young people, give them a voice and provide skills and training is close to my heart. The future of science, and the world, depends on the next generation, their ideas, passions and motivations."
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