What does a scientist do?

Think about all of the different sciences you’ve studied or learned about. Most likely, you can name at least a few kinds off the top of your head, like the science of the stars (astronomy), or the science of the weather (meteorology), or the science of animals (zoology)! Science is a huge and amazing field, and there are many types of scientists in the world who all work with different things!  

In general, scientists are people who try to figure out how the many different things in our world and our universe work. This includes scientists who study the biggest galaxies to those who study the tiniest atoms! Scientists use special methods to examine what they’re studying by proposing an explanation to a question or problem, collecting evidence and running tests, and then forming a conclusion based on the results! 

A scientist might work in a laboratory, out in nature, at a special office, as a professor, as a writer or journalist, and more! To answer puzzling questions, scientists might do everything from performing tests and collecting surveys to brainstorming and daydreaming! Scientists use all kinds of different tools for their jobs: Computers, telescopes, microscopes, rulers, thermometers, barometers, scales, beakers and test tubes, and much more! (Don’t forget that for most scientists, one of their best tools is their brain!) 

Scientists try to understand the natural world such as plants and animals, stars and planets, atoms and the substances built from them, or even space and time itself! Depending on what they mostly study scientists are assigned different names, such as biologist, chemist, astronomer, or theoretical physicist. Also people are part of the natural world and both their bodies and their minds are studied by scientists, called medical doctors, neurologists, and psychologists. All branches of science overlap and form a coherent web of descriptions and explanations that is continuously updated, refined, and improved!