Mae Arianwen Herbert yn rhannu ei thaith mewn STEM

Wrth i ni ddathlu Dydd Rhyngwladol o Ferched a Menywod mewn STEM ar 11 Chwefror, wnaethom ni siarad â chyfathrebwr gwyddoniaeth, newyddiadurwr a disgybl PhD Arianwen Herbert am ei thaith STEM diddorol hyd yn hyn.

Wnaeth Arianwen treulio amser ar yr RRS James Cook yn ystod ei thaith i Fae Caerdydd am ein digwyddiad Archwiliwch Ein Planed haf diwethaf, ac yn rhannu tipyn am yr ymchwil wnaeth hi gychwyn ar y llong, yn ogystal â rhai o’r herion mai hi wedi wynebu fel menyw mewn STEM.

When did you first discover your love for science?

Growing up I thought my curiosity about how our world works might take me down the path of English, History, or the study of Classical Civilisations. I still love stories and creative avenues but have discovered that this manifests just as easily in science as it did in the humanities.

When the time came to select my A-levels, I opted for English, History, Politics and Theatre. But, on attending a talk about the discovery of the bones of Richard III, I found myself equally intrigued by the science of genetic signatures as I was by the historical aspect, if not more. I made a last-minute decision, on GCSE results day, to switch to English, History, Chemistry and Biology to leave my options open. I secured a number of lab placements throughout my sixth form years and my decision was cemented.

I loved working in a lab and was immediately captivated by the process of unpicking the way the world works, changing small things within an organism and observing the real effects that help us answer questions about where we came from and what might happen next. I decided to study Biochemistry at university and the rest is history!

What did you study at University?

I studied Biochemistry, opting for a 4-year integrated master’s and specialising (informally) in environmental molecular microbiology with my third and fourth year projects. Biochemistry is not, as the name might suggest, simply a combination of biology and chemistry. It is its own field, and focusses in on the smallest-scale aspects of our planet and its inhabitants.

It is a world of genetic instructions that encode everything that exists: of enzymes and their helpers, of reactions and pathways happening every second of every day, everywhere, without our noticing. It is like putting the highest magnification on things we take for granted, and finding answers in unexpected places. That is to say, I loved it. Given the opportunity in my third year to actually join a research lab, I began a project that investigated a potential CRISPR (genetic modification) system in a marine cyanobacterium, which was fascinating on so many levels. This led me to look at bacterial defence systems, bacteriophage (viruses that infect bacteria), and antibiotic resistance, and ultimately led me to my PhD specialism in marine biogeochemistry.

Who inspires you? Living, historical or both!

There are countless sources of inspiration in my life — not least of all my family, my friends, and strangers whose thoughts and words have resonated with me. But there are two clear individuals who have shaped me as a scientist to whom I owe immeasurable gratitude. During my master’s year, I worked in the environmental microbiology lab of Dr. Richard Puxty at the University of Warwick. In this supporting and cooperative lab I found an entire group of friends and mentors, who continue to be a true source of inspiration, support and friendship to this day.

My first supervisor, Rich, inspired in me a deep curiosity, an understanding of and connection with the scientific process, and ultimately shaped my relationship with science and research. I am the scientist I am today because of him; because he believed in me, invested in me and lifted me to achieve my potential.

The other person who personifies mentorship for me is my mentor at that time, now my dear friend, Dr. Rebecca Quinn. She inspires me in more ways than I can say. She took me under her wing as an undergraduate and as a master’s student, and taught me about all aspects of working in a lab: the good, bad and ugly! Our labmates would smile as they watched me becoming her mini-me, though most of our character similarities were established before we met.

She was dedicated to my education and growth as a scientist, and her investment in our work fostered in me a very personal connection to science that makes me a better researcher to this day.

Tell us about your day job.

Honestly, I don’t know if you can call what I do a day job. A PhD is the privilege of a lifetime. Yes, it’s hard, probably the hardest thing I’ll ever do, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. As part of my ‘day job’ I get to learn from and talk with experts in my field, travel the globe, from Iceland, to Brazil, to Namibia (so far!), sail across oceans, work in world-class labs and discover secrets about organisms that are fundamental to our world.

