Question: What inspired you to join I'm a scientist? And why do you think it will help your research?

Emily Mattacola answered on 11 Nov 2019:

I think it’s really important that we as scientists are good at talking to other people about what we do. In general, scientists are really good at telling each other about what we’ve found, but we’re not so good at telling everyone else. That means that the benefits from our findings are more limited, and it reduces the point of our research.

I’m also really passionate about involving more girls in science. I remember loving science at school and really struggling to see a female role model – all of my science teachers were men, and all of the female scientists we learnt about were either really old or hadn’t been alive for in a long time! It was hard to see where I could go with my love for science as a result, so I want younger girls to be able to see that there are women working in science as adults. I’m hoping that taking part in I’m a Scientist will help me to do that.

I think taking part in I’m a Scientist will help me to be better at talking about psychology in general and about my research, so yes, it’ll definitely help me to be better at my job.