• Question: How long do you work a day

    Asked by db10 to Abyssal Grenadier, Baltic clam, Brachiopod, Common starfish, Naval Shipworm, Orkney vole, Scottish Crossbill, Snake Pipefish, Twisted-wing fly on 13 Nov 2017.
    • Photo: Naval Shipworm

      Naval Shipworm answered on 13 Nov 2017:

      It changes day to day! When I am on a boat getting samples, it seems like I work 24/7. But other days, I work normal office hours. Science is a bit all-encompassing though, and I love it, so often I will read things even when I should be relaxing!

    • Photo: Twisted-wing Fly

      Twisted-wing Fly answered on 13 Nov 2017:

      Scientists working in these sorts of areas generally work at least a regular 8-hour day, but me and my colleagues enjoy our work probably more than most people, because of the discoveries we make and being able to work with the wonders and mysteries of nature. This is why we often work longer hours, because it doesn’t really feel like work!

    • Photo: Abyssal Grenadier

      Abyssal Grenadier answered on 13 Nov 2017:

      Working days can vary quite a bit. Much like the Naval Shipworm we often work a normal 9-5 in the office but when we are collecting samples we can be at sea for weeks! It can be a very long time away from home (the comfort of your own bed!) but the work is always rewarding. We know so little about the deep sea that nearly every time we collect samples from the sea we discover a new species – how cool is that?

    • Photo: Snake Pipefish

      Snake Pipefish answered on 13 Nov 2017:

      Today it feels like too long! Generally I work between 9am and 6-7pm, but it varies a bit every day depending on whether I’m running experiments, have any deadlines coming up, or whether I want to go to the gym. 🙂 What I don’t get done during the week I try and catch up on Sunday afternoons… unless there’s something else more fun to do!

    • Photo: Terebratulina Retusa

      Terebratulina Retusa answered on 13 Nov 2017:

      Like everyone else here, it changes. One of the reason we all love science is that no two days are the same and therefore you just never know what the average is. Good scientists are never bored!

    • Photo: Common Starfish

      Common Starfish answered on 13 Nov 2017:

      Most days I am at work for typical office hours of 9-5, then I go home and spend some time with my children and then I do some more work until I feel tired (usually around the time of the 10 o’clock news). Being a scientist does mean that you have to work a lot throughout the year (sometimes even when you are on “holiday”, if there is a deadline that you have to meet). But on the hand there is a lot of flexibility and nobody is telling me what to do (most of the time!); it is up to me to decide how and when I work to do the things that need to be done. And it really is amazing to have the freedom to decide which scientific questions you want to try find answers to. And, of course, equally important is the time we spend teaching and hopefully inspiring the next generation of biologists … like you soon perhaps?

    • Photo: Orkney Vole

      Orkney Vole answered on 21 Nov 2017:

      Each day is different. I guess most working weeks are 50-60 hours.

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