• Question: Do you believe all your fields could combine in some form to help each of your projects and further our knowledge of different sciences?

    Asked by _Elizabeth_ to Ellen, Elliot, Hazel, Rupesh, Thomas on 15 Jun 2016.
    • Photo: Elliot Jokl

      Elliot Jokl answered on 15 Jun 2016:

      I think so, yes! And different types of scientists collaborating together can produce some great scientific breakthroughs.

      One example I can think of that happened in the lab I work in is a zebrafish project which is looking into Parkinson’s Disease. This happened because my supervisor got chatting to a Computer Scientist about how you might be able to analyse how fish swim, and detect differences between normal fish and fish which have mutations in the genes linked to developing Parkinson’s Disease. By bringing Biology and Computer Science together they might be able to figure out some interesting things about how Parkinson’s Disease develops!

      We also rely a lot on microscopes and taking images of things, so Thomas and Hazel in particular would have some expertise that might be useful in my project. Better machines let us get a closer look at what is going on when we do experiments.

    • Photo: Thomas Biggans

      Thomas Biggans answered on 15 Jun 2016:

      Absolutely!

      There are many complex problems that cut across the boundaries of our fields and need a whole range of scientists working together to solve them.

      I’ve worked with scientists like Elliot to help them carry out PET-CT scans on genetically modified rats. By using this technology they are able to study the rats without harming them over a greater amount of time and find out things they might not have noticed before.

      In my work physicists make sure we get good images of the function inside the body but we need the help of doctors to determine if this is normal or abnormal. Some of the projects we work on were started when a doctor approached us with an idea. I think collaboration between disciplines will only increase in the future.

    • Photo: Hazel Garvie-Cook

      Hazel Garvie-Cook answered on 15 Jun 2016:

      Great question! People from different fields generally have a different way of approaching problems, so combining all those different approaches leads to new ways of looking at problems, which leads to new ways to solve them!

      My PhD combined Physics and Pharmacy. Looking at existing pharmaceutical formulations, like skin creams and ointments, using techniques commonly used in Physics can lead to new discoveries and can help design better, and more effective, formulations.

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