What do young scientist want? (UPDATED)

I am currently working on finding out how to get young scientist (under 40 years of age) more involved in our publishing company! My company is one of the largest publishers of Scientific, Technical, and Medical books and journals. I work in the Life Sciences and Biomedical marketing department.

1) So I want to find out what the goals are of young scientist?
2) How can we work with you to obtain these goals?
3) What my company could do to get them more involved with us?

Our thoughts so far are of doing a monthly featured scientist. And create page on our website with information about them and their field of study. I think this is would be great for scientists to get their name out there and your program more attention. But this is not only for new scientists but also for scientists that have programs in the working and need more exposure. Which may equal more funding and/or more attention to your studies? Then at end of the year/or set time period, pick one of the scientist to be our young scientist of the year and maybe see if my company will donate money to their program of choice....or some other prize! Still working that out!

Since most of our marketing is down through the internet. I am looking for more ideas that are web-based. But if you have an idea that isn't web-base, I would still like to hear about it!

So if you have any ideas, or suggestions, please let me know! THANKS!

Robyn - it sounds like an interesting project. It might help people to respond if you give a little bit more information on the publishing company you work for, and what you hope to gain from the involvement of researchers.
Good luck,
-Alla, news and Lab Tools editor, The Scientist

Hi,
I'd agree with the last comment. What is the involvement that you want? And what's your journal? Not all scientists are at the bench, and publishing, so depending on your focus, you might also consider promoting the bredth of scientific careers that exist.

I've always wanted the scientific community to focus on one disease and make a commitment to have a cure for it within 10 years. Just how John Kennedy set the goal of putting a man on the moon within 10 years, I would like to see scientist set their eyes on one disease and commit to find a cure for it within a decade.

But there is no "leader", of scientist, who could set our collective priority towards one goal.
It would require a new president with the vision to create of a new, NASA like, governmental agency focued on curing disease.

Really Young Scientists want to know what their future is.

When someone calls Young Scientists <40 years of age, it makes those of us still <25 feel a little uncertain as to how well we will be recognized, or how much work we have to do to actually get somewhere.

Information about potential career paths, research streams, non-research based opportunities and generally how to get somewhere once you have your bit of paper is what I feel was most lacking (and still is wanting) while I was studying.

A monthly featured scientist is a good idea. If you are aiming for young scientists, trying to tie in what your featured scientist was doing when they were a young scientist, and how it led to them becoming who they are now would help get young scientists interested even more.

MichaelTS863182 wrote:trying to tie in what your featured scientist was doing when they were a young scientist, and how it led to them becoming who they are now

this would be very interesting and motivating

Awesome discussion, I have asked myself the same thing. I to agree with above.

-e

--
Young Scientist go here...
www.mytetracell.com

Young scientists (I guess by your definition, <40 yrs) want to know how they can prepare for the future in science. In the US, we are seeing a potential funding crisis and a shift in the Ivory Tower way of thinking. I know that these changes have caught so many people off guard and unfortunately, unequipped to adapt to the "new" way of science.

I can envision your featured scientists being not only from academia but from all sectors from industry to nonprofit to government. I also envision that the scientists not be 100% bench scientists but people who can take their science background and apply in various environments.

Finally, for those of us scientists who have migrated off the bench, we want to learn about ways that we can stay connected to our science roots and participate in activities that help the whole scientific establishment. I think this would give comfort to many of us who are still nervous about our decision to walk away from the bench.

Social networking. Twitter, Facebook (group), MySpace, iTunes (podcasts), in that order and I GUARANTEE you will notice more traffic.

Sir first of all very thanks for your message.Generaly research field focus on the scientists not on students interested in research.so i think its golden oppourtunity for interested student like me.
Today it is nessessary to stimulate the future scientist hide in students.The new generation young scientist must able to save all living beings because we are always in touch with plants animals and Microbes.
They will be able to maintain safe corelation in all things.Now we face the great GLOBEL WARMING problem, they not only genetics,immuologgy,virologist but also a perfect environment protecter.
This our EARTH no one will came to save it we must do that job.
Lasty todays scientists must be ALLROUNDERS.

This was a good idea:

http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/55309/

When starting out in scinece, it can be a little overwhelming. How can I do anything but lab work and submissions?

Hearing that people can find a balance taht lets them be good at science and still manage to accomplish things outside that single sphere of life can be some encouragement.

Further to Michael's comment above about what to do once you have a piece of paper....

I too was to was lacking information about what I could do with my science degree beyond working in a lab, and never knew about clinical research as as option until I fell into it.

