Skills for science?

I would like to ask you a question that was given to us by our science teacher and I need your help. What skills will help me to be successful in high school and college science?
Thank you.
Kimberly

Dear Kimberly,

Thanks for contacting me with your question; by learning about science, all types of opportunities are open to you. When thinking about what it takes to be a successful scientist there are two things to always keep in mind. First off, scientists always ask questions about what they observe. Whether it is about the world they see, the books they read or the lectures they hear from teachers and professors, scientists always ask questions about how and why things work the way they do. Secondly, in science it is important to learn problem solving skills. This often means that scientists need to think creatively, to come up with experiments that test the questions they ask.

In my experience, I have found that paying attention to details, taking good notes and being able to clearly communicate are all important when I am asking a question about something. By paying attention to details I can see differences in things that I may not have noticed before, I then can use my notes for reference to gain more information and by being able to communicate well I can ask intelligent questions to my teachers and lab partners. When I am solving difficult problems, I try to be imaginative and resourceful. I think about how things work in the world around me then apply those thoughts to my lab experiments.

You may not know a lot about all of these skills, but that’s okay because you can learn them. Ask questions, try your best, and always talk to your teachers, family and friends they can help too!

I wish you the best as you start your science career!

-Professor Science