From Students to Scientists - An Online Journal Inspires the Next Generation to Research, Write, and Publish

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Stanley

The article explores what it means to become a scientist, linking scientific research to curiosity, creativity, and the disciplined use of the scientific method. It argues that young people can contribute new knowledge when they share findings within a broader scientific community. The Journal of Emerging Investigators (JEI) is presented as a nonprofit online platform enabling middle and high school students to submit original research, receive expert feedback, and publish their work.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

From Students to Scientists

What it takes to be a scientist

JEI’s mission and impact

Beyond the Science Fair

From Students to Scientists An Online Journal Inspires the Next Generation to Research, Write, and Publish ILLUSTRAT IONS BY GABY D’ALESSANDRO By Olivia Ho-Shing W hat does it mean to be a scientist? In the most basic of terms, a scientist is someone who does scientific research. But what personal qualities does it take to do scientific research? In his book Letters to a Young Scientist, renowned biologist Edward O. Wilson recounts his own coming-of-age story as a scientist, and distills the motivating qualities of science down to curiosity and creativity. Individuals become scientists when they are curious about a phenomenon in the world around them and ask about the real nature of that phenomenon: What are its origins, its causes, or its consequences? Scientists then employ some creativity to answer their questions through a systematic Olivia Ho-Shing is a graduate student in neurobiology at Harvard University and a co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Emerging Investigators. testing of hypotheses (the scientific method), and form some conclusion based on their findings. This explanation of how scientists approach research highlights something very powerful: anybody with curiosity and creativity, by subscribing to the scientific method, can do science and discover something new about our natural world. From an early age, children brim with questions and sometimes come up with overly creative methods to test a hypothesis (say, using a magnifying glass to start a fire) . It becomes incumbent upon teachers, then, to continually help foster students’ curiosity and creativity as critical aspects of their learning, particularly in science. Wilson describes the broad field of science as a “culture of illuminations dedicated to the most effective way ever conceived of acquiring factual knowledge.” His description points to another critical aspect in becoming a scientist: not only acquiring some knowledge but contributing that knowledge to a shared culture and community. Scientists engage with others in their field through collaborations, presentations, and publication, 16 AMERICAN EDUCATOR | FALL 2017 thereby strengthening their own findings and assessing information within a broader context of knowledge. While public school students should receive more resources and guidance to do science in schools, motivated students have typically had very limited avenues to experience being a scientist—that is, by sharing their research with the larger scientific community. The Journal of Emerging Investigators (JEI) was established to address this challenge. A nonprofit online science publication exclusively for middle and high school students, JEI (www. [emerginginvestigators.org](emerginginvestigators.org)) gives students an opportunity to submit original research, receive feedback on their work from expert scientists, and have their work published. Through this process, students grow their scientific knowledge and skills, helping them become the next generation of scientists. news outlets like CNN, giving him a greater platform to share his ideas. While it’s not clear if the government will indeed follow Mirchandani’s advice and transition to a more ink-efficient font, what is certain is that even young investigators, thanks to the support of fellow scientists and the opportunity to publish, can meaningfully contribute to society. Beyond the Science Fair Sarah Fankhauser founded the Journal of Emerging Investigators in 2011 during her early years of pursuing doctoral work in microbiology at Harvard Medical School. By volunteering at science fairs, afterschool science programs, and other K–12 outreach programs, she saw that middle and high school students were capable of conducting independent and creative research. While students were often very proud of their projects and excited to show them at science fairs, there were often no avenues for students to continue discuss- The Journal of Emerging Investi

FAQs

What qualities does the article say are essential for doing scientific research?

It emphasizes curiosity and creativity, paired with systematic testing of hypotheses through the scientific method.

How does the Journal of Emerging Investigators (JEI) help students become scientists?

JEI lets middle and high school students submit original research, get feedback from expert scientists, and have their work published.

Why does the article stress sharing research with the wider scientific community?

It explains that collaboration, presentations, and publication strengthen findings and place information into a broader context of knowledge.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Stanley