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Question: If I want to become a scientist, what would be the steps I would have to take?
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Asked by rung522user to patricklennard, marcushicks, Liam H, Jozsef, Glyn B, Benji Turnbull, andrewrichardson on 9 Jul 2025.Question: If I want to become a scientist, what would be the steps I would have to take?
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charlotteslade commented on :
That’s the best question anyone can ask, because it means you’re already thinking like a scientist! The great news is that the path isn’t a secret. Itβs less like climbing a ladder and more like packing a bag for a grand adventure.
Here are the most important steps for your expedition.
Step 1: Start Being a Scientist Today
This is the most important step, and you don’t need a lab coat or a degree for it. The engine that drives all science is curiosity.
Ask “Why?” about everything. Why is the sky blue? Why does my toast burn? Why does my phone battery run out? Write the questions down. Look them up.
Be an observer. Pay attention to the world around you. Watch science shows, read books or websites about things that fascinate you, whether it’s dinosaurs, robots, or stars.
Pay extra attention in your science and maths classes. Think of them as learning the basic language of the universe. Itβs the language all scientists use to share their discoveries.
Step 2: Go to “Explorer School” (University)
This is where you go from being an enthusiastic explorer to a trained professional.
You’ll pick a subject you’re passionate about to study deeply, like physics, chemistry, biology, or engineering.
You’ll learn from professors who are master explorers themselves.
The most exciting part is that you’ll get to do your own experiments in real labs, using what you’ve learned to answer your own questions.
Step 3: Join the Frontier (A PhD – Optional but Amazing!)
If you loved doing your own experiments at university, you might decide you want to go even further. A PhD is where you get to go to the very edge of what humanity knows and try to draw a new little piece of the map. It’s your chance to become the world’s leading expert on one very specific, fascinating puzzle.
But honestly, the single most important step is the first one. Every single scientist, from Einstein to the people inventing the future of medicine today, started in exactly the same way: by being a curious kid who wasn’t afraid to ask “Why?”.
P.S. My garage is full of half-finished DIY projects that didn’t work out the first time. Scientists just call that “collecting data.” Don’t ever be afraid to try something and get a weird result