SCIENTISTS 



data. Possibly love of science might be tested by determining the 

 response — being delighted or not — on learning of scientific dis- 

 coveries. 



Ordinary examinations are not a good guide to a student's 

 ability at research, because they tend to favour the accumulators 

 of knowledge rather than the thinkers. Brilliant examinees are 

 sometimes no good at research, while on the other hand some 

 famous scientists have made a poor showing at examinations. 

 Paul Ehrlich only got through his final medical examinations by 

 the grace of the examiners who had the good sense to give recog- 

 nition to his special talents, and Einstein failed at the entrance 

 examination to the Polytechnic School. Probably the student 

 who is reflective and critical is at a disadvantage in accumulating 

 information as compared with the student who accepts without 

 question all he is told. Charles Nicolle goes so far as to say that 

 the inventive genius is not able to store knowledge and that inven- 

 tiveness may be killed by bad teaching, fixed ideas and erudition. ^^ 



I have noticed that in England a great many research workers 

 in both the biological and non-biological sciences are, or have 

 been in their youth, keen naturalists. The pursuing of some 

 branch of natural history as a hobby by a young man may be a 

 valuable indication of an aptitude for research. It shows that he 

 gets pleasure from studying natural phenomena and is curious 

 to find out things for himself by observation. 



At present the only way of selecting promising research talent 

 — of " discovering discoverers " as Rous has put it — is by giving 

 the candidate an opportunity of trying his hand at research for 

 at least one or two years. Until the young scientist has shown that 

 he has definite ability in research, it is wiser for him not to be 

 given a permanent research position. This precaution is as 

 important for the future welfare and happiness of the scientist 

 as it is for the good of the research institution. It is helpful for 

 undergraduates to be given an opportunity during their final 

 year to dabble in research, as this often gives a preliminary indica- 

 tion of a person's suitability for research. One favourable indica- 

 tion is for the young graduate to show real desire to do research 

 by taking steps to get a research position; in other words, the 

 best research workers tend to select themselves. 



Whatever the exact mental requirements may be, it is a 



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