-
Asked by mohad to Daniel, Derek, Ian, Phil, Upul on 23 Jun 2010 in Categories: Scientist. This question was also asked by rebeccaxxx.
Question: If I was to become a scientist what advice would you give me?
-
Derek Mann answered on 21 Jun 2010:
Try to see the fun in science, pick an area of science that you feel passionate enough about to read and learn lots about it without this becoming a chore. Having said that you will have to get decent GCSE’s in science and maths, plus go on to do A levels. So my advice is work hard on your exams but develop an area of science almost as a hobby and if you are lucky you might be able to continue this hobby into your work as a scientist.
-
-
Upul Wijayantha answered on 21 Jun 2010:
Work hard, Find the area of science that you find fun and interesting, Always look for answers and always ask questions.
-
Daniel Mietchen answered on 22 Jun 2010:
In no particular order:
– Identify some goals you want to achieve, strive to get there, but be open-minded for side tracks, and look back on occasion.
– Record whatever you do for science in a way you and others (which includes you after some time) can follow your thoughts and actions.
– Keep in active contact with people who are (1) working in the same field of science, (2) working in a different field of science, (3) working outside science, (4) not working (like kids, pensioneers or patients).
– Keep in mind that there is more to life than science. -
Ian Sillett answered on 23 Jun 2010:
I would advise you to take science a levels and then pick a science for university study. The best piece of advice I can give you is to do something you enjoy doing. It is much easier to do your best if you want to learn about a subject.
Comments
riverprincess commented on :
well ONE: enjoy what your doing!
TWO: dont be shy talk about things not worry bout things such as a mistake was made!
THREE: remember that scientists arnt just crazy people who know alot, you lucky as you get to know what happening around you before anyone! unless your doing a live show there and then ! lol..?xx
Daniel commented on :
From comment 25 on this article: “Harvard’s Ed Wilson is fond of saying that if a young scientist really wants to make an impact, s/he should go to the uncrowded “backwaters” of science to study processes that few others care about. The truly pioneering researchers, like Ed, are driven by passion and insatiable curiosity, and most certainly not by journal impact factors.”
I agree that the “backwaters” provide some of the most interesting things to investigate, but the big problem is that funders are generally not willing to throw their money those ways.
For an idea about impact factors, see here.
Daniel commented on :
Faraday once gave the advice “Work. Finish. Publish.”. Given that publication (in a broader sense, not restricted to books or papers) is now easily possible at every step of the research cycle, this might well be modified to something like “Work. Publish. Discuss. Continue.”
The tools for that are already there, what we need is an adaptation of our culture, and I hope that we can manage to achieve this by the time you may be starting to become a scientist.