The Life Cycle of the Common Scientist
 

First we see the larval student, studying his science books feverishly, and in the process consigning himself forever to a life of geekdom.

 

 

 

 

 Here is the important thing to notice about the scientist's developmental process - after graduation, the scientist always has substantial incentives for never changing his mind. Imagine, for instance, that you have to state publicly that the science your research is based on is fatally flawed. Or that years of your work have been useless and you'll have to go back to the drawing board. For that matter, just imagine admitting either of these things to yourself.

The field of science is unique because it only advances by proving itself wrong over and over again. Ironically, scientists are more likely than any other kind of specialist to present their understanding of the world as absolute truth. And we, meaning the educated world, tend to let them, and to believe what "research has shown" over the word of our best friends, or even our faith. Think back to the last time you noticed a conflict between scientific findings and something a family member or a spiritual leader said. Who were you embarassed for? Who did you make excuses for in your mind? I bet it wasn't the research.

A few years before he turns 30, the student finally graduates, after writing a doctorate related to the field of research in which he plans to spend the rest of his life.

Thrust into the real world, the young scientist quickly puts together a project proposal and rushes around trying to obtain what every young scientist needs:

Grant Money. Whether it comes from the government or the private sector, the scientist will spend the rest of his life selling the worth of his projects to his employer.
   
So let me conclude with something a scientist told me once when I asked him about this very problem. It's not impossible for new ideas to make it into the scientific mainstream. But you probably will have to wait for a lot of scientists to die.
   

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