I’m a marine biogeochemist, in that I study the microscopic phytoplankton that live in our ocean, and their role in the climate cycle. In order to do this I spend time in the field and in the lab. Last year this meant 6 weeks in the North Atlantic, this year, two months sailing from Brazil to Namibia looking at phytoplankton in the South Atlantic Ocean (in fact, I’m writing this on a flight to São Paulo!).

On these expeditions I collect and bring back hundreds of samples and conduct many different experiments providing an in-depth analysis of the DNA and RNA-level changes these organisms make to cope with our changing environment. When I’m not on expedition I’m in the lab, where I grow my own phytoplankton and experiment on them, manipulating their conditions to see how they react to develop our understand about their evolution and physiology.

Tell us about your non-day job!

Alongside my PhD I moonlight as a science communicator and journalist. I work freelance with New Scientist, specialising in video reporting and production, telling stories about the environment, ocean, climate, my research and anything else that piques my interest. I also run my own platform, called ‘Scienceformymum’, where I share a candid insight into what it’s like to do the type of research I do, with accessible science communication at the core of my mission.

Through this I’ve had the pleasure of working with a range of incredible organisations including the Royal Institution, The Royal Society, the UKRI Natural Environment Research Council, Oxford University Museum of Natural History and more.

What’s the best part about your job?

I had to think long and hard about this one but I settled on two answers that I couldn’t compromise on and these are the freedom and the people.

First, the freedom. I mean this in every sense of the word; the freedom to pursue any and all questions that interest me. To chase a theory to its logical end, and beyond. To wake up on any given day and decide to take a new approach. To read a paper, or have a conversation, or make an observation, and to allow it to change my perspective and the trajectory of my work.

To do a PhD is to truly have no obligation to anything but your own curiosity. It is to be given permission to seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge and to develop skills and that empower. It gives the freedom to shape a career and lifestyle that are compatible with your values. Travelling and seeing the world — seeing different culture and places and peoples — has always been one of my greatest delights. And my PhD allows me to build this into my work, travelling for fieldwork, for collaborations and for conferences.

Not a day goes by when I don’t pause to appreciate how lucky I am to be constantly surrounded by inspired and inspiring individuals, and not just those in my discipline; people who are my colleagues and also my friends. Undertaking a PhD is a highly unique experience and one that can maybe only be truly appreciated by those in the same boat, and I have found deep companionship in this. The spirit of collaboration, of mentorship and passing down knowledge, is what has ultimately kept me on track to this day.

Are there any challenges being a woman in your industry?

Of course. There are challenges to being a woman in any industry and in every aspect of life. No two women’s experiences will be the same, though there are many things we will all experience; being talked down to and undermined, having our contribution belittled, receiving comments that would not be directed at men. I recently spoke about my own personal research and was told to ‘google the facts’ by one such person. Most of us will know what it’s like to feel uncomfortable or unsafe in our workplace at one time or another.

That said, the support systems, spaces and opportunities by women and for women are increasing every day and I am fortunate to have some strong male advocates as well as strong female role models in my life. It is my hope that one day we will live in a world where these things are not needed, but today is not that day and people of all genders must champion women, to amplify their voices and experiences.

Any advice for our young female audience hoping to have a career in STEM?

Be brave, be fierce, be kind and, above all else, be unapologetically you. Don’t be told that you can or cannot, should or should not. You don’t need to be the best in your discipline, genuine curiosity and determination is so much more important. Take for yourself the freedom to say yes to opportunities that appeal to you and no to things that don’t. It’s your career and your choice to switch take or diversity.

Be open, generous, trusting and above all a team player, even when those around you are not. And ask for what you need; ask for experience, advice, mentorship. Never think you don’t have something to offer, and never think you don’t have something to learn.

Rydym ni eisiau rhoi diolch i Arianwen am gymryd yr amser i rannu ei phrofion — os wyt it eisiau dysgu mwy am yr ymchwil mai hi’n wneud, gallwch darllen mwy yma!