Dragons & Jetpacks discussion

I was wondering this last night. We have so many members from so many different backgrounds, and I want to know: what do you do for a living? Or if you're studying, what do you study and why?

Currently I work in a major museum in Oxford, although it's not quite the job I envisioned after finishing my Master's degree! I work as a Visitor Services Assistant, which means I basically provide security and customer services around the galleries. I'm on my feet all day, 5 days a week, and we walk around 8 miles a day all over the museum... it's quite exhausting! I love the environment (ARCHAEOLOGY!), and my colleagues are wonderful, but it's sort of the very bottom of the museum hierarchy. I'm working on getting noticed, getting some experience and applying to other jobs - I'm not going to be here forever, but the job brought me to Oxford, into a museum, and into the University. So it's a good place to start out :)

I am however losing my patient with the general public...

I live in Canada and had kids early in life so I'm back in university to become a teacher. Still have a couple years left but am looking forward to being done. I was an educational assistant working with special needs children (mostly autism) and decided I was still young enough (28) to go back and upgrade my education.

My official title is Senior GIS (Geographical Information Science) Analyst and I work as part of a Sustainable Solutions Environmental and Socio team for a big international engineering company.I have Uni qualifications in Geography, Anthropology, Classical Studies, GIS , Remote Sensing and Geophysics.
Basically I make the maps for projects and reports and carry out a lot of the analysis and survey planning for field surveys.
My work covers Ireland , the UK , Africa and the Middle East.A lot of my work covers the environmental side of the planning for big infrastucture projects for roads and utilities.
For Africa I work on a lot of the social side of development projects funded by the world bank, so I've been involved in planning for power plants and dam projects.
I have recently expanded into web map creation so I now do a bit of development and the likes.
I also do a little bit of training and teaching , involving training my own companies staff , clients staff, and I've also worked as a University lecturer in Environmental Science in Trinity College Dublin.(I lost patience with dealing with students )

Well done Lancer. Never too late to do what you want. I'm always impressed by people who take that big leap.
Rinn, it sounds like a much better environment than a lot of the Archaeologists I work with. So much of their work is desktop reporting that they get frustrated as hell.

Rinn wrote: "I was wondering this last night. We have so many members from so many different backgrounds, and I want to know: what do you do for a living? Or if you're studying, what do you study and why?

Curr..."

You got to start somewhere, hopefully you can leverage it into a more archeological type job...

Lancer wrote: "I live in Canada and had kids early in life so I'm back in university to become a teacher. Still have a couple years left but am looking forward to being done. I was an educational assistant workin..."

Good for you Lancer, you are never too old to better yourself or to upgrade your life.

Paul wrote: "My official title is Senior GIS (Geographical Information Science) Analyst and I work as part of a Sustainable Solutions Environmental and Socio team for a big international engineering company.I h..."

That first sentence is a mouthful, sounds like interesting work.


I actually can't go into a ton of details about what I do because we are advised to not really discuss it. The general gist of it is that I work as a Systems lead for a government contractor that installs and maintains submarine training facilities for the Navy (US and UK). Just this past summer I was able to tour a submarine and that was really awesome. The not so awesome part of it is that I sit on my butt all day and it's not a healthy lifestyle at all.

I am a pharmacy technician for a small, independent pharmacy that I helped start almost 4 years ago. The work isn't especially challenging but always busy. It is in a small town so I know a lot of our patients very well.
One of the things that we do that is different is that we compound medications. Meaning, in case you're not familiar with it, we make some drugs from scratch for dosages that are not commercially made. We do a lot of compounding for animal medications. It's always interesting and always changing.

I've never been in a submarine so I'm jealous Roger.
A few in my line go into military work but not a big field in Ireland at all.

Hybrid, that sounds like a really enjoyable job. I'd say thats very fulfilling.

Thank you for the kind words everyone! It is interesting to see that our group has people from all walks of life with that common bond of the love of sci fi and fantasy and reading and gaming and all that good stuff.

Hybrid that's super cool that your a pharmacy tech. Pharmacy runs in my family for 3 generations, my grandfather was a pharmacists, my dad and his two sisters as well, and my brother is one and owns two independent small town pharmacy's. So I know a lot about it. Although I'm not trained/educated as a tech I know enough that I've filled in when my brothers/dad's techs were sick (shh though don't want them in trouble lol)

If only I could indeed get paid for recreational reading. :) You guys really do some interesting things!

I have a BS in Animal Science, and am currently a Project Manager/Product Developer for companion animal supplements. It's a mouthful and people usually look at me funny until I say, "I make dog treats", but that's not exactly true, haha. Essentially I research, design, and coordinate the production of nutritional supplements like multi vitamins, predominantly for dogs and cats. I've been working from home for about a year now, which is still strange, lots of computer and phone time.

