Science is all around us and is used in just about every aspect of life. From driving a car to making dinner to measuring the pH of the water we drink. Science is everywhere. But becoming a scientist requires more than just an interest. To get to where scientists work, they have to go through a series of steps.

It’s no secret that science is fascinating, but it can be hard to learn and understand. But you don’t have to have a degree or even know how to read basic scientific notation to be a science fan. You just need to have the desire to learn. So, what does it take to be a scientist?

Science has many facets, everything from medicine to cosmology. It takes years of dedication and hard work to attain a degree in science. Traditional science degrees include everything from biology to chemistry, as well as physical science, mathematics, and physics.

Science has a life span, and it is all about perseverance. As a scientist, you have to go through a variety of processes. First is your research methodology, second is your research, and the third is the publishing and your drawing conclusions. Science is all about excellence. And the only thing which drives scientists is curiosity.

Being a scientist requires more than just an interest in science. It requires dedication to learning, perseverance, patience, and an ability to see the big picture. In this series, we’ll explore what it takes from a scientific point of view to be a scientist. 

Lucianne Walkowicz

There’s no denying it: astronomy is mysterious. And it can be challenging to understand if you don’t live in a city with a lot of light pollution. But luckily, the internet has made all of this information more accessible. And if you’re looking to learn more about astronomy, one of the best resources these days is Instagram, which hosts a variety of #astrophotography accounts dedicated to showcasing stunning images of space and the sun.

Few names in the astronomical field are as recognizable as Lucianne Walkowicz, whose research has solidified the role of a formerly neglected star-forming region, the Carina Nebula, in the life cycle of massive stars. An artist, astronomer, and public speaker, Walkowicz specializes in observational astronomy and is working toward becoming a professional astrophysicist. She has published several papers on Carina, and her observations have been featured in Discover Magazine, NOVA, and The Sky at Night.

Greg Gage

A neuroscientist is someone who studies the brain. Many neuroscientists work in labs, using electrodes to study how the brain works. But a new field of neuroscience called computational neuroscience uses computers to study the brain. Computational neuroscientists make medical diagnoses, design new therapies, and develop new machine learning technologies. Greg Gage is an upcoming computational neuroscientist you should know.

Many may not realize it, but neuroscience is one of the fascinating topics in academic circles. Technology plays a massive role in helping to advance this field, with EEGs, TMS, and fMRI scanners all being used to aid the understanding of the human brain. One such neuroscientist is Greg Gage, a neuroscientist at the University of California, Davis, and director of the university’s Center for Neural Engineering. Gage, who has a background in bioengineering and electrical engineering, is at the forefront of brain-machine interfacing research.

Greg Gage is an upcoming neuroscientist you should know. He earned a BA from UC Berkeley and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Stanford University. In 2006, the World Economic Forum named Gage was named a Young Global Leader. Gage is also a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is a recipient of the 2011 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award.