Health Science Reviews

By Amy Stubbs

This year felt like going to the optometrist and realizing I’d needed to get an updated
prescription. Things started out looking murky and formless, where I wasn’t able to see much
past a few metres in front of me. However, slowly along the course of the year, things started to
become clearer.

An issue that I was facing was the insecurity that I did not belong in science, that I might have
been pursuing the wrong path and that I was trapped in a tunnel with one exit. I had an idea in
my head of the person who fit the ‘Scientist’ box and that I didn’t fit this mold. However, after
interacting with the heterogenous group of classmates and lecturers that I was surrounded with,
I quickly realised how wrong I was.

I stepped into this academic year without many expectations, but with the hope that it would
take my hand and guide me into a more informed state of mind. While there was little to no hand
holding, I have gained skills from this course, many of which I wasn’t even aware I was learning.

The year started off with a broad introduction to medical science research and I enjoyed
exploring the various potential routes of interest, many of which I had never even considered.
The syllabus then moved into a more stream specific focus. This was where the fun really
began. First came meeting the lecturers. The bioinformatics department holds some of the most
curious minds. Striking thoughts and opinions were discussed in classes and I felt lightbulbs
starting to illuminate new pathways in dark corners of my brain. This excited me.

Then came the abstract teaching techniques. Utopia. An ancient relic of an online videogame
and a buzzword amongst us bioinformatics students. This was a 3 month-long assignment
which everyone had to play. To do well, you had to become a bit obsessed with this game based
on statistics and strategy. You had to care deeply about the data of your province in order to
optimize your net worth and to grow your land. I was initially extremely confused about the
relevance of this game to my degree, but after going through the process I understood the
intention behind this learning approach. I secretly really enjoyed this game, but don’t tell anyone
that. Utopia is just one example of how this year has taught me to adapt and broaden my mind
to alternative strategies of viewing science which has helped me feel more confident stepping
into the next chapter of my academic career.