--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How scientists go about their job: and…" description: "\"How scientists go about their job: and it's a process, it's a question of asking questions, respecting observation, respecting experiment, having tenta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/paul-nurse-22409_asking_how-scientists-go-about-their-job-and-it_2356411.png" --- # How scientists go about their job: and it's a process… ![“How scientists go about their job: and it's a process, it's a question of asking questions, respecting observation, respecting experiment, having tentative explanations and then testing them… There is a problem sometimes with how we teach science at schools. Because we sometimes teach it as if it…” quote by Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/paul-nurse-22409_asking_how-scientists-go-about-their-job-and-it_2356411.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/paul-nurse-22409_asking_how-scientists-go-about-their-job-and-it_2356411.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9df/paul-nurse-22409_asking_how-scientists-go-about-their-job-and-it_2356411.png) > “How scientists go about their job: and it's a process, it's a question of asking questions, respecting observation, respecting experiment, having tentative explanations and then testing them… There is a problem sometimes with how we teach science at schools. Because we sometimes teach it as if it has been chiseled in stone.” [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science is a methodical process of questioning, observing, experimenting, forming tentative ideas, and testing them, not a fixed set of facts. **In simple terms:** Science is about asking questions and testing ideas. Key Takeaway Embrace curiosity and iterative testing. Themes science methodology education critical thinking Mood inquisitive reflective Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - classroom teaching - research labs - public science communication - science curricula Key Concepts empiricism hypothesis testing tentative explanations Questions to Reflect On - How can curricula better reflect the iterative nature of science? - What habits foster continual questioning? A Different Perspective Teaching science as static can stifle inquiry and adaptability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) [Asking Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking-question/) [Asking questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking-questions/) [Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) [Explanation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explanation/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Observation Respecting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation-respecting-5755506/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Questions Respecting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions-respecting-5755504/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Respecting Experiment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respecting-experiment-5755503/) [Respecting Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respecting-observation-5755505/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stones/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teach Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-science-1399944/) [Testing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testing/) ## Related quotes > [In the '70s and '80s there was an attempt in K-12 to teach science through art or art through science. The challenge today is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maeda/in-the-70s-and-80s-there-was-an-attempt-in-k-12-to-teach-science/) [John Maeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maeda/) > [“To function as a citizen, you need to know a little bit about a lot of different sciences—a little biology, a little geology, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-hazen/to-function-as-a-citizen-you-need-to-know-a-little-bit-about-a-lot-of/) [Robert M. Hazen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-hazen/) > [We must also teach science not as the bare body of fact, but more as human endeavor in its historic context-in the context of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isidor-isaac-rabi/we-must-also-teach-science-not-as-the-bare-body-of-fact-but-more-as/) [Isidor Isaac Rabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isidor-isaac-rabi/) > [“In a way our job is not so much to inspire the scientist in kids, but rather to allow it to grow on its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rivka-galchen/in-a-way-our-job-is-not-so-much-to-inspire-the-scientist-in-kids-but/) [Rivka Galchen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rivka-galchen/) > [The world exists, as I understand it, to teach the science of liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-world-exists-as-i-understand-it-to-teach-the-science-of-liberty/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I feel it is unnatural and immoral to try to teach science to children in a foreign language They will know facts, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-v-raman/i-feel-it-is-unnatural-and-immoral-to-try-to-teach-science-to/) [C. V. Raman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-v-raman/) > [ We should not go to the \[poor countries\] and say: 'We come to ... teach you our science, to show you your errors.' ...… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/we-should-not-go-to-the-poor-countries-and-say-we-come-to-teach-you/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [I think that local school districts - not the federal government - should make the decision about how they teach science, biology, economics. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/i-think-that-local-school-districts-not-the-federal-government-should/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [I would teach how science works as much as I would teach what science knows. I would assert (given that essentially, everyone will learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-would-teach-how-science-works-as-much-as-i-would-teach-what-science/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [We must teach science in the mother tongue. Otherwise, science will become a highbrow activity. It will not be an activity in which all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-v-raman/we-must-teach-science-in-the-mother-tongue-otherwise-science-will/) [C. V. Raman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-v-raman/) > [None but a woman can teach the science of herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/none-but-a-woman-can-teach-the-science-of-herself/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Television is just the wrong medium, at least in prime time, to teach science. I think it is hopeless if it insists on behaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bernstein/television-is-just-the-wrong-medium-at-least-in-prime-time-to-teach/) [Jeremy Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bernstein/) > [“The breakdown of the neighborhoods also meant the end of what was essentially an extended family…With the breakdown of the extended family, too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/the-breakdown-of-the-neighborhoods-also-meant-the-end-of-what-was/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) > [By questioning all the aspects of our business, we continuously inject improvement and innovation into our culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/by-questioning-all-the-aspects-of-our-business-we-continuously-inject/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) ## More by Paul Nurse > [During the winter my attention was attracted to the changes in the stars and planets in the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/during-the-winter-my-attention-was-attracted-to-the-changes-in-the/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [Ever since Sir Isaac Newton's times, scientists have worked in the same sort of way: They show a great respect for experiment and observation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/ever-since-sir-isaac-newton-s-times-scientists-have-worked-in-the/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [My 6 years with Murdoch were pivotal for my entire research career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/my-6-years-with-murdoch-were-pivotal-for-my-entire-research-career/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [It was during my time at secondary school that I abandoned religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/it-was-during-my-time-at-secondary-school-that-i-abandoned-religion/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [I decided that the University of Sussex in Brighton was a good place for this work because it had a strong tradition in bacterial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/i-decided-that-the-university-of-sussex-in-brighton-was-a-good-place/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [I am still a keen mountain walker and an enthusiastic glider pilot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/i-am-still-a-keen-mountain-walker-and-an-enthusiastic-glider-pilot/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [I think it was this curiosity about the natural world which awoke my early interest in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/i-think-it-was-this-curiosity-about-the-natural-world-which-awoke-my/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [Therefore, I reasoned that study of the cell cycle responsible for the reproduction of cells was important and might even be illuminating about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/therefore-i-reasoned-that-study-of-the-cell-cycle-responsible-for-the/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [My main efforts focussed on trying to identify the rate controlling steps during the cell cycle. Crucial for this analysis were wee mutants that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/my-main-efforts-focussed-on-trying-to-identify-the-rate-controlling/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [This time at Birmingham turned me into a general biologist, and ever since then I have always tried to take a biological approach to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/this-time-at-birmingham-turned-me-into-a-general-biologist-and-ever/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [After an extensive interview he arranged for my weaknesses in foreign languages to be over-looked and so I started a Biology degree at Birmingham…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/after-an-extensive-interview-he-arranged-for-my-weaknesses-in-foreign/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [I had a great time investigating the pigments of different mutant fruit flies by following experimental protocols published in Scientific American, and I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/i-had-a-great-time-investigating-the-pigments-of-different-mutant/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [I have an idealistic view of science as a liberalising and progressive force for humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/i-have-an-idealistic-view-of-science-as-a-liberalising-and/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [My parents were neither wealthy nor academic, but we lived comfortably and they were always extremely supportive of my academic efforts and aspirations, both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/my-parents-were-neither-wealthy-nor-academic-but-we-lived-comfortably/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [It has been a privilege to pursue knowledge for its own sake and to see how it might help mankind in more practical ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/it-has-been-a-privilege-to-pursue-knowledge-for-its-own-sake-and-to/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) [Explore all 27 Paul Nurse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) [Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How scientists go about their job: and it's a process, it's a question of asking questions, respecting observation, respecting experiment, having tentative explanations and then testing them… There is a problem sometimes with how we teach science at schools. 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