Conducting experiments as a scientist often requires certain traits. Scientific research, which can be described as studying natural occurrences for a pattern, is not for everyone. The people who do pursue this field of work often have one thing in common: curiosity. Prominent figures throughout history, such as Albert Einstein, do not just decide to become scientists one day. Their journeys often start with a child-like curiosity of the world around them. They question everything that happens around them, which can develop a passion to discover the reasons for certain occurrences in nature. As a result, not every scientist’s passions are limited to biological or chemical sciences.
Neil deGrasse Tyson, who is one scientist that I can personally relate to, is a great example of a scientist who is truly passionate about making new discoveries. Tyson is an astrophysicist who often makes posts on Twitter about scientific inaccuracies in pop culture. For example, Tyson had once attempted to find the mass of the mythical weapon Mjolnir. Mjolnir is a hammer that is wielded by the Norse god Thor in both legend and in Marvel movies. In the Marvel movies, it is stated that Thor’s hammer was “forged in the heart of a dying star”. As a person who deals with the physics of celestial bodies, such as stars, Tyson used formulas that he knew to discover the theoretical weight of the hammer. While I may not have as much knowledge as Tyson on scientific topics, I can relate to Tyson’s curiosity of fictional characters as a man who has often pondered these same questions.
Just like scientists such as Neil deGrasse Tyson, my interests in science do not just stop at one field. I have often found subjects such as physics, chemistry, and even biology, to be rather fascinating, which is mostly why I recently decided to change my major to Biology. I am interested in learning as much about these different fields of science as possible while I am at SIUE, not only to reach my goal of becoming a doctor, but also to finally find the answers to questions that I have had since middle school. I have always been curious about the way the world works, and I know that the science classes I will be taking these next few years, along with CODES, will allow me to test my theories and get a greater understanding on the universe.