Comments on: The science inside… http://www.mentalindigestion.net/?p=1237 Science blog of a jobbing scientist Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:53:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: SmallCasserole http://www.mentalindigestion.net/?p=1237&cpage=1#comment-685 SmallCasserole Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:26:34 +0000 http://www.mentalindigestion.net/?p=1237#comment-685 I think we need to go about dispelling the myth that we're machine-like in the lab. I've worked with a good many machines, and useful as they are they'd be nothing without me - in scientific terms. Science simply isn't possible without creativity. The individuals in the process don't need to adhere to some idealised, pure objectivity - the physical world does that bit. Granted a degree of objectivity is helpful but ultimately there's a limit to how long scientists will hold on to an idea which simply doesn't work, and if an idea or data is useful multiple scientists will be trying it out or replicating it. The motto of the Royal Society: "Take nobody's word for it" (Sorry - I'm vigorously agreeing with you there) I think we need to go about dispelling the myth that we’re machine-like in the lab. I’ve worked with a good many machines, and useful as they are they’d be nothing without me – in scientific terms. Science simply isn’t possible without creativity.

The individuals in the process don’t need to adhere to some idealised, pure objectivity – the physical world does that bit. Granted a degree of objectivity is helpful but ultimately there’s a limit to how long scientists will hold on to an idea which simply doesn’t work, and if an idea or data is useful multiple scientists will be trying it out or replicating it.

The motto of the Royal Society: “Take nobody’s word for it”

(Sorry – I’m vigorously agreeing with you there)

]]>