Scientists are really very conscious of the fact that they stand on the shoulders of an enormous tree of preceding workers and that their own contribution is not so enormous.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Scientists tend to be unappreciated in the world at large, but you can hardly overstate the importance of the work they do.
Individual scientists cannot do much on their own. Heads of nations, corporates, and economic giants should recognise the criticality of it.
In big science, the role of the individual scientist must be carefully preserved. So is the one of original ideas and of contributions.
At a time when science plays such a powerful role in the life of society, when the destiny of the whole of mankind may hinge on the results of scientific research, it is incumbent on all scientists to be fully conscious of that role, and conduct themselves accordingly.
Though neglectful of their responsibility to protect science, scientists are increasingly aware of their responsibility to society.
The impression sometimes created among the public is that scientists are working away in their labs, and maybe they're not always thinking about the implications of their work. But we are.
I think top scientists need to be compensated at a different scale in society. Somebody with experience will tell you that true scientists are not motivated by money - they are motivated by the quest itself. That is true. But I think an additional recognition will not hurt.
The fact is all of the most highly successful scientists I know work practically all the time.
I don't know how you overcome the dearth of scientists in the government positions.
I think it's important for scientists to be a bit less arrogant, a bit more humble, recognising we are capable of making mistakes and being fallacious - which is increasingly serious in a society where our work may have unpredictable consequences.