Do you have the meticulous resolve it takes to become a Pokémon Master? If so, then you might have the traits and skills of a scientist!
Propensity to Collect
As any avid Pokémon player will tell you, part of the appeal of these games is trying to collect every single one of the 800+ creatures. “Gotta Catch ‘Em All” is the theme of the franchise, and the compulsion to fill each numbered, empty space in your digital notebook is real. Who knows how much time I spent trying to catch and trade Vivillon because I want to collect all 20 patterns of “butterfly” wings. I’m still trying to find an ocean-pattern one. (Drop me a comment below if you are from Hawaii or Réunion!)
Now consider Charles Darwin’s second survey expedition of the Beagle, where Darwin preserved Galapagos finch specimens. These 13 bird specimens were only a small handful of the fossils, flowers, insects and other specimens he collected during the nearly five-year voyage. He kept a daily log, diary and notebooks detailing his finds. Clearly certain specialties in science require a person with an extreme interest in collecting, whether it is data sets or specimens.
Curiosity of the Unknown
Each Pokémon map is different from all previous games and exploration is part of the enjoyment. A gamer must find satisfaction in talking to people, unearthing new Pokémon, and walking every path to discover treasures. For example, a person you run into on the road may seek a specific item to trade that you won’t discover until 15 hours later on an island you haven’t explored yet. Now, if I could only remember where that person was and what they wanted from me 15 game-hours ago…
Staying curious is essential for scientists because science is all about exploring the unknown. Consider Galileo Galilei’s discovery of four of Jupiter’s moons in 1609 or 1610. Before this observation, the Earth’s moon was the only known object to orbit a planet. Galileo yearned to see more of the solar system than was visible to the naked eye, and this curiosity drove him to further improve his telescope to magnify 20x. Curiosity pays off because these four moons are still known as the Galilean moons 300 years later.
Patience & Perseverance
Some Pokémon are rare to find and other creatures are exceedingly difficult to capture. It takes painstaking preparations and a well-made plan to catch these types. True fans know that an Abra is a tough Pokémon to catch because they teleport and run away almost every time you find one. Capturing Abra is indeed an exercise in problem-solving. Will you catch this tricky guy by purchasing a special tool or with a clever skill?
Science is a long game that builds upon the research, experiments, failures and discoveries of previous accomplished scientists. For example, particle physicists suspected the existence of the Higgs boson since the early 1960s, but it took decades of work from countless scientists before its existence was confirmed in 2013. Achievements in science require a time investment, as well as the ability to assess failures before testing a new approach.
I don’t advise including “Pokémon Enthusiast” on your resume, but there’s no doubt you should add the necessary traits that make a great Pokémon trainer!
