Heck, they are heroes if they even try at all. Ideally, scientists approach each new problem with an open mind. They are not afraid to try new things and keep trying with dogged persistence. They are not afraid to question the established way of doing things. We just need to sort it out.
Good scientists do more than speculate and criticize.
They are not afraid to get their hands dirty. They are willing to talk to common folks knowing that everybody has something to teach. They are willing to explore new ideas, even though they may seem a little crazy, and suspend judgment until they have had a chance to investigate. Good scientists are observant, they think about what they observe, and they experiment, over and over and over again. The experts said this had been researched and found not to be true.