Catriona McDonald
How did your journey into physics begin?
I always enjoyed the sciences while at school, but my particular interest in physics and astronomy didn't really start until I was studying for my GCSEs. I was lucky enough to have some incredible teachers who exhibited and encouraged a passion and excitement for the world around us and gave me the freedom to learn about what I was interested in. This led to me working on a project called 'Are we alone in the universe?' and ultimately to the PhD in astrophysics I am currently studying for!
What is your favourite thing about your research area?
I get to learn about something new and exciting every single day. There are so many things in the world that we just don't understand and it's incredible to be able contribute just a little bit to what we know about our universe!
Why do you think it is important to highlight women in science day? What does it mean to you?
It is vitally important to highlight women in science day and show that not only can we be good at science, but we can also thrive in scientific careers. Going from being the only girl in an A level physics class, to being surrounded by incredible women doing excellent science is truly amazing and further diversifying our communities can only improve the science we do and the experiences we have while doing it!
