Real voices

At 'Big Picture', we know there's nothing more compelling than a great real-life story. So we've trawled our past issues and have found some great examples of people who use biology and biology-related methods and thinking in their work, to try to get you thinking about where studying biology can lead.

Healthcare James Batty, radiographer James Batty started out in the publishing and music industries before retraining as a radiographer. He tells Penny Bailey what working in a radiography department entails and why he loves his new career.

Communication Troi 'DJ Chinaman' Lee, DJ and events organiser Troi, who was born deaf, is the head organiser of Deaf Rave, a music party for deaf people. He talks about Deaf Rave and explains how he experiences music.

Healthcare Alan Jenkins, midwife Alan Jenkins is a community midwife working in London. He talks to Big Picture about his past jobs and what it's like being one of only a few men in a female-dominated career.

Healthcare Anaar Sajoo, genetic counsellor Anaar Sajoo studied science at university but wanted a career outside the laboratory. She tells Chrissie Giles about life as a genetic counsellor, advising people about their risk of being affected by inherited diseases.

Healthcare Dr Khaldoon Ahmed, psychiatrist London-based psychiatrist Dr Khaldoon Ahmed tells Big Picture about the challenges and rewards of working in addiction.

Scientific Dr Adrian North, music psychologist Dr Adrian North, a music psychologist, studies music from the listeners' point of view. He tells Chrissie Giles a little about his work.

Scientific Andrew Evered, cytologist As a cytologist, Andrew Evered looks for abnormal cells in samples taken from patients. He talks to Penny Bailey about his work.

Scientific Dr Elizabeth Murchison, cancer researcher Cancer researcher Elizabeth Murchison talks to Chrissie Giles about how she is studying the genetics of a cancer affecting Tasmanian devils to try to stop them becoming extinct.

Scientific Georgine Leung, nutrition scientist Georgine Leung studied food and nutritional sciences at university in China. She tells Penny Bailey about her career so far, including her current job at the British Nutrition Foundation.

Scientific Dr Jennifer Morgan, cell biology researcher Jennifer Morgan is a scientist studying the cells that help muscle regenerate. She talks to Emma James about exploring the properties of stem cells and how her research might be used.

Scientific Dr Jennifer Rohn, cell biologist Scientist by day, singer by night, Jennifer Rohn tells Chrissie Giles about how she uses music in her professional and personal life and why she thinks music exists.

Scientific Spike Walker, micrographer For over 65 years, Spike Walker has been looking at things down a microscope and taking stunning pictures of what he sees. He tells Penny Bailey about the difficulties and joys of imaging the microscopic world.