I know how you feel when trying to explain your job Susie. Pretty much used to blank looks when I do so I usually dumb it down to either , I make maps or environmental science .
Sadly its just easier to dumb it down . :-)

Well I spent an awesome 3 years with Rinn and Kirsty studying archaeology, but I've somehow ended up in the health sector as an Information Analyst!

It's great as I am financially independent and my skills are improving, but I am not sure this is what I want to be doing long term... or at least I am not sure if I want to stay in the health sector (even though it needs all the help it can get!).

Paul, my ears perked up at you mentioning that you are a GIS analyst! I did about 6 weeks of ArchGIS back at uni (so ages ago), and last autumn for a couple of months I was working as a placement outside of health with a local council archaeology and historic environment record department using their archGIS and database. I am potentially thinking about looking into Health GIS / environmental GIS / archaeological computing, but I haven't really taken my thinking beyond that yet as I have only tinkered with it - plus Health tends to use MapInfo etc. so different kettles of fish to learn :)

Freya I'm well versed in ARCGIS and Mapinfo. Quite a pain trying to pick up one when you are used to the other.
If your looking to set something useful up using GIS try downloading Quantum GIS . Its free anc similar enough to ARCGis without the mental price. A lot of the data is available free in the UK as well, I spent the last few days getting height model da for the whole of wales for Archaeology Surveys.
In college I did a bit of Health GIS . My lecturer was a specialist in mapping epidemics.

I'm in the mid-western US. I finished my Masters in Medieval history in May 2014 but sadly get to do nothing with it :(

Instead I have a boring office job. It doesn't really have a title or real job description (its pretty much whatever needs doing). The company I work for makes everything from IV tubing to tire bags. I dabble in everything from inventory control to customer service to new item set up in our system. And I think my boss has plans to add to that...

But I did recently become a travel agent on the side, so I am learning a lot about the travel industry. Hoping it becomes something serious, if not at least it is a fun side thing.

Rinn, I am BEYOND jealous of what you do and where you get to be to do it.

Lancer, it is never too late to go back. The university I went to for undergrad was nearly half "non traditional" students. I had classes with a couple of women going back to school after being stay at home moms, a guy who had gone into the military right out of high school, and a number of people who hit mid life and were burned out on their previous career.

Paul and Roger, both of those sound pretty cool!

Paul wrote: "Freya I'm well versed in ARCGIS and Mapinfo. Quite a pain trying to pick up one when you are used to the other.
If your looking to set something useful up using GIS try downloading Quantum GIS . I..."

Ahh thanks for the heads up about Quantum :) Yes, I think I am perhaps ok on an existing set up, but the setting up from scratch I think I would need to read up about first.

I think it is not used in Health as much as it could be, most people tend to think about using mapping on an epidemic level, but smaller scale it is quite good for planning your local health service provision in terms of where patients live etc.

Yes, I read a good debate about the pros and cons of ArchGIS and MapInfo specifically, but I did find it pretty mind-boggling as they do behave differently!

Do you have to travel out to Africa or are you based for the main part in one place?

Rinn wrote: "I was wondering this last night. We have so many members from so many different backgrounds, and I want to know: what do you do for a living? Or if you're studying, what do you study and why?

Curr..."

On your feet all day Rinn is no fun, but I do envy you a bit as I get so restless sitting sit for 8 hrs straight... however I think I would get odd looks if I started spinning on my chair or running around :P

Freya with the different softwares it really comes down to what you need. Both have some advantages over the other.
Personally much happier using ArcGis though.
I haven't had to travel to Africa yet. I 've written presentations for a few of the projects for others and I was asked to go to Sierra Leonne but its only Ebola free officially a few weeks so don't want the risk.
Absolutely agree there is great uses for Health. We built a Network model for North Dublin, mapping routes and access to doctors, clinics and hospitals with journey times built in to see where there was underserviced groups.

Susan , I hope the travel agent side works out. Sounds like you'll enjoy it more .

I'm a data analyst in the Life and Pensions industry.

It seems we have something of a theme!

I'm a Quantitive and Qualitative data analyst for the children services in a local council. Not quite what i was planning when at uni studying Social Anthropology looking at fieldwork in South America but at least my MA in research techniques was more on topic. I have done some work on MapInfo but mainly thats someone else job in my team.

I also do some project work, taking the data from raw information and turning it into plans to change/improve things (i.e. do we buy a new care home or focus on foster carer recruitment? pros and cons)

Rinn - i have uni friends who would gladly tread you the job, i have two friends with MA in museum curacy who are working as admin. its funny how we fall into the jobs we have and someones dream job is just a way to pay the bills for someone else.

I feel a bit dumb now you all sound like your gonna go home and cure cancer in your spare time just for a hits and giggles.
I work in a warehouse lifting heavy fings

Many years ago I got a BA in journalism with a linguistics minor. After graduation I worked for a dental products company, proofreading instructions for the products.

