Tips for Winning a Nobel Prize in Science
Peter Doherty, winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine and author of The Beginner’s Guide to Winning the Nobel Prize (to be published in September), had some suggestions for how to go about winning a Nobel Prize in science.
Here are the tips that jumped out at me:
Learn to write clearly and concisely:
Many people who are good at science are great doers but uninspired writers. It isn’t necessary to be a Shakespeare or a Michael Ondaatje, but anyone who wants to be recognised as a top scientist must be able to write clear, concise English. English is the language of science and many countries, among them Malaysia and Singapore, that are building their science profiles teach in English at school and university level. Science is about telling good, readable, memorable stories.
Focus and don’t be a dilettante:
Bright people who hop around from one topic to another often achieve very little.
Take care of yourself and live a long time:
Good habits start early: eat and drink moderately, take vacations, don’t smoke or overuse recreational drugs (alcohol included), take regular exercise, avoid extreme sports and seek professional help for suicidal thoughts. Scientists are a varied bunch and I know of talented and effective individuals who have been taken out by each of the above factors. Given a way of life that is often more solitary, creative writers are likely to be even less armoured against such dangers.
And the rest of Doherty’s tips (details can found in the book’s excerpt):
- Try to solve major problems and make really big discoveries
- Be realistic and play to your strengths
- Acquire the basic skills and work with the right people
- Work in an appropriate field
- Find and cultivate your true passion
- Be selective about where you work
- Value evidence and learn to see what is in front of your nose
- Think outside the box
- Talk about the problem
- Tell the truth
- Be generous and culturally aware
- Be persistent and tenacious, but be prepared to fail
- Your time is precious
- Avoid prestigious administrative roles
- Have fun, behave like a winner
I’m past my scientific prime, but maybe there’s still hope for you!
Pointer from Neuron ex Machina via The Scientists of LJ!
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