When we engage in scientific inquiry we usually think there is a set procedure, a scientific method – hypothesise, design an experiment, get data, analyse it, make conclusions. This process doesn’t take into account a lot of the things that scientists do as they tackle a problem – follow hunches, use their imagination, discuss in corridors with colleagues. Not all scientists approach problems in the same way – many have preferred inquiry procedures which tie into their own preferred ways of learning and understanding. Different types of problems and contexts require different approaches.