Women in Science - Online Interviews

Amy Witter

1. Give a brief description of your job telling what you do, (a day in your life) but also what you do specifically in your position.

I am a post-doctoral research scientist studying iron speciation in seawater. Iron speciation (or looking at the forms iron exists in solution) is important because phytoplankton (plants in the sea) use iron to grow but we don't know how iron exists in seawater (ie. is it attached to other molecules or is it free in solution?) These questions are important because phytoplankton use carbon dioxide to grow and so they take up a lot of the excess CO2 we as humans produce from industrial processes. The excess CO2 we produce is responsible for something called the greenhouse effect, where the temperature of the earth's surface is rising because of this excess CO2. So plants which depend on iron which take up this CO2 may provide an answer to preventing this problem from becoming seomthing which is detrimental to life on earth. Each day I work in the lab running samples using electrochemical equipment.

2. How did you decide upon your career? When did you know you wanted to do it and how did you prepare for it?

I enjoyed science in high school and decided in college. I always liked the ocean as a kid and I prepared by reading books and listening to people talk.

3. What is the best thing about your job?

Constantly learning new things. Science is competitive and so while learning new things there is pressure to gather data that is not always easy to get. Science is not always forgiving of wanting to pursue other things like personal time.

4. As a kid, what kinds of things did you do to prepare for this job? What books did you read or what things did you do that let you know you would like this field?

I took as many science classes as possible and at the college level I did research projects to help my decide if I really wanted to do it for a career. High school science fairs are another way of getting involved.

5. Was there any person (parent, teacher, mentor, professor) you felt influenced you to pursue this field?

Many people influenced me in my goals: My parents, teachers, college professors (I went to a woman's college). I was very lucky to have so many great mentors.

6. What is your favorite quote?

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you can't see the shadows."
Helen Keller

7. What advice do you have for young women who might be interested in the field of science?

Science is hard work but it can be very rewarding. I like the fact that unlike other jobs, you are constantly learning things that are not written anywhere yet so that can be scary as well as exhilirating. I encourage young women to get involved in science classes and try and listen to people who do science for a living. It is FUN.

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1.	Give a brief description of your job telling what you do, (a day in your life) but also what you do specifically in your position.
	I am a post-doctoral research scientist studying iron speciation in seawater. Iron speciation (or looking at the forms iron exists in solution) is important because phytoplankton (plants in the sea) use iron to grow but we don't know how iron exists in seawater (ie. is it attached to other molecules or is it free in solution?) These questions are important because phytoplankton use carbon dioxide to grow and so they take up a lot of the excess CO2 we as humans produce from industrial processes. The excess CO2 we produce is responsible for something called the greenhouse effect, where the temperature of the earth's surface is rising because of this excess CO2. So plants which depend on iron which take up this CO2 may provide an answer to preventing this problem from becoming seomthing which is detrimental to life on earth. Each day I work in the lab running samples using electrochemical equipment.
2.	How did you decide upon your career? When did you know you wanted to do it and how did you prepare for it?
	I enjoyed science in high school and decided in college. I always liked the ocean as a kid and I prepared by reading books and listening to people talk.
3.	What is the best thing about your job?
	Constantly learning new things. Science is competitive and so while learning new things there is pressure to gather data that is not always easy to get. Science is not always forgiving of wanting to pursue other things like personal time.
4.	As a kid, what kinds of things did you do to prepare for this job? What books did you read or what things did you do that let you know you would like this field?
	I took as many science classes as possible and at the college level I did research projects to help my decide if I really wanted to do it for a career. High school science fairs are another way of getting involved.
5.	Was there any person (parent, teacher, mentor, professor) you felt influenced you to pursue this field?
	Many people influenced me in my goals: My parents, teachers, college professors (I went to a woman's college). I was very lucky to have so many great mentors.
6.	What is your favorite quote?
	"Keep your face to the sunshine and you can't see the shadows." Helen Keller
7.	What advice do you have for young women who might be interested in the field of science?
	Science is hard work but it can be very rewarding. I like the fact that unlike other jobs, you are constantly learning things that are not written anywhere yet so that can be scary as well as exhilirating. I encourage young women to get involved in science classes and try and listen to people who do science for a living. It is FUN.