Most valuable trait for a scientist or engineer?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying the most valuable character traits for scientists and engineers. Participants share their perspectives on various traits that contribute to success in scientific and engineering careers, touching on both personal and professional attributes.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests humility as a key trait, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging one's limitations and mistakes.
  • Another participant highlights perseverance as a crucial quality for success in these fields.
  • Curiosity is proposed by multiple participants, with one humorously noting the common saying about curiosity and cats.
  • A participant mentions the importance of a commitment to the scientific method as a potential trait.
  • Comfort with basic mathematics, such as algebra and trigonometry, is suggested as essential for enjoying science and engineering.
  • Imagination is raised as a significant trait, quoting Albert Einstein on its importance over mere knowledge.
  • Honesty is also put forward as a valuable characteristic.
  • One participant advocates for curiosity and creativity, along with the satisfaction derived from problem-solving.
  • Collaboration and the ability to work well with others are noted as important, though one participant questions its uniqueness to the scientific field.
  • Happiness and a belief in the value of one's work are mentioned as important traits for fulfillment in a scientific or engineering career.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a variety of opinions on which traits are most important, with no consensus reached on a singular trait. Multiple competing views remain, indicating a rich discussion on the topic.

Contextual Notes

Some traits mentioned may depend on individual experiences and definitions, and the discussion does not resolve which traits are universally applicable or prioritized.

neanderthalphysics
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If you had to pick a character trait that was most important for you in your scientific or engineering career, what would it be?

For me, it would be humility, which includes the willingness to accept that I don't know stuff, willingness to learn new stuff and the readiness to admit if I made a mistake.
 
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Perserverance
perseverance
 
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Curiosity (don't worry about the cat)...
 
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I don't know which I would think is most important but perserverance and curiosity are good traits, I think.
I would add "commitment to the scientific method", if that can be considered a trait :smile:.
 
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How about "comfort" using mathematics?
I mean simple algebra and trigonometry, not the math-major group theory and isomorphisms on n-dimensional manifold blah blah blah...

When I was in grade school we had "word problems" (such as, if a man can dig a 20-yard trench in 6 hours and a boy can dig 12 yards in 8 hours, how long would it take 3 men and 5 boys to dig a quarter mile..."). If you hate those kinds of problems (and lots of kids did hate them), I think you won't enjoy science and engineering.
 
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Imagination.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”

― Albert Einstein
 
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Honesty
 
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I vote for:
Curiousity, Creativity, and the enjoyment of combining them.

Also, getting satisfaction out of solving a problem helps a lot.
 
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  • #10
Working well with others. No one does this stuff alone.
OTOH, this also applies to Doctors, Plumbers, Chefs, Teachers, Pilots, Politicians, Accountants, etc.
So maybe this one doesn't count here, even though it IS the most important thing.
 
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  • #11
Happiness, liking what you do, or believing in the value/impact of your work.
 
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