Question: i sometimes lose focus in science when learning about biology as it is not a subject i enjoy learning about do you have any tips on how to stay focused in this particular field f science ?

Tom Rooney answered on 12 Jun 2017:

I know what you mean, I had similar issues with chemistry at school, and looking back it was probably down to the way it was delivered… I liked blowing stuff up but I was lost when the teacher tried to explain the way molecules and atoms were connected. If you’re struggling to get inspired by biology in class I would recommend spending a bit of time looking into it outside of school. You might like to look at the “infinite monkey cage” podcasts hosted by Professor Brian Cox, he’s an astrophysicist who also finds biology a bit boring but the panels on that show cover biology topics now and then in a really funny and entertaining way. Also take a look at https://www.sciensational.com/biology.html it has some cool biology facts that you might enjoy. Or search through the TED talks for biology topics – these are really interesting.
Remember that engineering is often inspired by biology. Boat designers study sharks’ skin to see why they can swim so efficiently and use the knowledge gained to build boat hulls that can travel faster with less drag. Similarly have you noticed the wing designs of aircraft compare to those of birds that fly in similar styles. for example gliders have long straight wings like albatross which glide continuously not landing for months; and faster more agile fighter jets have swept back wings like those of the swift or house martin which swoop and turn rapidly as they catch insects in flight.
Bio-mechanics, an offshoot of biology, looks at how muscles and bones work to form powerful levers and so has much in common with engineering. As an engineer I know that I can beat most people in an arm-wrestle because I have small feet… a little knowledge of human biology has told me that your foot is the same length from heel to big toe as the distance from your inner elbow to your wrist; so smaller feet equals a shorter forearm. Combine this with a working knowledge of how levers work from physics and I know that I have a powerful short lever, and someone with large feet has to be incredibly strong to get the same efficiency in their long levers… so I usually win because I only challenge bigger guys with much bigger feet. That’s science in action!
In short, keep an open mind and also remember that part of engineering is ergonomics… the study of how easy things are to physically use by people, biology plays a big part in that; ever picked up a cup that the handle was too small to get your fingers through? Or too large to hold with one hand… that’s ergonomics done poorly because of a lack of understanding of the biology of the human hand.