Olympian rewards in science
If an Olympic gold medal is the sweetest reward for an athlete, then the Nobel Prize can be thought of as the ultimate recognition of a scientist’s research. And just like the athlete panning for Olympic gold, not every scientist will qualify for this prestigious award in the span of a lifetime.
Try as you might, the research you do may not be considered as having as broad a relevance or as deep an understanding to be conferred such honors. But many scientists who do amazing work aren’t in it for the awards.
The quest for knowledge is, fundamentally, a selfish one. I ask the questions that matter most to me. I gather evidence to explain a phenomenon that arouses my interest. I solve a problem that is close to my heart. The icing on the cake would be the benefit to society arising from my research.
Many scientists have been asked this question about their work: what is it good for? With science, you never really know, but the humblest experiment bubbling in a test tube can sometimes explode and take off with an amazing trajectory. Through it all, the journey is valued above the destination and, perhaps, reward in itself.
’Til the next big discovery
Higher, further, faster, stronger; these four words form a chorus that will continue to echo long after the dust of this year’s Games has settled in Rio. The same four words, issued as challenges, can be applicable to science.
Can we build higher? Can our modes of transportation take us further? Can information be exchanged faster? Can the human body become stronger?
Many discoveries and technologies that we take for granted today were considered science fiction only two decades ago. Just look at the size and capabilities of smartphones today, compared with the clunky devices of the past built for the sole purpose of making a phone call. As the Olympic quest for knowledge continues, take heart, fellow scientists, that what you do in your lab is part of a greater whole to chart a better, brighter future.
This article is from a monthly column called Hacking a PhD. Click here to see the other articles in this series.
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Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine; Photo: Shutterstock.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.
