If you are an atheist, and nothing will change the fact that you believe that God isn't real, then you can't consider yourself a scientist, no matter what kind of degree you have, what classes you take, or what research you have done. If you refuse to accept the possibility that you could be wrong, then you miss out on one of the most important parts of the science process. Let's go back a thousand years. The earth is flat, lying at the center of the universe. There are three continents. It is impossible for man to stand on the moon. Maggots are spontaneously generated from rotting meat. All organisms are made up of only a few, relatively large pieces. Combustion is used as a simple light source, and nothing more. Because part of science is the possibility of being wrong, none of those things are true today. So, in conclusion, atheism is not synonymous with science. In fact, they are quite difference. Science is about being open to new ideas, while atheism is about being stubborn.