ex: astronauts, lab techs, etc..
2007-05-21 04:21:31 · 7 answers · asked by csi_crazii03 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Anyone with a degree and job in one of the sciences. It is ultimately as simple as that.
2007-05-21 04:29:22 · answer #1 · answered by Mr. Taco 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply speaking, a scientist is someone who does science for a living.
By "does science", I mean someone who does research, publishes that research in peer-reviewed publications (i.e. one that subjects your research to the scrutiny of other scientists in the same field), and who reviews and stays up on other people's research. The nature of the scientific community is that it is *very* difficult (but not impossible) to publish research, or write reviews of other's research, without a PhD. from an acredited university in any of a number of scientific fields. The reason for the Ph.D. requirement is that the process of gettng a Ph.D. includes the requirement to produce a significant thesis or disertation, subject it to *ruthless* scrutiny by members of the scientific field, and to defend that theory in writing or verbally.
In other words, the important point about "doing science" is participating in the peer-review process. Individual research means nothing unless the scientific community reviews each other's results relentlessly.
As for how laypeople can recognize a scientist from a wannabe? Ideally you'd want to see what papers they've published in reputable journals. But as this is a bit of work, you at least need to find out (a) what degree they have; (b) from what institution (is it an acredited university in that field); and (c) what is their current position?
2007-05-21 05:46:58 · answer #2 · answered by secretsauce 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A scientist is a person who learns about the world through the scientific method, which involves forming educated hypotheses and then testing those hypotheses to see if they can be proven wrong.
2007-05-21 05:37:00 · answer #3 · answered by Gary 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A "natural" scientist, like that of a natural engineer, has more to do with the individual's "mind-set" (how they view nature and the universe) than with what educational degree he/she happens to hold.
2007-05-21 04:48:22 · answer #4 · answered by Bob D1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anyone who has a degree in science and a working knowledge of science and utilizes it in discovery or bettering of existing things.
2007-05-21 06:16:28 · answer #5 · answered by Compurednek 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An expert to the point of new discoveries in one's learned field.
2007-05-21 04:31:31 · answer #6 · answered by Handy man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is a guy from Rv college of engineering, bangalore, india. his name is Bangalore Ravi Kiran. once u meet him u'll know why he's called "SCIENTIST".basically its one with questions...
2007-05-21 04:37:02 · answer #7 · answered by jose' 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