In the broadest of senses, a scientist is someone who engages in a systematic activity in order to gain knowledge. Scientists perform research to establish a more comprehensive understanding of nature including physical, mathematical and social realms. This is distinct from philosophers, those who use logic toward a more comprehensive understanding of intangible aspects of reality that lack a direct connection to nature, focusing on the realm of thought itself. In order to be a successful scientist, you must embody the 10 following characteristics:
Curiosity: A scientist must portray some sort of curiosity about either the world in general of a specific area that is of interest to the. For instance, it is curiosity that inspired some of history’s greatest and most accomplished scientists, such as Galileo, whose curiosity in the concept of celestial bodies inspired him to be the first to use the German, Hans Lipperhey’s invention of the telescope, to study the formation of our solar system.
Logic: A scientist should posses a good level of logical thinking and be systematic in their approaches to solving mathematical related problems. Furthermore, this systematic approach to work is essential when keeping a record of data and processing results.
Open-minded and free of bias: For instance a scientist should be open-minded enough to realise that sometimes hypothesises have to be altered or even discarded.
A scientist should also possess a sense of intellectual honesty and admit if his work has been inspired or aided by a fellow scientist.
Persistence is also a key attribute to a scientist; it could take years for any discoveries or breakthroughs to be made.
A scientist must also reveal a sense of creativity encompassed in their critical approaches.
Most importantly, a scientist should not jump to conclusions and fully establish their hypothesis with evidence to back their theory before announcing their findings.
A scientist should also always remain rational.
A scientist should always be willing to suspend any judgement until they are completely sure of their results.
Finally, a scientist should be willing to try new and innovative approaches to reach their desired results.
