Science doesn't require a PhD

Don't get me wrong, I fully encourage the pursuit of higher education, but don't let the lack of formal education hold you back.

It's exciting to see people develop a passion for science and consider pursuing careers in a scientific field. It can be intimidating to think about entering a field that is constantly evolving and making new discoveries, it's important for people to understand that age is just a number and that some of the most groundbreaking discoveries and innovations have been made by younger adults. They have yet to be jaded by the world. Their willpower has yet to be broken and this naivety allows them to explore spaces that "experts" have passed on.

It doesn't matter how old you are, as long as you can produce reliable and repeatable data.

Here are a few examples of young scientists who have made significant contributions to their fields:

• In 2014, then-17-year-old Jack Andraka developed a simple, inexpensive, and sensitive pancreatic cancer detection test that has the potential to save countless lives. Andraka was awarded the Gordon E. Moore Award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his work.
• At the age of 20, Marie Curie became the youngest person to ever receive a Nobel Prize when she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903. She went on to win a second Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911, making her the first person to ever win two Nobel Prizes in different fields.
• In 2012, then-17-year-old Shree Bose became the grand prize winner of the Google Science Fair for her research on ovarian cancer. Bose's work has the potential to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy for ovarian cancer patients.
• At the age of 21, Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for his invention of the telephone. His work revolutionized the way we communicate and has had a profound impact on society.

These are just a few examples of the many young scientists who have made significant contributions to their fields. It's important for students to understand that age should not be a barrier to pursuing their passions and making a difference in the world. You don't need permission to follow your passion.

In addition to these examples, there are also many scientific breakthroughs and innovations that have been made by teams of young scientists working together. For example, the Human Genome Project, which was completed in 2003 and resulted in the mapping of the human genome, was a massive collaborative effort that involved scientists from around the world, including many who were in their 20s and 30s.

Another example is the work being done by the Parker Solar Probe, which is a spacecraft designed to study the sun. The team behind the Parker Solar Probe includes many young scientists who are working to better understand the sun and its effects on the solar system.

These examples show that age is not a limiting factor when it comes to making significant contributions to science. It's important for students to understand that with hard work, dedication, and a passion for discovery, they have the potential to make a real difference in the world.

References:

• Andraka, J. (2014). A promising pancreatic cancer detector. Science News for Students. Retrieved from https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/promising-pancreatic-cancer-detector
• Curie, M. (1903). Nobel Prize in Physics. Nobelprize.org. Retrieved from https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1903/marie-curie/biographical/
• Bose, S. (2012). Grand prize winner: Shree Bose. Google Science Fair. Retrieved from https://www.googlesciencefair.com/en/projects/ovarian-cancer-drug-sensitivity/
• Bell, A. G. (1876). Letter to the editor. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/1876/03/09/archives/great-invention-professor-bells-telephone.