Paul Buckley is a past pupil of Coláiste Muire. This year, he started his PhD in Atmospheric Chemistry. Paul kindly agreed to answer some questions we had on how he decided on a career in Chemistry and showing us what his job looks like on a normal day.
Interview questions by Eireann Griffin and Abby O'Donnell. Well done girls.
What inspired you to pick your career?
The main inspiration for picking my career was the project which I
would be working on. It's a national campaign measuring emissions from domestic
fuel burning. The opportunity to work on a campaign, the results of which will
be debated in the Dáil, have national policy implications and possibly even
shape European policy about air quality really helped me with my decision to
enter research. I also have a strong interest in the health effects of air
quality and this job allows me to continue researching the topic.
How long was your college course?
My college course was four years; I did the Chemistry course in UCC.
The PhD in Atmospheric Chemistry will take at least four years to complete.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
Like every job there are certain challenging aspects. Conducting a
measurement campaign involves a lot of logistical and practical difficulties
which can be difficult to overcome. It can also involve spending long periods
of time alone. A six week campaign utilizing ten instruments produces a lot of
data which takes a very long time to analyse. There are also some safety
concerns with the job, while I don't work with any hazardous chemicals I do
work with some very high powered lasers which, if handled incorrectly, can
cause serious injury.
Whats the most enjoyable aspect of your job?
The most enjoyable aspect of my job is the fact that there are a lot
of opportunities for travel. Once a campaign is finished and the data has been
analysed there are many conferences, both in Ireland and abroad. This year the
group which I am part of will be attending at least two conferences, an Environmental
Science Association of Ireland conference in Limerick and a European Air
Quality conference in France. Also, there are many opportunities to visit other
universities to go on courses or conduct research. For example, I will be
travelling to Japan and the University of Kyoto to study for three weeks.
What is your job title?
I am a Postgraduate Researcher in the Center for Research into
Atmospheric Chemistry (CRAC) in UCC.
What is the key to success in your career?
The key to being a successful researcher is a lot of patience as
things can often not go according to plan and analyzing the data takes a lot of time to complete. Good computer
skills are also essential and an ability to fix any mechanical problems the
instruments may have. Good presentation skills are essential as the results of
the project have to presented at many conferences and meetings, often in front
of large crowds of people.
What did you like the most about Junior Cert Science?
In Junior Cert science it was the chemistry section which mainly
caught my attention, in particular the introductions to Atomic Structure and
Bonding. I enjoyed the Light section of the Physics course and in the biology
section I enjoyed learning about the various systems in the body.
Which science subjects did you study in Leaving Cert and what did you enjoy about them?
In Leaving Cert science I took Chemistry and Physics. In Chemistry I
again enjoyed the Atomic Structure and Molecular Structure sections, I also
enjoyed the Atmospheric Chemistry section and the Environmental Chemistry
section on water. In Physics I enjoyed learning about Light, its various
properties and how to manipulate it, I also enjoyed the section on Modern
Physics learning about the electron, nucleus and nuclear energy. I found the
Particle Physics section to be the most interesting part of the Physics course.
What other subjects did you enjoy in secondary school?
I obviously enjoyed Chemistry in secondary school but I also really enjoyed Physics. Outside of science, I really enjoyed History and French.
Thank you Paul for taking the time to answer all our questions!
