What makes a good scientist?

1. Curiosity.
2. The ability to ask answerable questions.
3. The ability to answer the questions.

Curiosity.

All children are born with this. The challenge is to keep that alive as long as possible. And the only way to keep it alive is to allow children to keep doing science. Note: This is distinctly different from practising doing science, or learning to do science.

Ask Questions.

Asking the right questions, in terms of effort, is a tiny fraction of a scientist's life. But that creative ability it is what separates the top 10% from everyone else. (Good questions don't come without very deep knowledge)

Do Science.

Being able to pull off an investigation is what makes a scientist famous. This is what takes the majority of effort. This is the scientist as entrepreneur. I'd be surprised if even 10% of the above 10% have the skill and perseverance it takes to sell an idea, raise funding for it, acquire the resources (especially people), manage the execution with sufficient objectivity and scepticism, and then convince people of the results.

Aside: Maybe we should put more effort into matching up pairs or small groups of people so that we are not stuck with that 10% of 10% number.

Why is it that Intel, Microsoft and Google were all started by two friends?

Quick! Name me a pair of famous scientists.

Crick and Watson.

Another pair!

I'm stuck. Curies?

That's it, I am now completely stumped.