Cool Careers

I came across some pretty cool people who do some pretty extraordinary things. I decided to make a quick blog about it. Enjoy!

Career: Rocket Scientist
Learn to: Makes things go very far, very fast.

Career: Safety Engineer

Learn to: Propel a sedan at over 100 km/h at a roadside planter.

Career: Space Architect

Learn to: Design things that land on worlds far far away.

Career: Rainforest Biologist

Learn to: Follow rare animals up 150-foot trees.

Career: Scientific Diver

Learn to: Tag Animals in coral reefs in Hawaii.

Career: Marine Biologist

Learn to: Dive with jellyfish.

Career: Industrial Demolition

Learn to: Blow things up extremely well.

Career: Geophysicist

Learn to: Measure lava flow in volcanoes.

Career: Genetic Engineer

Learn to: Clone a mule.

Career: Bomb Expert

Learn to: Create your own diamonds, using tons of explosives.

Source: An article from PopSci.com 

A Story Worth Living For

"15 billion years ago our universe began with the mightiest explosion of all time. The heavens laid witness to trillions of galaxies, themselves comprised of so many stars that (collectively) there are fewer grains of sand in all of Earth’s shores. Somewhere in the depths of space there is a corner, home to an ordinary galaxy made of 400 billion suns. In this, there is one point of light providing warmth and energy to a planet harboring the most extraordinary beings in the cosmos. A place we, ourselves, are privileged enough to call our home."

I find it surprising that so many of today’s scientific and religious ideas are at dangerous sides of one another. Many of us even go as far as to prophesize the end times, when we ourselves may very well self fulfill that prophesy. If it hadn’t been for our curious nature, we would not have reached to where we are now. Over time, we abandoned the old in place for the new. Astrology made way for astronomy, numerology for mathematics and alchemy was abandoned for chemistry. Religion helped us, once, to answer the many questions posed by our ancestors. Science has only put more meaning into those inquisitive discoveries. It has also given something that most of us take for granted.

Though, what these confused people can’t see is the overwhelming beauty that we, as a race, have built for ourselves. Colour and religion only further act as proof of this. We should not forget that we are all connected to the each other biologically; to the earth chemically; to the rest of the Universe atomically. To many, it serves as the driving force behind what they do.

(A Pretend) Mission to Mars

I recently discovered the Mars500 project, a project where 6 people (above) volunteer themselves to simulate a trip to Mars. The volunteers live in an experimental isolation facility in Moscow for 520 days. The room is 550 cubic meters and mind you, they have no access to the outside world.

The experiment started on June 3rd, and we already have some photos of what they're up to.

Meds

Vacuuming the connecting module (in other words, the tube that connects 2 rooms together)

What better way to pass time than to learn (or teach) a new language!

Rocking out on Rock Band!

And after a long days work, why not rewind with some landing simulators?

Pretty cool thing at first, but I can't wait for when these 6 get on each others' nerves (and the pictures of it).

Work

I had often used the word “work” as an answer to the question, what are you doing? It kept the specifics of what I was doing vague, and it didn’t prompt others to ask me what I was actually up to. It was simple. Though, because of the way I answered that question, I began to believe that the “work” I was doing was tedious.

That was over a year ago. I clearly did not have a reason behind what I did.

Everyone has something they're emotionally attached to. It can be family, friends, or people half way across the world who you’ve never met. It can even be a combination of those three. What ever the emotional ties may be, they no doubt become a personal force. It's not such a bad thing. Reflecting on what’s personally important to you is important. It shapes your motivations and ultimately defines your character. It helps you escape the trap of dogma - which is living as a result of other people’s thinking.

Then and now are two very different things. Back then, I did not have the drive nor the passion to do what I do today. I don’t want to say that I’ve found my passion, because that would mean the fun would be over. I would like to say that the emotions felt through my experiences have been like none other. I hope that this is just the beginning.

Taming these emotions leads to something magical. To me, the awe I feel when I look up at the cosmos or down into a microscope drives me deeply. There are discoveries just waiting to be discovered. And with them, a multitude of improvements. I think I'm in a love affair with the unknown. It is like a mystery where I am the detective, and humanity is the case I am solving. To somebody else this may seem like a silly child’s game, but that is where the magic hides. Work becomes indistinguishable from play.

Children

Children are natural scientists. They unknowingly observe their environment, and question every single aspect about it. Their minds constantly want to know what things are, and how they work.

I remember walking into an elevator with 2 children one day. They looked no more than 9 years old, though the things they were discussing rivaled that of something one might hear in high school. The 2 children were discussing the concept of infinity, and their childlike spirits added a bit of flavour to their conversation. I couldn’t help but smile as the 2 got off on their floor. I continued smiling the rest of that day.

I was struck by their simplicity and ease about the whole occasion. There’s something genuinely reassuring when you see children talking with one another with such enthusiasm. It was humbling. It reminded me of the effortless will to learn that is present in everyone’s childhood. Sadly, our education system makes us believe that if we do not preform well in the sciences or math, we have no talent. It holds science and math in such high esteem that every other subject looses its value. Children begin to believe this, and they begin to abandon their talents in areas such as music and dance.

It is our responsibility to guide our children to their true callings. The responsibility in allowing children to freely express themselves while at the same time guiding them is a great one. So great that even our education system hasn’t met it yet. However if we passionately seek this as a calling, and not as a job simply for teachers, it can be accomplished. Many people already understand this and see the beauty of education. It gives us a rich, inaccessible element of dimension. Personally, it has become the leading cause of my life.

Inspired by Ken Robinson