When Albert Einstein was five years old, his father gave him a small pocket compass to amuse him while he was in bed with a brief illness. Seeing the invisible forces move the compass needle convinced young Einstein that "something deeper had to be hidden behind things," according to Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson. He went on to forever change how we understand those deeply hidden things.
Origin stories like this one are common in science. But we don’t hear how successful scientists go from initial inspiration to the day-to-day work of science, from fascination with a compass to a blackboard at the Institute for Advanced Study.
Even if science fascinates you, the road to becoming a professional is anything but obvious. How do you break in? Here are a few tips from scientists who’ve made the journey.
