How to Identify Young Scientists with Potential for Success
“The diagnosis of a scientific calling is…difficult. One must use finer distinguishing signs to cull the genuine from the counterfeit.
“Ostwald has dealt with more or less the same problem in his admirable book, Great Men. He believes that especially gifted students may be recognized by the fact that they never appear satisfied with what ordinary instruction offers them: ‘In terms of depth and range covered, ordinary instruction is directed toward the average student. When a pupil has great talent, he will see at once that the science being taught is inadequate quantitatively, and above all qualitatively, and he will demand more.’ Then he adds: ‘The most important quality of the scholar is originality, that is, the ability to picture something beyond what is taught. Precision in one’s work, self-criticism, conscientiousness, knowledge, and skill are also necessary, but all can be acquired later through suitable eduction.’
“These observations of Ostwald are judicious and generally correct. However, for the master to benefit from them, he must be in friendly contact with his students. In his laboratory discussions he should treat them like colleagues working on a common goal, encouraging frankness and spontaneous expression. In doing so, the master finds opportunities to study the character of his pupils, as well as to gauge their vigor and firmness.” (p. 143-144)