15 lessons of research I learnt

1. Honesty is the best policy. Respectful science comes from ethical research.



2. If you like something, you will spend your maximum time on it.

3.Never accept anything without questioning. Asking questions to yourself and others is the

foundation of research. Once you ask a question (trivial or otherwise), knowing the answer

should be your responsibility.

4.Action speaks more than words, and every action begins with a thought. Spending time

on focussed thinking is WORTH EVERY SECOND.



5.Writing : research :: water : earth. Next to IDEAS, COMMUNICATION is the most

important weapon for a scientist. Think clear, talk clear, write clear.



6. Stay organized. I realized that it makes your life easier, and in the long-run will lead to

greater productivity. It is always better to have a to-do list. Do not allow your ideas to

drift away from yourself, make a note of them.



7.Little drops of water make a mighty ocean. To begin with, all scientific projects seems to

be laaaaarge and time consuming. So, take things one at a time, work through it with

great attention and no haste. As Aesop said little by little does the trick.



8. Keep your mind open. This is easier said than done. Read across scientific disciplines.

Discuss with people from other scientific backgrounds. Explain concepts to yourself and

others.



9.Set sensible short term goals which are in phase with your long term goals. Dedicate

greater time for focussed work.



10.Go to the masters. If you need to understand some concept, study the related work from

the person who originally did it. You will get a clear picture.



11. Never stop studying books. Research is not just studying papers.

12. As a part of your research, do some work for your own amusement. Some great discoveries

have happened this way, and many people have made careers this way !



13.If somebody does not agree with your thought, know the logic behind the disagreement. If

it is sensible and scientific, accept and incorporate it. If not, make a note of it, and forget

it.

 14. Relying on intelligence alone to pull things off at the last minute may work for a while,

but, generally speaking, at research level, it does not. Most of the times, hard workers

OUT-THINK intelligent people, by their constant effort.



15. Rehearse, revise, re-think and REJOICE your work. These are building blocks of confidence.