How to define “scientific insight” so that you can become an insightful scientist. You are on the old version of this post. Please read the updated version of this post by clicking here. Find the index to the updated full series of posts here. In the first blog post in this series …
On how to define and categorize all aspects of scientific discovery. You are on the old version of this post. Please read the updated version of this post by clicking here. Find the index to the updated full series of posts here. Have you have ever been on the receiving end of a …
On why skills give the most value of all the elements in a scientist’s repertoire. This is the fourth and final post in a four-part series. In an older post I defined “skills” as “procedures you use to channel caring into doing.” You can view that post here. After I finished my first …
On why knowledge is the easiest ingredient to add to a scientist’s repertoire. This is the third post in a four-part series. In an older post I defined “knowledge” as “recognizing what you don’t know.” You can view that post here. How can a black woman write from the perspective of a white …
On why mindset is the most effortful part of a scientist’s repertoire. This is the second post in a four-part series. In an older post I defined “mindset” as “caring enough to find out what you don’t know”. You can view that post here. I was reminded of mindset while cleaning up my …
On why activities should be the largest part of a scientist’s repertoire. This is the first post in a four-part series. In an older post I defined “activities” as “tasks you complete to finish skilled procedures”. You can view that post here. One day when I was in high school an English teacher …
On the influence of tracking the evolution of your ideas on the pace of discovery. Have you ever moved, or had a big change in your situation, and when you started sorting through everything you wondered why you kept it all? I have been looking through all the handwritten paper notes I scanned …
Many of us believe we struggle because we can’t come up with ideas. My new opinion is that having “breakthroughs” is not the reason why we struggle with scientific discovery. Knowing what to do after you’ve had a breakthrough is where you’ll have challenges. I have come across people who self-identify with one of …
On the website, I focus on how to foster your individual ability to make scientific discoveries. It’s your individual contribution that’s emphasized, even if you work as part of a team, group, or formal collaboration. If you’ve read many of my posts, you will know that I have so far divided aspects of an individual’s …
Why are categories so useful? When we think about things, especially when we try to understand why things are the way they are, we often try to put things into categories. We like to decide that certain elements fit categories A and B; we match certain processes to categories H and W; and then we …