A curious mind ... why we should nurture it!

Recently I was invited to join the European Committee of the Weizmann Institute of Science, (ECWIS) together with a delegation from more than 10 different countries. In his welcoming note chair, Bob Drake,?wrote?“let yourselves be wowed by the Wonders of Weizmann, the scientists, the labs, the clore Garden of Science, the beautiful campus with its innovative buildings and research facilities’. He also asked us to allow ourselves to be curious, as many of the answers would surprise us ….??

Why this question so explicitly? Is it because in a time of a society in transition, we are all focused upon answers, not questions??Or could it be that he reminds us, because as we grow older, we often suppress our curiosity?

According to cognitive scientist Bonawitz, curiosity is innate in all humans – “a sensation much like hunger or thirst”.?I assume everybody knows, ‘Why?’ is?the most often used word by children as they have an insatiable need to understand the world around them. They aren’t afraid to ask questions, and they don’t worry about whether others believe they should already know the answers. But as we grow older, self-consciousness creeps in, along with the desire to appear confident and demonstrate expertise.?

We were welcomed?by the Weizmann-team and?Zohar Menshes, Executive Vice President of ECWIS, emphasized that in fact scientists actually devote their lives to finding answers to complex questions. People with a dream, who continue to strive for?a?goal, sometimes falling and then ‘climbing’ again.?The?Weizmann Institute?of Science, Rehovot, Israel?is a leading international multidisciplinary research institution. The beautiful, landscaped campus is home to a wide range of sculptures, interesting and unusual vegetation from around the world, and architectural styles from the 1940s to the present.?Part of their?funding comes from the government of Israel. The rest of the Institute’s income is generated through scientific discoveries, competitive grants, private philanthropy, and scientific services offered by Institute core facilities to academic and commercial partners. Scientific discoveries generate significant income from licensing agreements made through Yeda, the Institute’s technology transfer arm.

You probably already feel the parallel in a time the world is getting increasingly complex. Poverty, inequality and climate are the major challenges. COVID-19 was a wake-up call for all of us. Not to mention the increasing contempt for scientific knowledge and for performance thinking in which we are only looking for solutions.?We like to think that everything can be solved, if only we make the right decision.?The idea of ‘make-ability of society' is an enormous obstacle to us. Not only in our traditions, in our sense of life, but also in our norms and values.?I think?challenges should be given full attention and full language. For that, it is also key to meet other people as this teaches you to view a subject from different perspectives, to better empathize with the other, but also with what is going on. Only this way you protect yourself from blind spots and that improves the solutions?and it also helps?to find new anchor points.?

Working across disciplines, sharing knowledge, be that curious citizen is the only way to come up with new solutions, newventures?and ways of entrepreneurship. That was so clearly felt when we stayed on campus where all scientist live and shared?their knowledge and discoveries?with us. Listening to all the passionate scientist of WIS, I realized that most of the breakthrough discoveries and inventions throughout history, from flints for starting a fire to a trip to the moon, have in common that they are the result of curiosity.?However,?they need?time, space and the?means to continue their quest, because history tells us that if we can remain curious and open-minded about the outcomes of research, the more world-changing our?discoveries will be.?As it turns?out, the brain’s chemistry changes as curiosity also helps us learn information, we don’t consider important or interesting at first sight at all.?And that is where the surprise might come from!?

Business leaders often?say?they value inquisitive minds, but in reality, most stifle curiosity, fearing it will increase risk and inefficiency, or keep them from meeting short-term performance goals, see Harvard Business School’s Francesca Gino. Despite doing so will help their organizations adapt to uncertain market conditions and boost the business’s success.

Curiosity is an impulse to pursue a thought, find a solution, seek new possibilities or keep on a path to see what’s around the next bend … So, what is our role? Are we a spectator,?just taking the space offered to us? Or do we take responsibility for our life and at least don't stay on the 'pilot light'.?Michael Porter and Mark Kramer wrote a groundbreaking article in the Harvard Business Review, which reminds us that we should not be guided by fear, fear of uncertainty, fear of loss of wealth, fear of hearth and home, but that we should be guided by optimism. Without closing our eyes to the challenges. We need to reintroduce the concept of serendipity (unplanned fortunate discovery). Think of the Apollo project, which has given us many unexpected?innovations, for example miniaturization of the computer, GPS in the car.

Should we not incorporate ‘the law of Wright’ in our thinking? One example. The IPCC climate report from 2014 estimated in their most optimistic scenario that solar energy would cost 885 dollar per kilowatt in?2050. In reality, we passed this barrier already in?2021.?We should pay more attention to ingenuity, to our ability to think, to ask questions and to cooperate. Do we?have an easier ‘no’ because of the small disadvantages, instead of ‘yes’ because of the big advantages?

It is very imaginary that if we all look at things in a different way, not as an isolated unit, but integrated in society, new products will be produced that add value for all stakeholders. Whether you are reading this as a consumer, a scientist or an investor, this is a welcoming perspective!

A great thank you to the team of Weizmann Institute where we could take time and explore the beauty, mystery and fascination of the world of science. The role of science and research, not just as a knowledge institute and at a distance but in the middle of and in dialogue with society. Where new businesses emerge, by making us better understand the complex (societal) challenges and creating new business ventures and opportunities together!?

Where questions and answers are not undervalued, or inferior to each other …. but meet!?