>> You really don't understand what scientists do, do you? We are not all
>> theories. That's one step in a process towards determining facts. If
>> you think everything we report is just a theory, then you'll make very
>> poor decisions with that information we've given you.
>>
>>
> Blame the science teachers at my school. I did try to understand what
> scientists do, but they discouraged me every step of the way. I wanted
> to do science. I wanted to be an astrophycicist or an astronomer, but
> our physics teacher didn't like girls, or at least didn't think we ought
> to be doing science, so he did his best to put us off, and keep us out
> of things. In the end I failed Physics (which was the subject I was most
> interested in) scraped through Chemistry and passed Biology (which the
> teachers thought 'suitable' for girls, so they encouraged us.) When the
> careers advisor asked what I wanted to do, and I said I wanted to be a
> scientist, they suggested I became a lab technician.
> 
> I gave up in despair and ended up working in an architectural drawing
> office.
> 
> ally

This was very common. My business partner was told much the same thing. 
But she got mad and forged ahead and became an excellent scientist. To be 
fair, I don't think the system in the UK is/was comparable to ours in the 
seventies. My partner could just go against her advice. And I don't think 
she had any other backup plan.

If you continue to make fabulous photos of the moon and stars, you're OK 
in my book.

Johnny-on-different-opportunities