Saving science from itself | Andreas Mershin | TEDxYouth@BeaconStreet

so if you leave here today with more

so if you leave here today with more questions than answers I will have done

questions than answers I will have done

questions than answers I will have done my job right when I was about 13 years

my job right when I was about 13 years

my job right when I was about 13 years old I had a music theory teacher that

old I had a music theory teacher that

old I had a music theory teacher that tried to teach me about music theory and

tried to teach me about music theory and

tried to teach me about music theory and then he got upset and told my dad that I

then he got upset and told my dad that I

then he got upset and told my dad that I will never be able to learn anything

will never be able to learn anything

will never be able to learn anything because I asked way too many questions

because I asked way too many questions

because I asked way too many questions allowed that to detonate in your head

allowed that to detonate in your head

allowed that to detonate in your head for a second and tell me if you get this

for a second and tell me if you get this

for a second and tell me if you get this feeling Wow

so I kept asking many questions and I

so I kept asking many questions and I became a professional question asker

became a professional question asker

became a professional question asker which is a definition of what a

which is a definition of what a

which is a definition of what a scientist is that’s the job description

scientist is that’s the job description

scientist is that’s the job description a professional question asker these

a professional question asker these

a professional question asker these questions led to so many different

questions led to so many different

questions led to so many different things beautiful things this is a subset

things beautiful things this is a subset

things beautiful things this is a subset of them we made the world’s first and

of them we made the world’s first and

of them we made the world’s first and most powerful natural bio solar cell

most powerful natural bio solar cell

most powerful natural bio solar cell using dead grass and dead green things

using dead grass and dead green things

using dead grass and dead green things which led us to make the world’s first

which led us to make the world’s first

which led us to make the world’s first nose that was designed to beat the dog’s

nose that was designed to beat the dog’s

nose that was designed to beat the dog’s nose and work the same way which was

nose and work the same way which was

nose and work the same way which was this big and now it’s this big and it’s

this big and now it’s this big and it’s

this big and now it’s this big and it’s trying to get into your cell phone so

trying to get into your cell phone so

trying to get into your cell phone so you can smell you and make sure that

you can smell you and make sure that

you can smell you and make sure that when you get the first instance of

when you get the first instance of

when you get the first instance of melanoma that you don’t have to die from

melanoma that you don’t have to die from

melanoma that you don’t have to die from this because if you detect these some

this because if you detect these some

this because if you detect these some cancers early you can be saved and never

cancers early you can be saved and never

cancers early you can be saved and never have to worry about them again we

have to worry about them again we

have to worry about them again we accidentally invented the world’s first

accidentally invented the world’s first

accidentally invented the world’s first pain detector we trained just awful of

pain detector we trained just awful of

pain detector we trained just awful of Lies to identify and recognize isotopes

Lies to identify and recognize isotopes

Lies to identify and recognize isotopes and many more things came out of

and many more things came out of

and many more things came out of questions so clearly from my life

questions so clearly from my life

questions so clearly from my life questions are important but other people

questions are important but other people

questions are important but other people have also recognized this I should add

have also recognized this I should add

have also recognized this I should add you may have heard of he says he has no

you may have heard of he says he has no

you may have heard of he says he has no special talent other than being

special talent other than being

special talent other than being passionately curious and that the

passionately curious and that the

passionately curious and that the important thing is to keep questioning

important thing is to keep questioning

important thing is to keep questioning her question is really more important

her question is really more important

her question is really more important than answers how can that be

than answers how can that be

than answers how can that be I’m here to tell you that perhaps yes

I’m here to tell you that perhaps yes

I’m here to tell you that perhaps yes questions are powerful they drive you to

questions are powerful they drive you to

questions are powerful they drive you to creep to creativity and creativity

creep to creativity and creativity

creep to creativity and creativity cannot be dishonest when you’re building

cannot be dishonest when you’re building

cannot be dishonest when you’re building something to answer a question the

something to answer a question the

something to answer a question the universe tells you whether you’re being

universe tells you whether you’re being

universe tells you whether you’re being honest with yourself or not

honest with yourself or not

honest with yourself or not so curiosity forgets creativity begets

so curiosity forgets creativity begets

so curiosity forgets creativity begets honesty and baguettes knowledge and the

honesty and baguettes knowledge and the

honesty and baguettes knowledge and the right answers the knowledge that you get

right answers the knowledge that you get

right answers the knowledge that you get out of this are the ones that create

out of this are the ones that create

out of this are the ones that create more creativity and the loop keeps going

more creativity and the loop keeps going

more creativity and the loop keeps going don’t get married to your answers

don’t get married to your answers

don’t get married to your answers they’re not you they’re not your

they’re not you they’re not your

they’re not you they’re not your identity your ideas and your beliefs are

identity your ideas and your beliefs are

identity your ideas and your beliefs are not you you are you if you really don’t

not you you are you if you really don’t

not you you are you if you really don’t believe that questions are that powerful

believe that questions are that powerful

believe that questions are that powerful I will tell you that the Internet is

I will tell you that the Internet is

