Jennifer asked Hope Jahren:

What advice would you give a young (10 year old) girl, aspiring to become a scientist? I ask because that's my daughter's current aspiration. And her dream is what led me to pick up your book. I'm reading right now, and particularly love the 'inside jokes' (for example the Elf wanting to be a dentist) that you share with your audience...I feel like I'm in on them too and feel very connected to your stories.

Hope Jahren I would like to encourage your daughter to deepen her awareness as to how she feels about science. To take time to think about what parts of it she likes, how they make her feel, why they appeal to her. To slow down and really savor those moments: is it the sound of a machine working right? Is it the moment when a math problem is solved? If she can learn to really enjoy the special, personal rewards that come from science -- this will serve her well over time. It will empower her for future struggles: if she is grounded in the right rewards, then she'll always be doing science for the right reasons, and she also won't need to rely upon others to reward her. It will make her a better scientist in the long run, and a happier and more fulfilled person, as well.

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