Business as a Biology

At the beginning of last week I walked into my genetics class, after making sure sixty billion times that I had built my timetable correctly, and that I had all the right venues and as I took my seat I was relieved to see that the lecturer standing at the front of the class was one which I remembered from a previous semester. This was a good indication that I had indeed found the correct class.

However, as the class started I was shocked to find that the first lecture slide had the heading ‘Entrepreneurship’. Now anyone who has ever met a biology student knows that there are two things which apply to almost all of us. The first is that we are the only group of scientists which are completely allergic to maths and the second is that we are generally clueless when it comes to anything business related.

I was in shock and was about to do that awkwardly embarrassing half stand up, half crawl out of the class which I haven’t had to do since first year, when I looked around and realized that almost all of the faces in the lecture hall looked familiar. I paused and thank goodness I did because in the next five seconds the lecturer went on to explain that this particular module was business for biologists and I was actually in the right place.

After my initial sigh of relief, I suddenly found myself right back in panic mode as I thought back to my Grade 9 accounting classes and about how terrifying business could be. I took another look at the faces around the room and I saw my feelings mirrored in every one of their faces. We were all terrified and every single one of us considered getting up and running for our lives.

It is now more than a week later. I have attended all the classes and yesterday marked our first tutorial and I am proud to say that I not only understand what is going on but I am, in fact, loving this module. And this morning at the eight o’clock lecture that I actually managed to attend I noticed that not only was I enjoying it but so was the rest of the class.

So I would just like to say to Dr Paul Hills (the lecturer) that I am incredibly grateful for all his weird examples, strange old quotes, and creative thinking exercises which have not only made lectures on business (yuk) manageable, but actually enjoyable too. And to all of my classmates who allowed me (the random outsider) into your groups and discussions, thank you too. Because if it wasn't for your semi-familiar faces I would never have found the correct venue.