• Question: how involved would you say you are in the general evolution of science?

    Asked by lucasjacobs to Meeks, Pete, Stephen, Steve, Tom on 21 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Marieke Navin

      Marieke Navin answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      That is a really good question Lucas. When you are involved in scientific research you are pushing the boundaries of science and what we understand at this time. Working on the science books of tomorrow. As a PhD student or one scientist you only play a teeny teeny *tiny* part of this, but it’s a part all the same. You can at least be involved in the big experiments that will hopefully make some breakthroughs.

    • Photo: Tom Hartley

      Tom Hartley answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      I would like to think I am involved, but I know to be honest that I am a very small cog in a very big wheel. For example I went to the big Neuroscience conference in America last year and there were 30,000 scientists there (it was a very, very big room). When you see that it puts things into perspective.

      On the other hand, I think that this contest could be quite important. In any kind of evolution you need things to be passed on from one generation to the next. Without wanting to be too cheesy, that’s what’s happening right here (and we’re learning a lot and having fun, too). If even one student on I Am A Scientist goes on to become a scientist themselves, perhaps we’ll have played a tiny role in a future Nobel prize. I’ll certainly claim the credit.

    • Photo: Stephen Curry

      Stephen Curry answered on 19 Jun 2010:

      Intimately.

      I know that certain individuals get a lot of credit for breakthroughs in science and in many cases that is quite deserved. But the history of science is dominated too much by these individuals – probably because focusing on a single person makes it easier to spin a good yarn.

      But in reality, and especially these days, science is a massive international collaborative effort. I benefit from the work of so many different people in big and small ways. In turn I hope that the papers I publish and the talks that I give will have an impact – big or small – on others. It really is a collective effort – that is the real secret of its power. That also means that there is plenty of room (and plenty of need) for new, young scientists to get into the thick of it.

      Come on in – the water’s lovely!

    • Photo: Pete Edwards

      Pete Edwards answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Most scientists contribute to their fields but only in a small way. Science progresses from the many small contributions that the individual scientists make. It is only very rarely that an Einstein comes along and changes everything in a flash!

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