scientist

Scientists (in Austria and Switzerland also scientists ) or researchers are people who systematically deal with science and its further development. This does not have to be a full-time job - see private scholars or research in areas such as amateur astronomy or caving . Many scientists work as researchers , often as university lecturers . As a rule, they have demonstrated their ability to work independently in academic research by completing a doctorate .

Areas

The sciences can be divided into several large areas such as

The scientifically active people in them have a corresponding designation such as natural scientist or humanities scientist . Your activity can also be assigned to the areas of basic research , applied sciences or development . People active in practical professions such as doctors, teachers, lawyers or pharmacists have a scientific education, but are not counted among the scientists unless they work at universities or research institutes .

Natural sciences

Within the five areas, numerous terms are used for the respective activity (the variety of which is particularly large in the natural sciences), for example

Physicists (atomic physicists, geophysicists, etc.)
Chemists (inorganic-technical chemists, biochemists, environmental chemists, etc.)
Astronomer (astrophysicist, planetologist, etc.)
Earth scientist , geologist , geodesist , geographer , etc.
Biologist (molecular biologist, neuroscientist, geneticist, etc.)

However, areas also overlap, e.g. B. Physical chemistry, materials science (also physics and chemistry), seismics (earth science and physics).

Humanities

There is also a great variety of research areas within the humanities, such as B. philosophy , pedagogy , psychology , sociology , anthropology or cultural studies .

Main activity

The predominant activity of a scientist can therefore be:

scientific research in its field or in the transition area to neighboring disciplines
Teaching activity as a professor at a university
Research as an assistant under the direction and guidance of a professor
- z. B. also as a doctor at a research clinic or a research institute
Applied research and development (R / D or R&D, English R&D - research & development)
Management and / or administration of institutions for R / D or large projects .

Work in organizations

The main institutions that scientists work at are:

Scientific universities (as professor, lecturer , lecturer , research assistant or research assistant)
Non-university research organizations such as the Max Planck Society , the Fraunhofer Society , the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers , the Leibniz Association or the DLR
Academy of Sciences , federal institutions , large museums , libraries and archives
Industry (research and development departments) and civil engineers

Notation

Scientists used more frequently, especially in everyday language and in the north of the German-speaking world, while scientists is a standard language variant in Austria and Switzerland more common and is preferred by scientists in Austria and Switzerland. The Duden uses both spellings. Since Karl Kraus , it has been used against the "l" that many words with "ler" have a derogatory aftertaste. So one speaks z. B. Although generally from a "sportsman", but nobody from a " trade unionist ", "craftsman" or an "economist", and a student umbrella organization is called the Deutscher Wissenschafter-Verband (DWV).

Web links

Wiktionary: Scientist - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Commons : Scientists - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

↑ Alexandra Lenz on univie.ac.at , December 9, 2013.

[1] Alexandra Lenz on univie.ac.at , December 9, 2013.