Careers in Technology
1.) What is your major field of expertise and how did you become interested in it? 2.) What suggestions do you have for students who wish to become involved in your field of study?
Hi Eddie-- I'm a Public Information Officer. If your question had been legitimate, I would have passed it along to one of the scientists who work here at Lawrence Livermore National Lab. But since this is a dummy question, I'll answer it myself. I went to college and then spent the next 30 years messing around in radio and television news. Finally last year, I got this job and let me tell you, it's great. Working at a national laboratory is very rewarding. The money may be a bit less than you might get in private industry, but there is relative security, and generally the benefits are superior. Plus, you are on the leading edge of science. My advice is to take lots of science classes in high school and college, and try to get an internship at any sort of scientific endeavor, whether academic or corporate. Become involved with the researchers, ask a million questions (just not too many at a time) and learn as much as you can outside the classroom. Let me assure you, everything you learn now will someday come back to you, often when you least expect it. And most importantly, have fun. This field is one that you should only enter if you really want to. It won't work for you if your only aim is to become rich or win the Nobel Prize. Your Friend, Bob Hirschfeld