The Making of a Scientist

 The Making of a Scientist

                 By Robert W. Peterson

INTRODUCTION—

 The lesson is about the great scientist Richard H. Ebright. He had a habit of collecting butterflies, rock fossils and coins since he was a kid. He started scientific research on the study of butterflies. His curiosity and will to win for the right reasons made him a successful scientist.

SUMMARY—

‘The Making of a Scientist’ is the incredible story of Richard Ebright, a scientist who has done wonders in the field of science. He was the only child of his parents, who had a great fascination for butterflies, right from when he was very young. His mother always encouraged him and he soon had a wonderful collection of fossils, rocks, coins and butterflies. Guided by Dr. Urgu Hart, he started tagging Monarch butterflies, but when there was no feedback, he started losing interest. Right from the eighth grade, he started doing real experiments. He soon started winning award after award. He then realised the importance of cells and showed how a cell would divide and develop into normal butterfly wing-scales. He won the first prize at the International Fair. Then he got a new blue print of its DNA. DNA is the blueprint for life. Other than Science, Ebright was a good debater, canoeist as well as an expert photographer.

Short Answer Questions

Q. 1. What lesson did Ebright learn when he could not win a prize at the science fair?

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What lesson did Ebright learn when in the seventh grade he entered a country science fair?

Ans. When Ebright could not win a prize at the science fair, he learnt that winners do real experiment, they don’t simply display slides. Then he started conducting experiments. It was definitely a stepping stone towards his success. His competitive nature, his extra efforts and the will to win for the right reasons made him a successful scientist.

Q2. How did Ebright’s mother help him?

Ans. Ebright’s mother was a great help to him. She always encouraged his interest in learning and finding more. She took him out on trips. In fact, she also bought him a telescope, a microscope, cameras, mounting materials and other equipment that helped him in many ways.

Q. 3. How did Ebright’s mother help him to become a scientist?

Ans. Richard’s mother was a vigilant parent who keenly observed her child, identified his interests and inclinations and channelized his energies in the right direction. She very deftly kept him occupied with learning activities which was a constructive use of the leisure time. She bought him books to kindle his curiosity and thus provided the impetus towards scientific interests. She, thereby, played a significant role in ‘The Making of a Scientist’.

Q4. What experiments and projects did Ebright undertake?

Ans. Richard Ebright decided to conduct real experiments after he did not win anything in the science exhibition. He tried to find the cause of a viral disease that kills nearly all Monarch caterpillars every few years. After that, he also began his research into the discovery of an unknown insect Monarch.

 Q5. Why did Richard Ebright raise a flock of butterflies?

Ans. Richard Ebright as a child had developed a keen interest for collecting things like rocks, fossils, coins and butterflies. By the time he reached his second grade, he had collected all the twenty-five species of butterflies found in Pennsylvania. He also started tagging the Monarch’s at the behest of the author Dr. Tredrick A. Urgu Hart.

Q6. What were the factors which contributed in making Ebright a scientist?

Ans. Richard Ebright had some innate character traits that are the pre-requisites for the making of a scientist. He had, besides an intelligent mind, the curiosity to seek information, keen observing powers, perseverance, patience as well as self-discipline, which are the basic requirements for any scientific research. And the credit also goes to his mother for recognizing his inclinations and curiosity. She not only encouraged and supported him, but also provided the required stimulus through books and other materials.

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