Four simple steps to become a Scientist
by Patrick | Published in Faster Better Stronger, Featured | 12 Comments
I’ve read quite a few blogs by scientists, and it’s obvious that these are people that really enjoy what they do. What I haven’t read much of is: Why do they like it? To someone outside looking in, science can feel like a private club. It has membership requirements (BSc, MSc, PhD), mysterious methodology, and it even has its own dense incomprehensible language. Not very appealing at all.
Which is why we need a new job description.
At its essence, the job of any scientist is to be an explorer, make new discoveries and then report them to the world. It’s the same job description that classical explorers like Christopher Columbus and Captain James Cook had. It’s also a lot like being a kid again. I go to work every day and get to stare in wide eyed wonder at things I’ve never seen before, then I get to play with them. In many ways it’s like permission to never have to grow up.
But let’s be realistic here, you can’t make earth shattering breakthroughs every week. Being a scientist is a lot like any other job in many ways. Deadlines, boring tasks that you don’t want to do, meetings that go on forever and go nowhere. But then there’s the payoff, and some days it’s just like magic.
I really am kind of spoiled. I get to be the captain of my own ship, steering it through unknown territory hoping for new discoveries. It doesn’t happen very often, but there are moments when you realize that you are the first person who has ever laid eyes on a new phenomenon, the first to witness a new way that things work.
And I get paid for it.
I think the best part of my job that excites me most is the potential of even more new discoveries to come. The hoary old saying “answering one question raises a hundred more” sums it up nicely. There’s one caveat though. As exciting as that is to me, it’s not as exciting to 99% of people.
And that’s been my fault and the fault of my peers.
The problem is that most scientists are really rubbish at communicating with non-scientists. Most of the science blogs and popular science magazines out there mange to do a decent job about informing you on the latest discoveries in cancer research and why this or that new brain imaging technology might be a breakthrough etc etc. The problem though is they’re just acting as conduits for delivering news that focuses on science, like Gawker focuses on news about celebrity, and Cory Doctorow on Steampunk. Sure, that new cancer drug sounds interesting, and sure Paris Hilton really is fun to laugh at, but how do I apply this information in a way that makes my life better?
And that’s why I started VeryEvolved.com
I find studying the life sciences exciting. But what’s even more exciting is when I learn something new and then I have that eureka moment where I figure out how to use that information. A self help book, encylopedia, or a road map can be great tools to help you with everyday life, but all are equally useless if they are never applied. If we can understand how your brain makes the decisions it does, how your emotions flood your body with chemical signals, then we should be able to apply that knowledge to help us control them and use them to our advantage. It’s a journey of discovery where in every situation you’ll only ever need to ask two questions: How does it work and can I apply it?
Simply asking these questions makes you a scientist too. In essence being a scientist can be boiled down to 4 simple steps:
- WOW!
- How does that Work?
- Hmmm let me see, what I can do with that?
- Tell everybody.
The only real trick is to never stop being curious. It’s this unending voyage of discovery that keeps me in a job, but even more importantly, keeps me in love with my job.
If you are curious about learning more about how to tweak your biology to your advantage, perhaps you’d like to join us by subscribing to our RSS or Email updates.
January 8th, 2009
January 10th, 2009at 6:58 pm(#)
Patrick,
I like your explanation about why science is cool. I’m doing my undergraduate studies at the moment, but I’m planning on going doing some postgrad work in chemistry.
I’m looking forward to reading more.
Subscribed!
January 11th, 2009at 10:41 am(#)
Hi Patrick! Thanks for commenting on my article at lifehack.org. I’m studying zebrafish behavior (genetics). My website is still a work in progress, but will keep you posted when it is up and running
What kind or research do you do? I read you are more of a molecular neuroscientist, but what part of the brain do you study?
January 11th, 2009at 11:57 am(#)
Hi Christine – Thanks for stopping by!
I work (and have worked) on pretty much every brain region. Mostly different kinds of degenerative disorders, but always with an RNA metabolism focus – so one step removed from the genetics that you do
Just had a quick peek at your site – nice to see that there are other scientists out there that are trying to become better writers too.
