All entries for Wednesday 08 February 2012

Everyone's kind of winging it – by Jack

I am not a biologist, but recently I have been spending every day in the Department of Life Sciences, working in the lab and doing my best impersonation of one. How do you impersonate a biologist? Well, it seems to me that the best approach is to be friendly, welcoming and competent. The first two I can just about pull off but I think that I'll be way in to my final year before I master the third.

I did my undergraduate degree in mathematics but as a MOAC student I now have supervisors in physics and biology. The advantages of spending time in two or more departments are many but I know first-hand that a Biology Imposter can spend a lot of time feeling inept. I often find myself playing a ‘nodding and smiling’ role in a conversation about something I don’t understand. I’m sure over time the nods and smiles will be replaced by interesting comments but for the moment I’m sticking to this approach.

Sometimes, however, you’re given a glimpse behind the veil and realise that these feelings of incompetence are common.

A few weeks ago my supervisor gave me an unexpected boost after we attended a seminar together during which he looked typically discerning. My mind had wandered early on and so when he confided that he "didn't understand a word of that" I was delighted! He must have noticed my joy at his lack of understanding because he followed it up with the comment: “you know, everyone’s kind of winging it”.

I found this motivational rather than depressing, and have kept hold of this comment for reassurance when I’m baffled by bio-jargon. It’s a confidence booster, preferable to alternatives such as picturing everyone on the toilet.

Does everyone else feel similarly drowned in jargon? And what are your tips for feeling less lost?

Jack Heal : 08 Feb 2012 09:00 |  Tags: Inner Life Interdisciplinary Jack |  Comments (6) |  Close comments |  Report a problem