Science as a human endeavor

Science as a human endeavor 

Scientific training makes it clear that science is bigger and more important than the scientist(s) doing the work of science. Scientific discourse is in the third person and is devoid of emotion. This is understandable – the pursuit of the sciences requires (and trains) a mind that needs to deeply focus on a single problem to the exclusion of all else. However, in popular culture, this has led to the archetype of a scientist as a socially inept “lonely genius”.

​Despite depictions of scientists as lonely, the “doing” of (applied) science is a group process consisting of an ecosystem of students, technicians, administrative support staff, mentors, mentees, janitorial services, cleaning personnel, administrators, animal, and vet techs. Science is not done in a silo, and the scientific ecosystem includes universities, funding agencies, and administrators.

What are some ways in which you have experienced the human side of science?