• Question: If I want to become a scientist, what would be the steps I would have to take?

    Asked by rung522user to patricklennard, marcushicks, Liam H, Jozsef, Glyn B, Benji Turnbull, andrewrichardson on 9 Jul 2025.
    • Photo: Ben Turnbull

      Ben Turnbull answered on 9 Jul 2025:

      Fantastic question, for which I have two answers:

      1) Logistically, you’ll need to do a first (undergraduate) degree in something similar to what you think you’ll end up wanting to do as a scientist. it doesn’t matter too much if it’s not exactly the same, not every university offers everything, plus you’ll no doubt find new things interesting. So, say you want to work on animals. Any Bio degree will do. Biology, Biological Sciences, Biochemisty etc. Afterwards, you go on to a PhD which is essentially a research training degree. You work on a single project under a supervisor and at the end write a thesis (essentially a massive lab report). Some people find it useful to do a small masters degree in between these steps too but it’s not essential. And from there you take positions working in other people’s labs until you have enough experience to be hired to lead your own. At which point, you’ll start teaching undergraduate students.

      2) More broadly, just stay interested in the world. Being a scientist is as much as mindset as it is a job title. The whole vibe is enthusiasm for the world and a want to find out how/why it works the way it does. You’ll best keep this enthusiasm by studying stuff you most find interesting. So see what makes you excited and follow it. Remembering that there’s many interesting things that aren’t in your school syllabi, but there’re loads of popular science books which make stuff accessible to everyone 🙂

Comments

  • Photo: charlotteslade

    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. It’s 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. It’s 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