Would like to share some snippets from the article that are illuminating.
“Detailed case studies on the history of chemistry and physics show that the role of genius in advancing those fields — and even the role of rationality — is overstated. Rather than a hyper-intellectual, alien activity practiced by a remote priesthood, science is hit and miss, the ever-changing product of less-than-brilliant people, just like every other human activity.”
“Have you ever heard of John Nicholson, Anton Van den Broek, Richard Abegg, Charles Bury, John Main Smith, Edmund Stoner and Charles Janet? In some cases, much of what they published turned out to be incorrect. And yet each of them proposed one or two key ideas in their lifetimes that were picked up by others, modified and tested, and eventually led to major breakthroughs.”
There are many students who are interested in science but perceive science to be only for those with genius intellect. Hope this article will clear up misconceptions and encourage those students to reconsider science as a viable career path.
ethan wu ying tang 