I'm doing Science because..
Amit Mandal
Thursday, 29 November 2007 17:27 UTC
This is intended to start a stimulating discussion.. The question is -> ”Why am I doing Science?” The answer would be very obvious and may be cliched if we ask this to a science student in school. But for all Graduate (PhD) students and Post Docs and Faculties engaged in research who have to meet daily deadlines, squeeze the last waking second into the lab and in all this miss out many of the joys of life, What is that driving force that keeps us engaged in scientific research??? I’ve seen many variants of the answer and hence posing this question for open discussion. For me, science is an instrument for social change and betterment. Should in my career, I be able to decipher the mechanism of any genetic disease {I’m a Graduate student of genomics} I’ll feel satisfied and fortunate. This drives me, What drives you? What are your answers for the question..
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By that standard, I must begin to ask myself why I am doing science and journalism together! The deadly cocktail means you miss out on all (not most) joys of life! On a serious note, most scientist I have met say they are into science because of the sheer thrill of cracking the code. In other words, societal goals are obvisouly the end, but personal achievements also figure high. Just like your deciphering the mechanism of a genetic disease. Or my breaking that story so that the world benefits from your path-breaking research!
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Hats off to you! And I thought doing full time research was harder than being professional juggler. Well, now I can think of stretching my capabilities because it seems possible now.
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One of the things that keeps me in science is the joy in finding the answers before anyone knows it. Sometimes during late hours, when I get some great results, I know then that I am the only one at that time who knows the answer. It’s a thrill!
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Immenesely possible, Amit. And Prasad, this is exactly what I call the thrill of cracking the code. Keep up the good work.
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I agree with the opinion of Prasad P, its the thrill of knowing something a lot before world does. I am a die hard fan of Sci-Fi movies too, this may sound funny but I remember a scene in the movie Godzilla, where is our hero is the first one to find that the Godzilla is pregnant, the thrill he gets. Moreover another driving force is the fact that many people will die without even seeing or knowing few of the beautiful images and facts that we sometime see. I really feel a lot good and eternally satisfied whenever I happen to see or know such things. I think that’s driving me to be in this field against all odds.
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Welcome, Sanjiv! Here is to the immortality of all things beautiful.
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To be honest, I am relatively new to the Scientific perspective. I reached science; specifically Geology, Biology, and Chemistry by way of Philosophy and the Arts. I believe there to be an aesthetic balance within all scientific disciplines of work (rock formations, plant structures and cycles, chemical geometry, etc.).
Though I hold no degrees or professional schooling (working on the funding to go to school for Agronomy), I believe the knowledge/disciplines contained within science to be a part of a great tapestry of the microcosmic perspective. I think it is vital to see connections in the world we live to have a greater understanding. I think Subrah’s “all things beautiful” comment sums it up better and more concise :) Namaste to all my fellow searchers.
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Erik, that’s fascinating!
We would love to hear more about aesthetics in science, which you claim to be relatively new to. And this strange connect between the arts and science…how interesting! What brought about this change in the philosopher in you? -
although i am not a scientist yet but hope to be one someday . what drives me towards science over all (almost)things in life is to understand the underlying order in this seemingly random world around us , be it at cellular level or universal level and i think science is the only way to understand it.
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