To succeed as a scientist, one needs skills including the ability to apply a broad range of scientific knowledge in practical situations, creativity, research abilities and the flexibility to integrate new scientific information as it becomes available. Written and verbal communication skills are also important.
A competent scientist possesses a strong knowledge base pertaining to her area of scientific study. She understands scientific information on a practical level, allowing her to use it to carry out experiments, solve problems and come up with ideas for new research projects. Because new scientific discoveries are made on a never-ending basis, a scientist must also have strong research skills and a dedication to keeping up-to-date on the most recent scientific findings.