What makes up a Great Scientist?

Most of us know that scientist is someone who is trained in science (in a chosen discipline) to do scientific research.

Common roles and responsibilities of scientist

It is generally agreed that scientists'role are to explore novel solutions for his chosen humankind critical problems. As an attempt to understand or solve the problems, they will test and invent new solutions. With the novel solutions/findings/discovery obtained along the way,normally they will present and share them in a chosen scientific conference. To allow scientific community to access the findings/solutions/discoveries easier as well as achieve wider readership, eventually they will publish the articles (contain findings/solutions/discoveries) in a chosen journals.

It is a mistake if we think scientists's roles are confined solely to a laboratory. They too have responsibilities to serve human community outside the laboratory. It has been a long tradition that scientists are given noble trust to present and review scientific evidence, theory and interpretation honestly and accurately related to science based humankind problems. Equally important, it is also their responsibilities to prevent knowingly misled, or allow others(community) to be misled,about scientific matters.


What makes a Great Scientist?

Roger Y.Tsien, 2008 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry quoted the followings as the first requiste to be great scientist:" Your science should ideally feed the deeper part of your personality". In other words, he believe that if you want to be a great scientist,you must embrace your field. Another great scientist, Prof. Shih Choon Fong, currently President of KAUST also share the similar view. He very often quoted that "the passion to pursue the chosen field" is the queen factor to achieve extraordinary scientific research breakthrough. He added that in order to achieve enduring research success, the scientists must also possess lots of perspiration and perseverance and a dose of inspiration. As eminent Biologist Louis Pasteur said," In the field of observation, chance favours only the prepared mind."

Tsien insisted that great scientists must regularly conduct high impact research. For every experiment, they must have undiminished curiosity to understand further about the puzzle. To obtain most accurate results and findings, great scientists diligently conduct scientific method and obtained logical proof for the problems.


Tsien also said a strong belief in “achievement “and hard work is also one of the key extraordinary character of great scientists. It is a common trait that every great scientist has exemplary strong aspiration to discover or achive something great during their life time. Due to their job nature and necessity,it is common they spent unusual long hours in a laboratory. As a result, great scientists are sometimes inevitably labeled as " Different Animal" by their non-scientist fellow friends.

To cope with unusual research endeavours, great scientists have been trained to possess competent critical time management skills. Extraordinary strong critical skills and analytical skills is also their common trait. These skills are most prevalent displayed during controversial scientific debate especially in a scientific conference. Due to rigorous scientific training, not surprisingly, every great scientist has acquired independent thinking skills as well as possess strong ability to present scientific ideas in a concise manner. In order to constantly update and publish science based matter efficiently, it is inevitable that they have to acquire strong reading and writing habits and participate actively in science conference.