I now try and share a little about this career path on the AccessCR.com.au careers page, and how to get into this career on our Discussion forum. I also release a consumer newsletter (http://www.accesscr.com.au/index.php?page=newsletter) about clinical trials which includes career profiles of people working in the industry. This is one way we hope to share with fellow scientists both the opportunities in clinical research, but the varied pathways people take in their science careers.

Scientists can have some interesting career journeys. Science is great in that it gives you lots of options, even if you don't find the bench right for you. But on reflection, I could also do more to show the life outside the career of those I profile. Food for thought for my next newsletter! Thanks Michael.

I think young scientist want honest,self-confident.

Robyn

This is a very interesting discussion.

Could you please answer the question raised by Alla in May 2008. I.e.

Robyn - it sounds like an interesting project. It might help people to respond if you give a little bit more information on the publishing company you work for, and what you hope to gain from the involvement of researchers.

Thanks for your help with this, its much appreciated.

Dr Ron Alexander
Director of Research & Development
International Institute of Innovation

ElwalTS1040613

I found your vision of the 'ideal scientific community' extremly interesting. Can you please expand on it for me. E.g. If you were given the opportunity, funds and support what would you do to make it a reality?

Does any one else have similar ideas? If so, could you also describe your vision and what you would do to make it a reality...assuming you were given all necessary authority, funding and support.

Regards

Dr Ron Alexander
Director of Research & Development
International Institute of Innovation

MichaelTS863182... and others with a similar wish list.

Michael, you said you'd like information about how to move ahead in your career.

I understand you are refering to information re: potential career paths, research streams and non-research based opportunities but... what other insights, opportunities and supports would you like? E.g.

Are you looking for tips on how to navigate lab / office politics and / or to present your ideas in a ways that make others sit up and take notice? Are you looking for improved ways to resolve conflicts or write proposals?

If you have none of these items on your wish list, what sort of things would you imagine others in your situation (past and present) might have yearned for? I think there's a possibility here that we can come up with suggestions that would benefit everyone.

Regards

Dr Ron Alexander
Director of Research & Development
International Institute of Innovation

I understand you are refering to information re: potential career paths, research streams and non-research based opportunities but... what other insights, opportunities and supports would you like? E.g.

Are you looking for tips on how to navigate lab / office politics and / or to present your ideas in a ways that make others sit up and take notice? Are you looking for improved ways to resolve conflicts or write proposals?

I think they are all excellent suggestions.

Young scientists need encouragement and confidence boosts (science is a very competitive field, and those in the spotlight are often larger than life) - and these all sound like activities that will do this and also impart practical knowledge that they will be able to apply at their present and future levels of career.

For you information I am no longer in this position. I left research science after Honours in 2008. Since then I have worked in a research supplies company and a medical education consultancy. Next year I'll be returning to university to get a teaching diploma.

MichaelTS863182

Thanks for your prompt and helpful reply.

Could you expand on a few points for me.

1. You said: "Young scientists need encouragement and confidence boosts". What do you mean by this? Can you give me examples that illustrate the sort of things that happen to young scientists that discourages / robs them of confidence.

2. You said: "Those in the spotlight are often larger than life)". Can you explain this with an example...even if, for privacy reasons, you need to modify the story a bit. Also, can you explain how senior scientist's 'spotlight behaviour' makes young peole feel.

3. Why did you leave research science? What didn't you like about it? Give me an example or two of the things that turned you off. These insights could be an enormous help to those of us involved in encouraging young inventors.

4. You said: 'Since leaving research you have worked in a research supplies company and a medical education consultancy and next year you'll be returning to university to get a teaching diploma.' Sounds as though you're on an exciting journey. What are you looking for in a career? What was missing from research supplies and medical education?

Regards

Dr Ron Alexander
Director of Research & Development
International Institute of Innovation

Our thoughts so far are of doing a monthly featured scientist and create page on our website with information about them and their field of study. I think this is would be great for scientists to get their name out there and your program more attention. But this is not only for new scientists but also for scientists that have programs in the working and need more exposure. Which may equal more funding and/or more attention to your studies? Then at end of the year/or set time period, pick one of the scientist to be our young scientist of the year and maybe see if my company will donate money to their program of choice....or some other prize! Still working that out! http://www.Start-an-Internet-business.net

BillTS1085897

Your idea sounds great.

Have you put a proposal together and presented it to your firms management yet? What benefits will your firm derive from giving your idea the green light and investing $$ in it? Unless you address this issue the project could die on the vine.

If it would help, I'm happy to brainstorm with you (online) re putting your proposal together.

Regards

Dr Ron Alexander
Director of Research & Development
International Institute of Innovation