What Does a Government Scientist Do?

A government scientist is an individual who is employed by a government to conduct scientific research, to serve as an adviser to politicians who need to make decisions about science, or to work in some other government role that requires scientific knowledge and skills. Many different government departments, such as those that oversee issues relating to a nation's defense, health, or agriculture, tend to employ scientists. A great deal of defense spending, in particular, is directed to scientists and engineers who work to develop new and more effective technology for military purposes. A government scientist may find it to be easier to procure funding for projects but may also need to sign confidentiality agreements that prevent him from publishing any of his findings.

Generally speaking, the work done by a government scientist does not differ drastically from the work done by scientists working at universities or private research institutes. A government scientist might conduct biomedical research, work to develop new technologies, study astrophysics, or work in any other branch of science. Some government scientists work at public museums, aquariums, botanical gardens, and parks. The educational requirements for such scientists also tend not to differ from those for privately-employed scientists.

In some cases, a government scientist may be employed as an adviser for politicians who need to make decisions about science but who lack scientific training of their own. A government scientist employed as an adviser may be expected to study modern scientific developments and to break such developments down into concise and understandable forms. A scientist with this job must be able to recognize which parts of scientific research are the most important, valuable, and necessary, as major government spending decisions may be made based on his advice. Such workers must be able to recognize and predict the social and historical implications of their decisions and advice as well.

A great deal of government science spending tends to fund the work of scientists researching defensive technologies. For instance, a government scientist might work on the development of more advanced armor and weapon systems for infantry. Other government scientists may work on countermeasures to use against potential biological weapon attacks. Not all government scientists actually conduct laboratory research — some are primarily concerned with developing plans and predictions concerning certain defense scenarios. A government scientist may, for instance, work to develop a timeline modeling the effects of different forms of biological attacks based on different weather conditions and response methods.