Thinking of a career in science?
Then read on...
Carol Vorderman, engineer and TV presenter replies

Q. When did you first become interested in science, and why eventually engineering?
A. I was about ten years old when I first discovered an interest in science, particularly physics. In those days, around 1970, science was not compulsory and we only discussed 'nature' in primary school. I decided to study engineering because the applied aspects of physics particularly appealed to me.

Q. Who was the first person to influence you?
A. My mum has been a source of inspiration throughout my life and continues to be so. Without her unending support and love my life would be a lot poorer.

Q. Were you always top in maths and science at school?
A. In primary school I was put up a year because I was 'good at sums' . From then on I was always one of the top three in the class at maths and science, which made for good competition.

Q. Who, academically, was the most encouraging?
A. My maths teacher, Mr Parry. He was extremely strict and occasionally threw blackboard dusters at us if we got an answer wrong, but we respected him immensely. He wore brown shoes with steel caps. We would all wait silently outside his classroom and we could hear the 'tap, tap' on the hard floor before he opened the door. He was pretty wonderful and would push us to do our very best, whether we liked it or not. Everyone in the class passed their O-level maths, most with distinctions.

Q. How did you enter broadcasting?
A. In 1982 my mum saw a Yorkshire Evening Post article saying that a Yorkshire Television producer was having problems finding someone for the numbers game on a new series called Countdown for the new Channel 4. My mum thought I should try, and I told her not to be so silly: I was an engineer and had never even thought about a television career - that was something for privileged people who had contacts, or so I thought. She wrote a letter and forced me to sign it. I got the job.

Q. Have you invented or made a scientific innovation?
A. I had to make a model bridge at university which failed before any load was applied to it. I don't think any engineering student at Cambridge, before or since, has quite achieved this dismal accolade.

Q. Which invention or event do you think was a mistake?
A. It is difficult to say that one discovery or invention is a mistake, as there are always benefits for future work. Most, e.g. DNA, can be used for good or evil depending on your political and religious beliefs.

Q. At what time in scientific history would you most like to have been present?
A. There were many wonderful things happening around the end of the eighteenth century, so that would be my choice. However I am not a hopeless romantic, and the fact that life was extremely difficult for nearly everyone then would put me off a little. I really believe that we live in the best time ever.

Q. What innovations would you like for future generations?
A. Most people want scientists to work on lowering pollution and energy consumption, but I would like to see 'telecottaging' (working from home with a modem and computer) as standard practice for a certain number of days each week. The are two aspects to the advantages of this. On a micro scale, for the worker himself or herself, the stresses and strains of commuting, childcare and the inefficiencies of large office environments can be reduced significantly. On a macro scale the percentage of travelling would be massively reduced, thus pollution (most of which, in particulate form, is caused at lower speeds) and energy consumption would also be decreased. Life in the fast lane burns people out and, although it seems a great thing to do at the time, it has long-term effects on health and family life. Both of these are far more important than any job, in my humble opinion.