Now I'm mostly with my kids at home. On the side I do some freelance editing, make wedding and birthday cakes, and teach band to elementary school kids.

My husband has done some GIS stuff at work, and my grandfather ran a small-town pharmacy until his early death.

GIS is definitely getting bigger :-).

Bring back FalconView!

Falconview never quite made it in Ireland :-)
I think its pretty much open source now though.

I work for a pop culture website writing book and comic/graphic novel reviews. I graduate this December with a B.S. in advertising & public relations.

So... you do get paid to read? :o

Rinn wrote: "So... you do get paid to read? :o"

For writing about what I read, yep. The thing is though, when you're reading to review, it sucks a lot of the fun out of it. You have be taking notes, etc. like you would for a school reading assignment. It's not like being paid to read for fun, unfortunately. After graduation, I will be moving to doing more on the marketing side of things for the website.

My job title is Product Development Engineer, and I work for a company makes all kind of domestic and commercial lighting. I am involved in the design, creation and sourcing of all types of lights and supporting the design team.

I studied Electronics and then Mechanical Engineering at college and university. It took a decade because it was mostly part time study.

Kate I always wondered if professional reviewing would suck a bit of the fun out of it all.

Paul that sounds fun. Playing with lighting effetcts shoukd be interesting

Some of the new smart lighting bulbs and fittings are very cool.

Light Saber fights happen I assume ;-)

So many math and science pros! Does knowing more about science ever get in the way for you guys in reading sci fi? Does it bother you if books aren't scientifically/mathematically accurate?

It depends I think. If its part of the premise its generally fine but if its just bad research it can annoy.

Paul wrote: "It depends I think. If its part of the premise its generally fine but if its just bad research it can annoy."

That makes sense.

Kate wrote: "So many math and science pros! Does knowing more about science ever get in the way for you guys in reading sci fi? Does it bother you if books aren't scientifically/mathematically accurate?"

I have run into this a few times, I know it recently happened in one of the BOTMs, think it was the one about near death experiences giving you powers. In general, it drives me nuts if things are inconsistent or if they aren't explainable, and it has to be mroe than a half-hearted attempt to throw an explanation in (Divergent was pretty terrible for this). As long as they have valid premise for the world/universe they are in I can accept the situation.

I currently am attending a University, pursuing a Pharm. D.
I graduated a few years ago with a B.S. in Ecology (this was more as a back up for if pharmacy didn't workout) Then took a year to work at a specialty infusions pharmacy as a Tech and now I'm in my second year of Pharmacy School and work part time as an Intern.
It is a lot of work hence my lack of time to enjoy books and reading the way I wish I could :(

Yelena wrote: "I currently am attending a University, pursuing a Pharm. D.
I graduated a few years ago with a B.S. in Ecology (this was more as a back up for if pharmacy didn't workout) Then took a year to work a..."

I work in pharmacy and we get interns from the University of Michigan School of Pharmacy every semester and they all say they only get to read for fun during the summer months. :(

We have had light sabres in the office before now, but no fights.

Kate, that was a good question. For me, if the author has managed to create a plausible world then it doesn't matter how fantastical it is, as long as they are consistent. My wife is a scientist with a handful of degrees, so we both end up reading a fair amount of science and non fiction too.

Whilst archaeology is technically a science, I'm more into the humanity side of it, so I can't really answer that... however, I do get funny about historical accuracy in things. When I was watching a show the other day, someone on there said they were inspired by the Victorian era so they'd gone for a Marie Antoinette look, which... no. Just no.

I've been a deputy sheriff for over 13 years. As parts of my duties, I teach hand to hand and am the lead for my section's Emergency Response Team.

On the side, I do security work, technical theater, and I've sold some short stories and have one novel out so far.

I also help train military personnel for overseas duty, which is as much detail as I can go into about that.

soooo don't mess with wayland then

My exact thoughts. :-)

Eeek, sounds really interesting! :o

So many people with such cool jobs...

Tom wrote: "soooo don't mess with wayland then"

Nah, I'm not that bad, really. I haven't fought tournament in years, and I don't get to train as often as I should, or would like, for most of that. It sounds a LOT cooler than it is, trust me.

Well as a nice boost profesionally I was just watching the national news here in Ireland and two of my maps were used for a report. Turns out a few newspapers used them as well.
Sweet .

Very cool Paul!

Didn't expect it to be honest. We had produced reports for projects and they were sampled from it.

Well, since studying Archaeology with Rinn and Freya at Uni, I've done a number of things, from operations assistant in a supermarket (Go Waitrose!), Documentation Assistant in a Museum in Henley on Thames, and then most recently Administration really, although that wasn't really an accurate description of my job - I worked for a company that made software for the healthcare sector.

I am now officially on Maternity Leave, however as I moved away from Sheffield and left my job, I guess that makes me a stay at home mum :)