I enjoyed watching Gavin Schmidt’s TED talk on climate models, and wondered if such a thing might inspire a new generation of climate modellers. Keen to find out about the way that others have wound up in science, and in rather a fit of whimsy, I asked a question on twitter:
I got lots of lovely responses, some of which I’ve commented on below. The full list is storified here. Please do add your personal journey in the comments, or even better tweet me at @dougmcneall.
And me, what got me into science?
One answer is the four individuals who, at critical points, were prepared to take a risk on me. Another is an astonishing web of people who played a part – inspirational teachers, supportive parents, science communicators from Hawking through Hofstadter, peers, colleagues, and friends.
What got you into science?
AMBITION!
@dougmcneall My teacher who scoffed “what use will astrophysics ever be for a job in ponty?” my reply “exactly, I don’t want a job in ponty”
— Mark McCarthy (@markpmcc) May 2, 2014
@markpmcc @dougmcneall my physics/maths teachers encouraged me to go to uni as there were no jobs in Ebbw!
— Gareth S Jones (@GarethSJones1) May 2, 2014
@dougmcneall Only paying job offering genuine adventures, endlessly evolving intellectual stimulation and no boss.
— Simon Lewis (@SimonLLewis) May 2, 2014
ATTENBOROUGH!
@dougmcneall @alicebell David Attenborough has to be the reason for every biologist in the UK!
— Felicity Muth (@notbadscience) May 2, 2014
@dougmcneall @alicebell For me probably 3 biggest influences where Johnny Morris & Animal Magic, David Attenborough & Jaquse Custeu docs
— Dr. Mike McDermott (@MikejMcDermott) May 2, 2014
BOOKS!
@dougmcneall Maths teacher recommended @JoatStewart‘s Does God Play Dice? Coherence between reality & mathematics had me hooked #whyscience
— Fiona (@fionamcrobie) May 5, 2014
@dougmcneall Maths teacher recommended @JoatStewart‘s Does God Play Dice? Coherence between reality & mathematics had me hooked #whyscience
— Fiona (@fionamcrobie) May 5, 2014
@dougmcneall #whyscience Reading Richard Feynmann’s books. They really brought physics to life for me.
— Jonathan Day (@jonny_day) May 3, 2014
FAMILY!
@dougmcneall My step-grandfather Ted Newman was at NPL and worked on the ACE Pilot Model (now in the science museum).
— Colin Cotter (@colinjcotter) May 2, 2014
@dougmcneall finding fossils – coupled with parents willing to lug them back to the car while I have fun on the beach with a hammer
— Felicity Liggins (@FlissLiggins) May 2, 2014
@dougmcneall cooking, crafts & gardening w/mom & grandma, tinkering w/ Dad, being challenged by engineer grandpas, plus asthma #whyscience
— Faye McNeill (@vfmcneill) May 2, 2014
@dougmcneall Ice ages and watching weather forecast of #uksnow as kid nudged me into science career. Oh, & my Dad made me.
— Richard Allan (@rpallanuk) May 2, 2014
SCI FI!
@mat_collins @dougmcneall @markjwebb Blake’s 7
— Gavin Schmidt (@ClimateOfGavin) May 2, 2014
The space shuttle, David Attenborough, and a time-traveling Delorean @dougmcneall #whyscience”
— Dr. Adam Rutherford (@AdamRutherford) May 5, 2014
@dougmcneall I started on astronomy because I wanted to know where to find Eternia, the planet He-Man came from.
— Martin O’Leary (@mewo2) May 2, 2014
DESTINY!
@dougmcneall good for nothing else
— Richard Tol (@RichardTol) May 2, 2014
@dougmcneall I never considered any other possibility.
— John Kennedy (@micefearboggis) May 2, 2014
@dougmcneall questions
— Nat Melia (@nathanaelmelia) May 2, 2014
@dougmcneall Curiosity
— Louise Mothersole (@lrmothersole) May 2, 2014
@dougmcneall answers.
— Chris Roberts (@ClimatePrimate) May 2, 2014
DRUMMERS!
@dougmcneall The drummer from Sailor (not joking) #Whyscience
— Barry Woods (@BarryJWoods) May 2, 2014
TEACHERS!
@dougmcneall fascination with finding out how things worked, some good teachers, Cosmology A-Level module & @EllieHighwood.
— Will Morgan (@willtmorgan) May 3, 2014
@dougmcneall wonderful school teachers, encouraging parents, huge curiosity, a @Brit_exploring expedition to Iceland at 17 #whyscience
— Bethan Davies (@AntarcticGlacie) May 3, 2014
@dougmcneall Good teachers, Dad encouraging interest in space and reading ‘Afterglow of Creation’ by @marcuschown = astrophysicist.
— Ed Hawkins (@ed_hawkins) May 2, 2014
AND, OF COURSE …
@dougmcneall @micefearboggis The money. I was told there would be money. Right?
— James Dyke (@JamesGDyke) May 2, 2014
@dougmcneall First choice career* failed to materialize * trophy wife
— Kate Marvel (@DrKateMarvel) May 2, 2014
Doug McNeall's blog 
Are you going to EMS in Prague?
The session, How I became a scientist – reporting on the right steps in the right direction and possible stumbling blocks to overcome, may be interested in a 5 minute summary of the replies you got.
Hofstadter is definitely a huge inspiration, especially his work on trying to understand creativity by coding creative programs, but came to late for me. I guess science was always the fun option on the short run, maybe I should have looked more at the future. Labour conditions could be better.