Integrity in Science: More with Maverick Scientist Forrest Mims
Honesty, humility, respect. Just a few of the essential qualities scientists need to do good science. Today, host Andrew McDiarmid concludes a conversation with engineer, inventor, writer, and self-taught scientist Forrest Mims about the role of integrity and humility in science, as well as the importance of solid data and good old-fashioned persistence.
Should scientists be required to hide their personal values or religious convictions or check them at the door before conducting research? Mims says no. But they do need to be honest about how their values inform their scientific conclusions. Drawing on the example of Michael Faraday, Mims notes that some of history’s greatest scientific discoveries were fueled by a desire to study what was perceived as an intelligible universe. In other words, personal belief and religious conviction have often served to further scientific progress.
What about humility? McDiarmid quotes from an older edition of On Being a Scientist, an educational booklet for young researchers published by the National Academies of Science. Highlighting the importance of scientific humility, the publication acknowledges that “science offers only one window on human experience. While upholding the honor of their profession, scientists must seek to avoid putting scientific knowledge on a pedestal above knowledge obtained through other means.” Thirty years later, is the scientific enterprise still as humble? Mims shares his thoughts.
Finally, Mims offers practical, unconventional advice for aspiring researchers, stressing that formal academic degrees are not always a prerequisite for meaningful scientific contribution. He encourages young people to avoid heavy student debt, suggesting that some may find hands-on laboratory experience to be more beneficial than traditional coursework. His daughter Sarah’s discovery of pyroaerobiology while in high school serves as a primary example that persistence and high-quality data can lead to peer-reviewed success and even launch new scientific fields, despite initial skepticism from professionals.
This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 1 in a separate episode.
Dig Deeper
- Discover the twists and turns of Mims’s adventures in science with his recent memoir Maverick Scientist.
- Watch Forrest recount his adventures on Hawaii’s Mauna Loa Observatory: