昨年、英語による研究者の講義を生命科学コース高校２年生を対象に実施しましたが、講師のSiu-Shan (Suzanne) Makさんからメールをいただきました。

Dear students in Seishin,

In November 2007, through the ‘Science Dialogue’ organised by JSPS’s Ms. Yamanaka, I gave you your first scientific lecture in English. I was particularly impressed by your curiosity throughout my lecture. Since curiosity is the fundamental motivation for doing experiments as a researcher, I am pleased to think that you have the potential to be scientists.

While you are studying in a super-science high school, I suppose that you are interested in acquiring scientific knowledge. Yet, it does not necessarily mean that you can be a good scientist in the future. It is not enough that you are only good at studying and following instructions from the teachers. To find out if you have the qualities to be a good scientist, here are some questions that you should ask yourself:

1. Are you self-motivated in your study?
2. Are you curious about what is going on and how things happen?
3. Can you think logically, independently and objectively?
4. Can you be honest and respectful to facts, no matter whether they are beneficial to or adverse against you?
5. Are you open-minded and full of imagination?
6. Do you have enough confidence in your thinking to openly discuss and if necessary, disagree with anyone regardless with his or her position?
7. Last but not least, are you good at learning from your failure?

If you have already possessed all of the qualities listed above, (Congratulations!) you will become a very good scientist. Fortunately, if you could only answer a few ‘yeses’ to the above questions, you can keep them in mind and train yourself to acquire these skills in the future. In any case, if you really want to be a good scientist, do not give up!

Best wishes,
Siu-Shan (Suzanne) Mak (PhD., JSPS fellow 2007-09)