• Question: what do you think the most important part of science is?

    Asked by unicorn to Aaron, David, Elaine, Sarah, Zoe on 11 Nov 2014. This question was also asked by Jess.
    • Photo: David Foley

      David Foley answered on 11 Nov 2014:

      Integrity. Science only works when people believe in it, so to speak. It is vital that the public have confidence in real science and scientists so they don’t fall prey to charlatans who peddle pseudo-science. For scientists too, if we can’t trust each others work – how can we hope to build on it?

    • Photo: Sarah Ashwood

      Sarah Ashwood answered on 11 Nov 2014:

      I believe that one of the most important parts about science is imagination. People say it’s all about fixed rules, but if nobody dares to think outside the box then new discoveries are never made! Imagination is what constantly pushes science forward and keeps us thinking about the next big discovery.

    • Photo: Zoe Roberts

      Zoe Roberts answered on 12 Nov 2014:

      Communication. As scientist we need to be producing good science that benefits the rest of the population and be able to explain it to them on a level they will understand.
      One of my undergraduate lecturers said to me, ‘If you can’t explain what you have done in the lab that day to the cleaner who cleans the lab (in a way they will understand it) you don’t know what you are doing well enough.’
      That has stuck with me and is the level of understanding I aim for with the work I do! Challenging but important.

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