Patrick
January 11th, 2009at 11:59 am(#)
@George,
Good luck with your studies. The fun really starts when they let you loose in the lab and you are no longer passively learning from lectures, but actively teaching yourself how the world works.
Patrick
January 13th, 2009at 10:29 am(#)
if only all scientists were like bill nye {the science guy}
January 13th, 2009at 11:16 pm(#)
thanks for the comment at my blog. you have a very interesting start here, i wish you best of luck!
my absolute favorite part of science is, once you’ve got the “how does it work” question in mind- finding out HOW you FIGURE OUT how it works! we have so many really awesome technological tools to really dig our hands into biological systems that it’s really fun to design a route from question to informative answer.
but there is a lot of reward also, when you put together what it all means in the end. you have done all this work and have put a new fact out there. the world knows more because of what YOU designed and tested!
January 14th, 2009at 7:17 pm(#)
Great post, I might add that in many areas
#5) You’ll pay me how much to do what? Sold! lol
science, especially in areas like medicine, is very much up for sale!
:0)
Brian
January 14th, 2009at 7:35 pm(#)
@Leigh – You have captured my sentiments exactly, it’s the reason you and I and most scientists I’ve met love their jobs.
@Brian – Unfortunately most institutes know what Leigh and I said, and hence know that they can pay as little as they like because I would still do it for free, if I could still afford to live. Mental note: Scientists aren’t so smart after all!
February 18th, 2009at 12:38 pm(#)
Dear Patrick,
I just stumbled on your website. I look forward to reading it.
Thank you for breaking out of the science world to explain all these exciting discoveries that you are finding.
Like you, I’m really interested in this new science of the brain/mind. Specifically how to use this science to help underachieving students in our schools read more.
If you have any ideas let me know.
God Bless,
Gary Smith
readingtransformation.wordpress.com
February 18th, 2009at 4:42 pm(#)
Hi, Patrick,
I just found your site through a post on twitter…was very impressed with the posts in the section on Crowd Science, especially. I’m interested in a related area: complexity science, especially flocking, swarming, etc.
It looks like your blog is fairly new (as is mine!) and very well done. Congratulations! You’ve done a nice job with it. One question: why do you use only your first name? I use my real name on my blog so people can look up more about me and my work as a scientist if they want to…so I was curious about your reasons for not doing that.
Raima
December 29th, 2009at 10:37 am(#)
Patrick,
Thank you for posting this. I’m researching going back to school for a Ph.D. and am having difficulty deciding between neuroscience, economics, and psychology. Believe it or not, they are three sides of the same set of questions about longevity, health, and happiness. The one that is closest to my heart is neuroscience but I wonder whether the day to day will be in harmony with who I am. I searched for “What is like being a scientist” and came across your post. Very helpful.
Susan
January 13th, 2010at 12:55 am(#)
Enjoyed the read. Actually randomly came across your blog after googling “why do you want to be a scientist”. Seems like an odd search. If you don’t mind, please let me spout off my current situation as it may offer other budding scientists a different perspective. See about two years ago I graduated with my MSc in pharmacology, my area of research focused on molecular neuropharmacology, GPCR signalling and trafficking to be exact. I had the option to continue the research in a PhD project but declined. Dont get me wrong im very passionate about science; however the abstract world of in-vitro neuroscience and the limitations of translation to true clinical endpoints made me a bit disillusioned. Maybe I should have been more enthused about knowledge for the sake of knowledge.
With my crushing student debt, I did what part of me still resents in some way. I sold out and started work at a global pharma company. Currently working in what they call “medical information” (mainly you give scientific advice about the available clinical evidence to both internal and external customers). All the cliche’s I had imagined about the corporate world to my horror were absolutely true. I get paid fairly well for doing minimal work, however the crux is I personally thrive on challenge and curiosity, thus the sold crushing aspect of working in some functions of pharma is not worth the dollars. I am planning an escape route via further study in epidemiology. Hopefully get my PhD at some point.
So my warning to undergraduate science students is to connect with your peers at an early stage to see what direction you want to drive your career. Especially what area of science you will feel most passionate about. Try gain an objective view of your lecturer’s areas of interest and research. Which unfortunately is easier said than done.