The presenters in the NSDL/NSTA Web Seminar Series are a lucky bunch. They get paid to do what they love. In the blog Careers in Science, these scientists share their stories about what turned them on to scientific inquiry, what their training was like, and how they found the job of their dreams. The seven stories posted in the last five months contain hints about how to spot the next generation of scientists and make them happen:

* Look for Why Kids. “I was always one of those ‘why’ kids,” writes Christina Symons, a geologist for the Enduring Resources for Earth Science Education (ERESE) project. “Why is the sky blue? Why is that river flowing east and not west? Why is that rock shiny and this one so dull? Thanks to my parents who always encouraged and exemplified this inquisitive nature I grew to love science.”

* Watch for The Spark. Once the child is ready, the spark can happen almost anywhere. NSDL staffer Robert Payo, who coordinates the series with NSTA, remembers the mix of terror and fascination he felt whenever he stood before the huge mastodon on display at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Craig Cramer says it happened wandering in the woods of upstate New York as a teenager. And Lynn Diener of the Chemistry Pathway remembers digging in her yard in Eastern Washington and coming across a mysterious layer of gray, powdery dirt. By the time she found out what it was, she was hooked.

* Add Professional Encouragement. Several presenters cited the influence of mentors who nurtured both their curiosity and their contacts.  Bethany Carlson of The Fun Works says that her childhood revolved around science fairs and that “majoring in anything else wasn’t ever a consideration.”  Rob LaSalle thought he wanted to study whales, and his advisor persuaded him that the best way to prepare for that was to study genetics.

* It’s a Noble Adventure.  Rob LaSalle ended up studying Drosophila fruit flies in Hawaii.  Christina Symons studied how the toxic metal Mercury travels through the environment in an effort to control its levels.  And during her first year of grad school, Lynn Diener spent six weeks on a Australian research vessel in the Southern Ocean mapping the sea floor.  Doesn’t that sound like more fun than law school?

Check out the stories and add your comments at the Careers in Science blog.