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International Day of Women & Girls in Science: Meet Mica

Yesterday was the annually celebrated International Day of Women & Girls in Science; a global event promoting the full and equal access, and participation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

With chemistry at the core of our company, it only seemed fitting that our upcoming meet the team article feature our very own leading lady of the lab and woman in science; Mica.

Mica Hale | Laboratory Technician

Job Role & Responsibilities:

As a Lab Technician, my role involves quality control checks on products that have been manufactured, and QC on the filling lines; producing samples for customers to test following R&D in the lab.

Before joining Liquid Science I was…

…a Science Curriculum Tutor in a secondary school and then an Asbestos Lab Analyst.

What do you enjoy the most about being part of the Liquid Science team?

Everyone I work with has been very welcoming and willing to help me learn as this was a brand-new working environment for me (very different to an asbestos lab!). I enjoy learning new things and the established team in the lab has years of experience and knowledge. It’s a fast-paced working environment that keeps me busy and on my toes!

Describe your job in three words…

Different every day!

What helps to keep you motivated?

Learning new skills and knowledge that will help me further my career.

Tell us something we don’t know about you…

I’m a qualified PADI scuba-diver!

Did you have a role model that influenced your decision to work in science?

I have always admired what scientists do, helping people move forward and developing new ideas that form the world we live in today. Having the opportunity to help the world advance further as a scientist would be a great achievement.

If you were completely free to choose a scientific topic to work on, which would it be?

As my degree and master’s were biology based, I would enjoy researching into the relationship that trees have with one other within a forest, and the connection they make using fungi in the soil. I’ve always found it fascinating, particularly knowing that ‘mother’ trees communicate with their offspring to ensure they are getting the nutrients/resources they need to survive and also thrive in the environment within in which they live.

What is the most memorable thing that has happened to you whilst working in science?

When I was scuba-diving for research, we went to a lagoon where there were sturgeon that were extremely friendly. When sat on the bottom of the lagoon, the sturgeon came over and would let us stroke them and feed them by hand (kind of like dogs!). We could also explore sunken planes and shipwrecks and see an array of other species that we were studying. It was fascinating to see them in their own habitat and to learn about their interactions.

What would you advise to girls who are wanting to pursue a career in science?

If you really enjoy science then keep pushing yourself to learn more and expand your knowledge! There is so much to learn and a vast pool of science related career paths to choose from, there is always something for everyone!