A successful scientist means

Krishna: High grades help you get ‘fellowships and acceptance as a person good at education’.

However, high grades can  also be obtained in some areas in the world where there are some loopholes in the school level education system. In my country, India, just ‘mugging up’ can get you high grades sometimes.

That is how all my classmates got higher marks than me in school. But once you enter higher education levels, that is highly disadvantageous. None of my classmates who byhearted textbooks in school to get good grades could go beyond degree level.

Because I tried the method of grasping the subject without leaving anything to chance, I got good grades and I am where I am now.

And that is not enough to become a successful scientist.

What drives a scientist? There are some specific traits (1) that marks them:

Apart from high grade knowledge , capacity to do hard work, curiosity , potential to see the unseen and the whole picture, a sharp eye and a logical and reasoning mind, Independent critical thinking capabilities and ability to creatively connect different things are some of the most important traits of scientifically inclined mind, ability to deal with adversity very effectively and the ability to withstand frustration and overcome failure, capability to cope with stress and pressure that come with work, asking Qs until they get all the answers to their satisfaction, aptness to give attention to details, Strictly following the scientific methods and methodology without any exceptions, and have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. One has to feel this from the bottom of one’s heart and this feeling must come from the depth of one’s mind too.

A good scientist must be capable of realizing what path should be taken, must take some risk, and must of course have a solid base of knowledge, a sharp intellect, and a fierce drive, fueled by a passion for research.

And if you get a high by learning something new about things, experience sublime feelings when you find something new, you are scientifically inclined!

Anybody can become a scientist but the most successful ones have these above qualities.

But then scientists can have all sorts of personalities but it is important to see the traits from the ‘success’ point of view - here in the scientific field success doesn’t mean fame, name or richness.

In this field, success is typically measured for making significant contributions to knowledge, advancing scientific understanding, and having a positive impact on society. This can be achieved through various avenues, including publishing high-quality research, obtaining funding for projects, mentoring students and researchers, and influencing policy or practice.

Image source: iStock

Footnotes:

1. The specific traits of a scientific mind