Don’t think you’re a scientist? Think again!

academics science
By Eva E.

What do you think of when you think of science? Who does science and what does “doing science” entail? Before I truly thought about what science was, I used to think of an old man in a lab coat mixing different liquids in flasks. Something like this:

BUT! This is only a small portion of what science is. Science is the art of asking important questions and figuring out the best way to answer those questions. If you’re anything like me, there are A LOT of interesting questions to ask. Some questions I’ve wondered are: Why is my eye color different from my brother’s? How did life begin on Earth? Why do plants need water to grow? 

If I had to take a guess, you’ve probably asked an important question before, and that makes you an incredibly valuable member of the scientific community. 

If you check at least one of these boxes, YOU ARE A SCIENTIST! 

☐ You have a question about something (ex: Why do I get goose bumps?)

☐ You have tried to answer a question (ex: I measured my wingspan and height to see if they are the same length.)

☐ You have found a creative solution to a problem (ex: If I ignore my brother when he is poking me, he will stop because it is no longer fun.)

☐ You have hypothesized about why something might be occurring (ex: I often see a firework before I hear the explosion – maybe sound travels slower than light?) 

☐ You have shared new information with others (ex: I found that the plant in my bedroom grows best when it gets watered once a week.)

Still wondering what a scientist looks like? Look in the mirror!

Eva is currently an MEd Candidate at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Previously, she graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University, earning her BA/BS in Child Studies and Medicine, Health, and Society.

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