by Margaret A. Lynch
Dr. Marcia McNutt presented the opening keynote address at the 2015 National Collegiate Research Conference at Harvard University. Her talk, entitled Building a satisfying career in science: how I stumbled into mine, so you don’t need to stumble into yours, offered sage advice to the conference attendees.
McNutt has had a wide-ranging and inspirational career. In 2013 she became the 19th editor and the first woman Editor-in-Chief of Science magazine, a top-tier group of primary research journals. To that position she brings a wealth of research accomplishments. Dr. McNutt has published over 90 research articles in geophysics and marine geophysics.
McNutt’s interest in science began early. She majored in physics at Colorado College and then earned a PhD in earth sciences from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. Post-PhD, McNutt conducted earthquake prediction research at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); was the Griswold Professor of Geophysics at MIT and the Director of the Joint Program in Oceanography and Applied Ocean Science and Engineering of MIT and the Wood’s Hole Oceanographic Institute; led the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute as chief executive officer and president, and was appointed by President Obama to be the Director of the United States Geological Survey and Science Advisor to the Secretary of the Interior.
As Editor-in-Chief of Science, McNutt led the February 2015 launch of Science Advances, a new open-access, online, peer-reviewed journal, which publishes high quality research in the social sciences and STEM fields.
McNutt’s shared nuggets of wisdom, gleaned from her more than four decades in science. Here’s a summary of what she shared, followed by my explanatory comments.
What a good scientist knows
Formulate well-posed questions and know more than anyone else about your research.
Stand out in a good way
You need to be noticed by people who can positively impact your future career. To illustrate this advice, McNutt related the following personal story. In her first year of graduate school, she completed underwater demolitions training with the U.S. Navy Seal Team. By completing the training, McNutt acquired unique expertise and skills that were valued by scientific research teams, and thus she was included in important projects.
Practice Impeccable Ethics and Protect your Reputation
McNutt cautioned that whereas developing an impeccable reputation requires years of effort, that reputation could be instantly tarnished by a single situation. She advised the audience to be sure and replicate their experimental results, and to not be swayed by results that seem too good to be true, because they might not be true.
Check your biases at the door
Scientists are humans, and humans can be biased. Be aware of this fact. McNutt pronounced that scientific truths are more interesting and compelling than any fictitious story.
Don’t burn bridges
Treat everyone with respect and consideration, including those people who are difficult to please and may try your patience. These people sometimes pop into your life again, and if they remember you as someone who helped them, they may help you when you need it. McNutt narrated a personal story in which she was gracious and accommodating to a demanding person, who made an effort to helped her in her career years later.
Be a great role model
At all stages of your career, including as a professor or professional, be the person whose actions and ethics are admired.
Manage your time and Learn what counts and only do what counts
Learn to say no. Reserve time to give back in a way that is meaningful to you. Balance work and life.
Do Something Significant
McNutt led the USGS analysis of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in 2010. Her team’s findings on the oil escape rate and oil dispersion after escape may help responders react better to future oil spills.
And, last but not least:
Follow Your Passion
Many thanks to members of the Harvard College Undergraduate Association (HCURA) for inviting Dr. McNutt and organizing the NCRC conference.
For more information:
http://ncrc.hcura.org/ncrc-2015/
http://www.sciencemag.org/site/help/about/management.xhtml