如何成为一名成功的科学家.ppt

IN GENERAL: Science involves a pursuit of knowledge covering general principles or the operations of fundamental laws.,WHAT IS SCIENCE? Any system of knowledge that is concerned with the physical world and its phenomena and that entails unbiased observations and systematic experimentation.,“A DESIRABLE END” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR A YOUNG CAREER SCIENTIST?,HOW DO YOU MEASURE YOUR PROGRESS TOWARDS THIS CAREER “GOAL”?,LETS DISCUSS CHARACTERISTICS OR TRAITS LIKELY REQUIRED TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL SCIENTIST,Confidence (Constantly challenging oneself to set goals and to meet them will bring self-confidence) Passion for science (knowing that this is what you REALLY want to do with your life) Mental and physical toughness (ability to withstand criticism and prejudices, the physical toughness to work hard and meet tough schedules) Open-mindedness (ability to entertain new possibilities, to bring fresh perspectives to old questions and not be hindered by blind assumptions or dogmas) Critical evaluation of data Efficiency and organization (in ones professional and personal life; ability to discern when to focus and when to spread out) Continued:,TRAIT DEFINITIONS:,A shrewd scientific timing (ability to discern what scientific questions will become very important in the near or far future) Communication and persuasion (ability to communicate clearly and concisely in writing as well as speech; ability to communicate with a wide-ranging audience, from a layperson to a fellow expert in the field; the ability to promote ones project in order to get it funded; ability to build a consensus among people of differing opinions) A sense of social responsibility (be a leader outside of the scientific community as well) Ability to work with people (setting up collaborations; relegating responsibilities; maximizing productivity) Untouchable idealism (pride in knowing that we work for something much bigger than improving just our individual lives),Einstein discovered light quanta by pondering experiments on particles discovered only a few years earlier.,Einsteins new general theory of relativity predicted that: when a ray of light passes near a massive body, the ray should be bent; e.g., starlight passing near the sun should be deflected by its gravity.,“Dear Mother, - Good news today. H.A. Lorentz has wired me that the British expeditions have actually proved the light deflection near the sun.“,ALBERT: THE PHYSICIST OF ALL AGES!,=,“I have called this principle, by which each slight variation, if useful, is preserved, by the term Natural Selection.” Charles Darwin from “The Origin of Species“,Darwin was the first evolutionary biologists, the originator of the concept of natural selection. His principal works, The Origin of the Species by Means of Natural Selection (1859) and The Descent of Man (1871) marked a new epoch. His works were violently attacked and energetically defended.,CHARLES DARWIN: SCIENTIST WITH IMMENSE PERCEPTION!,“Evolution or God, natural selection or divine intervention? Almost 200 years after his birth, the debate over Charles Darwins origin of our species still rages,” said Time magazine in a recent article.,The Church of England issued an apology for having misunderstood Darwins work. “Two hundred years from your birth, the Church of England owes you an apology for misunderstanding you and, by getting our first reaction wrong, encouraging others to misunderstand you still,” it said.,age 7 age 30 age 49 age 55 age 65 age 71,“What I see in Nature is a magnificent structure that we can comprehend only very imperfectly, and that must fill a thinking person with a feeling of humility. This is a genuinely religious feeling that has nothing to do with mysticism.“,SCIENTISTS SHOULD BE GREAT PHILOSOPHERS,A SUCCESSFUL SCIENTIST MUST BE A CLEAR/CRITICAL THINKER!,Synthesize knowledge: see the “big picture” formulate insightful & testable hypotheses discipline & training to design pivotal experiments ability to critically & impartially evaluate both your work & that of others,Coaching/Mentoring is FUNDAMENTAL to YOUR SUCCESS,Practice makes for perfection! Set this as YOUR GOAL,“In the HOLE!”,An Example from my Own Training,Select a paper from a top journal Cut & paste the FIGURES & TABLES into a blank document Read the MATERIALS & METHODS Write your OWN RESULTS Section Compare your version with that of the authors. No Cheating Allowed! With EXPERIENCE Try the Discussion,Remember: Practice Makes PERFECT,Commonly Asked Question: “How Do I Get to be a GOOD SPEAKER?”,Follow Some Simple RULES,Prepare your lecture well in advance last minute deals are generally disappointing for you & your colleagues (notes provide a good guideline) Know your subject Builds SELF CONFIDENCE Practice, practice, practice Learn to speak clearly (generally requires opening your mouth!) Learn to PROJECT your VOICE Always ENGAGE your colleagues LOOK DIRECTLY at members of the AUDIENCE Always convey your EXCITEMENT for the SUBJECT,A: Choosing a Field & Specialty is Very Important Topic MUST Overlap with Your Passion Be Courageous, NOT TIMID! Be a LEADER, not a FOLLOWER Self Confidence is a MUST! Failures Along the Way are to be EXPECTED & Can be a great LEARNING EXPERIENCE ADVICE is Good, but it is YOUR CAREER!,IMPORTANT DECISIONS AFFECTING YOUR SUCCESS,B: Your Institution can be most Important Faculty and Infrastructure MUST be Current & Visionary Breadth of OPPORTUNITIES is critical! Be AGGRESSIVE & NEVER STOP LEARNING NEW APPROACHES Collegial Atmosphere is a MUST! PEERS Become Life-Long COLLEAGUES Location to GOOD housing & RELAXATION Facilities are a big Bonus,IMPORTANT DECISIONS AFFECTING YOUR SUCCESS,C: Your Work