Characteristics of a good scientist – There are over a million scientists scattered worldwide, and the good thing is that some particular or uniform characteristics of a good scientist are common among them. As we were taught early, a scientist makes observations, asks questions about such remarks, and gathers compliance information.
A scientist also creates a hypothesis that explains the assumptions of the observation. Furthermore, a good scientist makes a prediction and tests the theory through a systemized approach that can constantly be recreated.
Thus, you can say that a scientist has, over the years, acquired a high degree of knowledge and a series of experiences in the science fields. This means you cannot separate a scientist from the world of science.
It has never been a compulsory act that you must have a degree in any scientific field to become a scientist. It is also worth noting that there is no formal standard to determine who is a scientist and who is not.
This is because they are different kinds of scientists around the globe today. While some professions will require a scientist to be licensed to practice in their field, some scientist carries out their private practice as independent scientists. So, in essence, there are no generally acceptable linen requirements for becoming a good scientist.
Notwithstanding the above situation, most professional scientists are trained in various institutions and are awarded a degree at the end of the training or upon graduation. The highest degree is a doctorate: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Afterwards, they head into various areas to become experts in different fields. Some of the characteristics of a good scientist are that some have this unquenchable desire to use their scientific knowledge for the benefit of humanity. They care less about the financial rewards but focus more on problem-solving-driven vision.
Who is a Good Scientist?
A good scientist who knows his onion applies the scientific method to provide verifiable answers to questions regarding their studies. A scientist might be the developer of a novel idea and give his findings, or he can improve on the views or conclusions of other scientists in the field. The COVID-19 vaccine we take today is a product of thorough and systemized scientific study aimed at problem-solving.
There are various characteristics that every scientist must possess to excel in that field or be tagged as a good scientist. This is essential because those characteristics sharpen him to become a good scientist who solves humanity’s problems in various sectors.
We have social scientists, physical scientists, life scientists, formal scientists, and applied scientists. We are not also forgetting the new interdisciplinary scientist.
The likes of Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and the rest are some of the world’s most outstanding renowned scientists of all time. They made a series of inventories and discoveries that have made life easier for humans.
The discovery and invention of electricity, aeroplane, mobile phones, and industrial machines have changed the world.
These are the attitudes or characteristics of a good scientist. You know them and measure them by their impacts on the world.
Let us consider in more precise terms the major or primary characteristics of a good scientist. So if you are desirous of becoming a scientist in any field of study, you should read further to know the task ahead of you. This would help you become that problem solver the world constantly searches for.
Characteristics of A Good Scientist
1. Logical and Critical Thinker
The world of science is all about problem-solving and inventions. This requires sound, logical reasoning to help the brain figure out the answers to the questions. A good scientist must be able to ask questions, verify facts and give answers to them.
Critical thinking involves the ability to intellectually analyze, apply, conceptualize, and evaluate information gathered from or generated by other scientific methods of observation, and reflections to guide you to make a hypothesis.
Thus, as a critical thinking scientist, you analyze and process information objectively and analytically. These are the primary tools or characteristics of a good scientist.
Example: Your friend tells you he takes Vitamin C every morning before work. One morning, he forgot to do so because he was already late for work; he later fell sick and developed a cold.
Now, he is telling you that if you do not take Vitamin C supplements every day, you will fall sick as he did and develop a cold. It is common for some people to hear this story and believe that “You should take Vitamin C to avoid being Sick”. It sounds a bit logical, but it completely lacks any critical thinking.
If we scrutinize the theory, we will find a series of disconnects in it. Other factors could have caused the guy to fall sick and develop a cold. It is not only tied to not taking Vitamin C. They are several superstitious scientific beliefs in this manner. Thus, as a good scientist, you should consider all possible variables in arriving at your theory.
2. High Level of Curiosity
Curiosity is one of the essential characteristics of a good scientist. Curious-prone individuals work hard, and they learn and become problem solvers in the world. A curious scientist loves to learn every day. He does not get tired of acquiring new knowledge. He is always very receptive.
He always wants to experiment, learn and provide solutions to problems. A curious scientist always has an active mindset. There is no satisfaction until he knows all he can and have the necessary information to proffer solutions.
More so, curious scientists are not afraid of questions. This is because that is willing and able to defend their theory any time or any day when the need arises. It has been proven over the years that maintaining a high level of healthy curiosity in the scientific field enables people to form and maintain relationships. You will always find a curious scientist investigating several projects, different diseases, bacteria, or viruses.
They are very creative because they have an active mindset. They love to achieve goals which is why they will not stop until they provide solutions to problems. These are essential qualities that a good scientist or an aspiring scientist must possess.
3. Detail-Oriented
A good scientist must pay attention to every detail, fact, or information while observing, experimenting, and theories. A detail-oriented scientist can give projects their undivided attention. They detect mistakes, errors, or changes before they become a bigger problem.
Whenever they are in the Lab, it is required that they pay attention and concentrate on a high level on their projects. Imagine a scientist working on a dangerous and harmful chemical and being careless about it.
Some might escape and cause severe harm or damage to the world. This is the reason why most of the plants are located at a distance far away from residential areas. Some theory believes that the COVID -19 virus results from some experiments in China that escaped and caused harm to people. So scientists must be detailed and pay attention when performing their tasks.
4. Persistence
This is another major attribute of a good scientist worldwide. They are highly persistent and innovations, findings, and theories undergo different times in scientific
Sometimes it could take months or years to even come up with results and the he innovations we have in the world today were not discovered in a day. Sometimes, a scientist might start the project but not finish it, and another will continue.
Recently, it took close to 9 months for scientists to find a vaccine for COVID-19 and preventive measures for it. The history of computer science has different ages because of several innovations in various eras. This is to tell you that scientists are always persistent. They are never satisfied with a project because “there is no perfect project” worldwide.
Hence, it is always subject to improvements and new developments. The telecommunication sector has moved from a 4G mobile network to the new 5G network.
It does not end there, and several innovations are going on in different fields. We have various departments’ self-driven cars, automated trains, and robotics activities.
5. Healthy Skepticism
A good scientist must be sceptical about different inventions and theories. This is why lasting improvements are ongoing in various scientific fields. There is always a doubt about a project, which raises questions that spurs experiments and more development. Being sceptical as a scientist is very healthy in the scientific field.
This also stretches to your invention. If you are not sceptical, you won’t be willing to achieve more goals. There is always that space to develop already existing ideas or inventions. That is the product of scepticism in science.
Conclusion
We have given you the details of the characteristics of a good scientist. A good scientist must be detail-oriented, curious, persistent, and sceptical. These help to achieve more goals in the scientific field.
