Meet OmniSci writer
Mahsa Nabizada

What are you studying? 

 

I’m studying a Bachelor of Science, and I’m in my first year so I haven't majored yet, but what I’m looking to major in right now is mathematical physics. 

 

Do you have any advice for yourself at the beginning of semester, the start of your uni journey?

 

First of all, take it easy. This is a new experience, not only moving out of home, but transitioning from high school to university. I think take your time adjusting to everything and be kind to yourself. 

 

Also, really be open to different opportunities, whether that’s meeting new people or learning new topics and new areas. In high school, the fields you're exposed to are very limited but in university it’s much broader. Just like the amount of clubs that are available or opportunities to meet people from different industries. 

 

What first got you interested in science?

 

I have always found a natural inclination towards science subjects, and the amount of growth in the industry, whether advancements in technology or health… All of those things I can see the impact in society on the day to day and how it would impact the average person. There are new job descriptions being developed, areas that will be opened in five years. I guess the opportunities that are available, and the excitement and impact that STEM can make in society and to the average person.

 

Do you have a dream role as a scientist, like something that you’ve always imagined doing or that you’re working towards?

 

I don’t have a role in mind, but I do have things I’d love to be involved in. One of those things is research… development in any area, especially STEM areas. I think I'd love to be involved in some sort of research in a future role, no matter what area. 

 

I would love to be involved personally or professionally in some kind of community service, like volunteering to work with kids or high school students who are interested in STEM. In high school, I had people who spoke to me about STEM and I found that really helpful. Things like that do make a big impact on students and what they choose or what they are encouraged in going forward..

 

I would love to be working with a team of diverse professionals solving issues that affect people in society day-to-day. When diverse minds come together, there is opportunity for great things to come out of that. I think that is how I would like to make a positive impact.
 

What is your role at OmniSci?

 

I am a writer and basically I’m given a platform to write on the theme an article about something that I’m interested in. There’s quite a lot of flexibility to that and part of the great thing about this role is that I’m also supported by an editor to help me with my ideas. 

 

How did you get involved with OmniSci? What made you want to get involved?

 

In O-Week, I met someone who mentioned the club. It stuck in my head. During week two or three, I was like I really want to join some clubs, ones that I can contribute in and make some friends, ones that would have some like-minded students in it. Hence, I became a member and I heard about the role of writer in the email. 

 

Are there other roles or article ideas that you would be interested in trying in the future?

 

I definitely would like to keep writing. There is just so much in the astrophysics area that I’m interested in, but also in the STEM area in general. Moving forward I’d like to contribute as a writer interviewing really interesting people at our university, the University of Melbourne. I think we have some great researchers, amazing talented people, on different projects.

 

As I’ve been supported by my editor and Editor-in-Chief, I would like to in the future also support other writers as an editor or as part of another role in the club to support other writers and members to develop their ideas. 

 

Can you give us a sneak peek of what you're working on this issue?

 

Examining the illusion of time is something that I’ve thought about before, how our perception of time on a day-to-day basis is subjective. Sometimes it flies by, sometimes it goes so slowly and why we feel that. 

 

Because I come from a physics background, I wanted to bring physics into this and examine those experiences. Right now, I am now at the writing stage on the experience of time, how it varies based on our surroundings, emotional stage and physical state. It is possible that it’s nothing more than an illusion created by the limitations of our perception and conditions of our observation.

 

Moving forward I would like to explore this — it’s a fascinating topic — and interview someone in the field of astrophysics more on the theory of relativity and how time moves relative to the observer, time's connection with gravity… that’s where I’m at right now.

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What do you like doing in your spare time (when you're not contributing at OmniSci)?

 

I enjoy reading about a variety of different topics, whether that’s fiction, physics, different science areas, but also philosophy. I enjoy sometimes playing chess, hanging out with my friends, and I’m also into watching different plays. I watched Macbeth recently and I'm going to watch another play soon. 

 

Do you have any recommendations for any books, articles, plays, other kinds of things that you’ve been getting into?

 

With plays I would say it can depend on what you like. If you find that a play is hard to read, I would suggest not giving up, and going and seeing if you can watch it. Sometimes that can be more engaging.

 

With philosophy I just like researching… there’s lots of different philosophical resources out there. I learn a lot when I’m talking to someone and they don’t agree with me and I go in with an open mind. By the end of the conversation my opinion might have changed, or I might have learnt a completely new philosophical idea that might have changed my view on a certain issue. 

 

Which chemical element would you name your firstborn child (or pet) after?

 

I would say... Uranium or Thorium. In grade eleven or grade twelve, my physics assignment was on nuclear power so I spent a lot of time researching Uranium and Thorium, and nuclear fusion, nuclear fission and nuclear power in general. I spent a lot of time, not just on my assignment, but in my own time learning about nuclear power and its future. Either of those, just because I’ve spent a lot of time researching it. 

 

I don’t think a child, but potentially a pet if I run out of other ideas.

 

Is there anything else that you wanted to share with the OmniSci community?

 

I think the club in general is quite inspiring. The fact that most people are volunteers and students are taking initiative and time out of their schedule to be a part of this.