• Question: Did you change any of your habits as a result of anything you learned from your research?

    Asked by Maya on 7 Dec 2021.
    • Photo: Peter Milner

      Peter Milner answered on 8 Nov 2021: last edited 8 Nov 2021 3:44 pm


      I’ve learned to always be critical of your results. Just because you got the results you wanted in an experiment, doesn’t mean they’re correct…

    • Photo: Avion Phillips

      Avion Phillips answered on 8 Nov 2021:


      I stopped being scared of insects and spiders and made more of an effort to put them outside instead of kill them.

    • Photo: Kate Keogh

      Kate Keogh answered on 8 Nov 2021:


      Hi Maya, as part of my degree I did a research project on a particular antioxidant which is contained in some food supplements. After seeing the clear benefits of the antioxidant from the experiments that we did i have taken that particular food supplement myself since, and it has been beneficial to me too!

    • Photo: Niamh Callinan Keenan

      Niamh Callinan Keenan answered on 8 Nov 2021:


      The most biggest habit I changed after studying was sleep! Sleep is so important for the body to work as it should. We need sleep not just for energy, but to let the body repair itself, to lower stress, to help remember the things you learned during the day, and to keep mentally healthy. After I found this out, I changed my bedtime routine, so that means not going on my phone right before bed, not drinking coffee late at night, and going to sleep and waking up at the same time everyday.

    • Photo: Gaël Lymer

      Gaël Lymer answered on 9 Nov 2021:


      One day, some 10 years ago, I was on a scientific ship in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea for my work. There was no land I could see around, we were far away in the sea.
      In the water next to me, I found a supermarket plastic bag…
      That was so bizarre to find this little plastic bag in the middle of the sea. I realised how plastic wastes were really everywhere.
      Since then I have tried to change my daily habits to live in a way which as sustainable as possible (recycling, using much less plastic, watching water and heat consumption at home, controlling my time on my smartphone, using common transports and bike instead of car, etc..).

    • Photo: Georgiana Ifrim

      Georgiana Ifrim answered on 9 Nov 2021:


      I think I changed the way I think about problem solving and acquiring skills. I learned to remember that climbing a mountain (eg big research challenge) is done by taking one step at a time, that it is easier done with help and support from people around us, and that acquiring any skills is a matter of practice. I have also learned that the most important thing is your attitude and how you evaluate things in your life, and whether you persevere despite challenges. So I think the biggest habit that changed is to think, reflect, read, revalue, ask for advice, then take decisions, especially for big decisions in your life.

    • Photo: Anita Pax

      Anita Pax answered on 9 Nov 2021:


      As a result of my research I am now always on the lookout at the supermarket for new dairy products- I like to see what the trends are for flavours and products. This is also one of the first things I will look at when I am in a new country, as each has their own preferred tastes and products!

    • Photo: Erin Harris

      Erin Harris answered on 9 Nov 2021:


      In my PhD, I learned about endocrine disrupting chemicals: man-made compounds in our environment that can affect the hormones in our body. One common example is BPA, a component of polycarbonate plastics, which can affect estrogen signaling. The effects of BPA are still being explored, but I have made an effort to avoid plastics containing BPA – or avoiding plastics all together where possible. Added bonus that this helps the environment too!

    • Photo: Ciara Feely

      Ciara Feely answered on 10 Nov 2021:


      After learning how useful some of the data we provide can be for city planners, I started using my Leap Card more and not using cash on the bus. This is because the data collected by travel cards have been used in other cities to enable more transport routes – for example if they see lots of people chaining trips (getting two buses) they may add another bus route.

    • Photo: Ohood Alharbi

      Ohood Alharbi answered on 10 Nov 2021:


      Yes, I started to drink more milk 🙂

    • Photo: Cyrille Thinnes

      Cyrille Thinnes answered on 11 Nov 2021:


      Yes. It has become increasingly clear that we only have one health, and that we must take care of our bodies to the best of our abilities, including a good diet, enough sleep, and exercise. Food is not just a source for calories, but it is also important where these calories are coming from. This is especially relevant during a time when you can buy loads of highly processed foods in supermarkets! Therefore, I love cooking from scratch, where I put only the ingredients into a dish that belong in there – no strange food colourings, chemicals to make the cheese look better, or preservatives.

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