You know in Hollywood movies how there is always some sexy-librian-ish smart girl - who is also super nice - that all the boys swoon after?
Well, I know that girl!
She travels to Syria to rub shoulders with Science's elite and wins major awards - all while looking effortlessly cute and stylish.
Read on to get a major girl crush...
WHAT DO YOU DO?
I'm the assistant editor of Cosmos - an Australian popular science magazine (www.cosmosmagazine.com). My role is a mixture of sub-editing, picture researching and writing – basically I am either looking at awesome science pictures, interviewing scientists or contemplating comma placement. I recently won the Publishers Australia New Journalist of the Year award at the Magazine Excellence awards, which was definitely a career highlight.
HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO JOURNALISM?
I wasn't sure what I wanted to do when I was at high school - I really loved writing and communicating with people, but I also liked languages and biology. I eventually did an arts and science degree to keep my options open but then moved over to straight science to pursue a career in zoology (I'm a little bit of an animal nut). Eventually I realised that the assignments I did the best in were the ones that involved writing, and after spending a very tedious (but fascinating) honours year working in a lab, I decided to do a Graduate Diploma of journalism.
I realised I could combine my love of nature and science with my passion for writing and started volunteering for a science news service called ScienceAlert. After about nine months of working for free I was promoted to chief sub-editor and also started writing a lot more for the site. Through my contacts there I started freelancing for other science publications, such as Popular Science magazine and ABC Science Online. After that I wrote for everyone and everything and eventually landed the job at Cosmos and moved up to Sydney from Melbourne. Journalism is a very competitive field, but at the end of the day, if you love it, you just have to get out there and do it. You don't want to have any regrets or 'what ifs'.
WHAT'S THE FUNNIEST OR STRANGEST THING YOU HAVE HAD TO DO FOR YOUR JOB?
I went to Syria in September to write a story on sustainable agriculture, which was a very strange experience in itself, and I spent this one day travelling around the tiniest villages and meeting farmers. I started the day inside one of the country's largest sheep markets, which woman aren't usually allowed to visit, and then ended the evening drinking Arak and speaking french with a gun-wielding farmer who I've since become pen pals with. I think that was the strangest (and best) thing I've had to do for work! But we're always in interesting situations in this job - there's never a dull moment!
IF YOU COULD INTERVIEW OR WRITE ABOUT ONE PERSON DEAD OR ALIVE WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
There are too many amazing people that I'd love to talk to and write about. I'd love to interview Marie Curie, because she was a big inspiration for me when studying science. I've always had an obsession with Joan of Arc and find her story so fascinating – I'd love to talk to her and find out the truth behind all of the legends. I'd also love to interview Jane Goodall - she's the most amazing woman that I've ever seen speak and someone who has had such an inspiring life. Most of all I'd like to interview my half sister who I've never met - my dad had her before he met my mum and I'd love to get to know her.
September in Syria
YOU'VE BEEN HANDED $1000 CASH, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
I'd like to say that I'd put it all into a high interest savings account, but in reality I'd probably spend most of it on candles, champagne, cheese and clothes and save the rest for a holiday.
IF THE WORLD ONLY HAD ENOUGH SPACE FOR 1 MINOUGUE, WOULD YOU PICK KYLIE OR DANNI?
I think Kylie has definitely done a lot more for society - I rocked out to "I should be so lucky" a lot when I was young.
IF YOU HAD TO PUT ON YOUR IPOD RIGHT NOW - WHAT WOULD YOU PLAY?
Cheesy 1950s Christmas carols (I'm very excited about Christmas) or Rihanna's "What's my name" because I've had it stuck in my head for two days. I'm also pretty obsessed with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes and Drake at the moment.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE NAIL POLISH COLOUR?
No matter how many colours I buy, I always go back to a classic red.
SUMMER 2011, DESCRIBE YOUR ULTIMATE WAY TO SPEND THE DAY?
I'm so excited about Summer 2011, it's going to be amazing. The perfect day would simply involve good friends, my family, good food, good wine, no stress and sunshine.
But to be more specific it might go a little something like this: a big breakfast and the paper with my boyfriend in Woollahra, a meander around Centennial Park so I can watch the horses. Then a stroll down to Bondi to get a coconut and visit the beach for a swim and a good hour of reading on the sand. As the sun goes down we'd meet up with friends and family on the grass for an amazing picnic spread with lots of champagne and then all head back to my boyfriend's for gin and tonics and to watch a film at his backyard cinema (it's amazing, get on it everyone: twitter.com/bbbsclub). The night would finish up with some drunken dancing somewhere - preferably to Kristy's DJing or house party iPod tunes. Finally I'd end up in bed with my cat Ron hogging half of my pillow.
WHAT ARE YOU DRINKING RIGHT NOW?
Crappy instant coffee in the office.
WHATS FOR DINNER?
A vegetarian stirfry with tempeh and brown rice - I need a vegetable hit after a big weekend.
Marie Curie
THE SIMPLE 7
WHAT SPICE GIRL WOULD YOU BE?
Baby - I was a HUGE Spice Girls fan and Baby was always my favourite. Two of the things I value most in a person are the ability to be young at heart and polite - she was always both. Being cool is way too overrated.
WATER… STILL OR SPARKLING?
Sparkling, it's the only thing I want to drink after a night out. I'm a bit obsessed.
BLACK OR WHITE?
White everything.
STRAWBERRY OR CHOCOLATE?
Chocolate - all chocolate. Although a strawberry dipped in chocolate is even better.
HOT OR COLD?
Always hot when it comes to weather. I think I'm cold blooded - you will NEVER hear me complain about being too hot. Even in the middle of the Syrian desert I would have said no to air conditioning. But you can't beat a cold drink or ice cream in Summer.
BRITNEY OR GAGA?
I don't have any strong feelings about either, but I did love Britney's first CD back in high school so I'll have to go with her.
SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer, definitely Summer. One day I hope to have a lifestyle where I can follow the Summer around the globe writing about animals and science.
