How can scientists be motivated?
A scientist, in a broad sense, is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word. Scientists perform research toward a more comprehensive understanding of nature, including physical, mathematical and social realms. Philosophy can be seen as a distinct activity, which is aimed towards a more comprehensive understanding of intangible aspects of reality and experience that cannot be physically measured.
Scientists are also distinct from engineers, those who design, build and maintain devices for particular situations. When science is done with a goal toward practical utility, it is called applied science. An applied scientist may not be designing something in particular, but rather is conducting research with the aim of developing new technologies and practical methods. When science is done with an inclusion of some aspects of reality it is called natural philosophy. Science and technology have continually modified human existence through the engineering process. As a profession the scientist of today is widely recognized. Scientists include theoreticians who mainly develop new models to explain existing data and predict new results, and experimentalists who mainly test models by making measurements – though in practice the division between these activities is not clear-cut, and many scientists perform both tasks. Mathematics is often grouped with the sciences. Some of the greatest physicists have also been creative mathematicians. There is a continuum from the most theoretical to the most empirical scientists with no distinct boundaries. In terms of personality, interests, training and professional activity, there is little difference between applied mathematicians and theoretical physicists. Scientists can be motivated in several ways. Many have a desire to understand why the world is as we see it and how it came to be. They exhibit a strong curiosity about reality. Other motivations are recognition by their peers and prestige, or the desire to apply scientific knowledge for the benefit of people's health, the nations, the world, nature or industries (academic scientist and industrial scientist).
II. Give Russian equivalents to the following English words and word combinations.
| 1) to acquire knowledge | a) всестороннее понимание |
| 2) areas of science | b) обслуживать устройства |
| 3) comprehensive understanding | c) прикладная наука |
| 4) to maintain devices | d) получать знания |
| 5) applied science | e) существование человека |
| 6) human science | f) область науки |
| 7)to explain data | g) четкие границы |
| 8) strong curiosity | h) сильная любознательность |
| 9) to make measurements | i) проводить измерения |
| 10) distinct boundaries | j) объяснить данные |
III. Match a word in A with its synonym in B:
| A | B |
| 1) to use | a) to conduct |
| 2) desire | b) aim |
| 3) to design | c) wish |
| 4) to perform | d) to apply |
| 5) goal | e) to project |
IV. Read the text and find English equivalents to the following Russian words and word combinations.
1) в широком смысле
2) проводить научные исследования
3) деятельность, отличная от других
4) разрабатывать новую технологию
5) практическая польза
6) предсказывать результаты
7) применять научные знания
8) испытывать модели
9) существующие данные
10) заниматься систематической деятельностью
V. Speak about scientists using these prompts:
– to acquire knowledge
– to use scientific method
– to perform / conduct research
– comprehensive understanding of nature
– an applied scientist
– to develop new technology
– to explain existing data
– to predict new results
– theoreticians and experimentalists
– a strong curiosity about reality
– to apply scientific knowledge
VI. Surf the Internet and find new information about famous scientists who made great discoveries in the field of science you are conducting your research.
Text G
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AND ETYMOLOGY OF THE TERM «SCIENTIST»
Read the text about historical development and etymology of the word «scientists» and find answers to the following questions.
Who proposed the new term «scientist»?