It doesn't take smarts to do what they do,
Oh yes it does! I suggest that an average person, in the right field, with the right training and education can make a real contribution. But education of an average person will not produce any Nobel prize. Those pushing the boundaries are
smart.
Less than average? Ain't gonna cut it. I went into University in the top 2% (as measured on the schools IQ tests) of the people entering university (not the general population). I found myself in a class of 20 people doing honors math and physics and in the botton quartile of that class. The smartest ones were astonding. And, in spite of the popular view, rather well rounded. They had the capacity to keep up AND have fun AND learn about things outside of what was presented in class. I, on the other hand, had more fun than keeping up but managed to get through.
In the short time I spent working in a grad level lab I enjoyed the best coffee discussion I've ever been in. Sometimes just sitting back and watching the discussion whip along. The grad students were more focussed on their work so didn't have much time to peruse the wider world. However, they were so quick that in a short time they could dive into something, see the contratictions and make pertinant comments.
The profs had more time. One took a new introductory language every year. He claimed to be able to converse in 16 language. We never had any foreign visitors that he couldn't chat away with and there is no way I could check him out.
If you take the average joe on the street you'll find him left way behind if put into the kind of environment where real science is done. It isn't all education but, of course, that is also an important part.
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