Success in Science Reflections of a Retired Scientist

Extract

The recent note by J.D. Watson in Science (1993) is another of the periodical advice columns in which someone of renown gives his or her perspective of how to succeed in this most difficult of fields. And a very good article it is. I find no fault with any of the four rules presented which I quote as follows: 1) “To succeed in science you have to avoid dumb people.” 2) “To make a huge success, a scientist has to be prepared to get into deep trouble.” 3) “Be sure you always have someone up your sleeve who will save you when you find yourself in deep s—.” 4) “Never do anything that bores you.” Unfortunately, these four rules are directed to a level of scientist that clearly bypasses most of us irrespective of how many good intentions we may have. Therefore I feel obliged to submit a revised list of thoughts for us average beings who plow through the days in an average research environment.