Dr Amelia Drew

Junior Research Fellow in Theoretical Physics

Dr Amelia Drew

 

Were the sciences well taught at your school?
Luckily yes, I had great science and maths teachers at school.

What was it about science that first interested you, or was it always clear that that was the way your brain worked?
I always really loved maths - at primary school I used to do mental arithmetic workbooks in my break times for fun! So yes, it has always been clear that I was very logical, which then extended to the sciences. I loved Biology, but Physics is the one I found the most challenging, so this is the one I chose!

Did you ever feel discouraged from studying science because you were female? Have you been the only woman in certain classes/departments, and has that ever been difficult?
Not directly, but yes I have certainly been in the minority and/or the only one in the room, although it seems to be improving gradually. For me, this actually provided an extra incentive to continue in the career, as I like a challenge. However, feeling like an outsider has certainly been a consistent source of difficulty. I am working proactively to change this at the moment, organising a workshop for undergraduate students to showcase the research being done in my department by woman and non-binary researchers, to be held in March this year.

What is your current research focus, and what do you find most rewarding about your area of specialism?
I currently research cosmic strings, which are so-called ‘topological defects’ that may be present in our Universe. I find this area rewarding because it is a complex topic which is still relatively controversial, with different communities using different and sometimes conflicting models. It would be very exciting to be able to put some of these controversies to bed. It is also a very relevant topic at the moment, as new measurements are being made by gravitational wave detectors such as LIGO. Cosmic strings would emit gravitational waves, so this means that if we model them correctly, we might be able to detect them. They are also a potential source of dark matter.

How would you advise young women considering scientific careers?
I would advise you to go for it if it is something you are passionate about. Scientific careers and research certainly have their challenges, but I have found it incredibly rewarding.

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