I will tell you that the Internet is here because of a question that was

here because of a question that was

here because of a question that was asked two and a half thousand years ago

asked two and a half thousand years ago

asked two and a half thousand years ago by let’s keep us and Democritus standing

by let’s keep us and Democritus standing

by let’s keep us and Democritus standing on the beach

on the beach

on the beach in Greece and they said hmm if I break a

in Greece and they said hmm if I break a

in Greece and they said hmm if I break a rock I get smaller rocks if I break the

rock I get smaller rocks if I break the

rock I get smaller rocks if I break the smaller rocks I get sand if I mash this

smaller rocks I get sand if I mash this

smaller rocks I get sand if I mash this and I get dust does that keep going

and I get dust does that keep going

and I get dust does that keep going forever

forever

forever that gave us CERN the Large Hadron

that gave us CERN the Large Hadron

that gave us CERN the Large Hadron Collider out of this we were smashing

Collider out of this we were smashing

Collider out of this we were smashing atoms out of this came the Internet yes

atoms out of this came the Internet yes

atoms out of this came the Internet yes it existed before we had ARPANET we had

it existed before we had ARPANET we had

it existed before we had ARPANET we had the infrastructure but the internet

the infrastructure but the internet

the infrastructure but the internet browser is what set fire to the Internet

browser is what set fire to the Internet

browser is what set fire to the Internet and that came out of there because

and that came out of there because

and that came out of there because physicists had too much trouble sharing

physicists had too much trouble sharing

physicists had too much trouble sharing all this knowledge and Tim berners-lee

all this knowledge and Tim berners-lee

all this knowledge and Tim berners-lee invented the HTML we recognized this a

invented the HTML we recognized this a

invented the HTML we recognized this a scientists that curiosities are

scientists that curiosities are

scientists that curiosities are important so myself and several others

important so myself and several others

important so myself and several others co-founded the molecular frontiers

co-founded the molecular frontiers

co-founded the molecular frontiers inquiry prize which quickly became known

inquiry prize which quickly became known

inquiry prize which quickly became known as the Nobel for kids because we had 13

as the Nobel for kids because we had 13

as the Nobel for kids because we had 13 Nobel laureates examining questions that

Nobel laureates examining questions that

Nobel laureates examining questions that we asked the entire planet to send

we asked the entire planet to send

we asked the entire planet to send anybody under 18 could do it and we

anybody under 18 could do it and we

anybody under 18 could do it and we rewarded five girls and five boys for

rewarded five girls and five boys for

rewarded five girls and five boys for the best questions we gave them a medal

the best questions we gave them a medal

the best questions we gave them a medal that has our motto but curiosity

that has our motto but curiosity

that has our motto but curiosity creativity honesty knowledge and

creativity honesty knowledge and

creativity honesty knowledge and something interesting starting happening

something interesting starting happening

something interesting starting happening I was a director of this prize

I was a director of this prize

I was a director of this prize co-founder and director for the first

co-founder and director for the first

co-founder and director for the first few years and I watched these questions

few years and I watched these questions

few years and I watched these questions come in day in day out over years

come in day in day out over years

come in day in day out over years thousands of them came to myself and I

thousands of them came to myself and I

thousands of them came to myself and I would read them they reignited my

would read them they reignited my

would read them they reignited my curiosity but I also watched the ones

curiosity but I also watched the ones

curiosity but I also watched the ones that were being discussed by the Nobel

that were being discussed by the Nobel

that were being discussed by the Nobel laureates and I sat in those rooms and I

laureates and I sat in those rooms and I

laureates and I sat in those rooms and I try to understand which kinds of

try to understand which kinds of

try to understand which kinds of questions are the ones that are good the

questions are the ones that are good the

questions are the ones that are good the ones that are really powerful and it

ones that are really powerful and it

ones that are really powerful and it ended up being that the ones that

ended up being that the ones that

ended up being that the ones that challenge assumptions that look for

challenge assumptions that look for

challenge assumptions that look for exceptions that examine the definitions

exceptions that examine the definitions

exceptions that examine the definitions and across the boundaries those tend to

and across the boundaries those tend to

and across the boundaries those tend to ignite your imagination and those tend

ignite your imagination and those tend

ignite your imagination and those tend to produce fantastic results note also

to produce fantastic results note also

to produce fantastic results note also that I have removed the names of the

that I have removed the names of the

that I have removed the names of the children who submitted these questions

children who submitted these questions

children who submitted these questions because questions

because questions

because questions unlike ideas are not patented they’re

unlike ideas are not patented they’re

unlike ideas are not patented they’re not owned you can’t have ownership of a

not owned you can’t have ownership of a

not owned you can’t have ownership of a question it’s alive but they are rebel

question it’s alive but they are rebel

question it’s alive but they are rebel minds and I let their ages be there so

minds and I let their ages be there so

minds and I let their ages be there so notice that we didn’t care about how

notice that we didn’t care about how

notice that we didn’t care about how well-crafted the English words which

well-crafted the English words which

well-crafted the English words which were trying to get to the essence of the

were trying to get to the essence of the

were trying to get to the essence of the thing we found also

thing we found also

thing we found also that the questions that really resonated

that the questions that really resonated

that the questions that really resonated with a Nobel laureates with the rest of

with a Nobel laureates with the rest of

with a Nobel laureates with the rest of the eminent scientists and with the

the eminent scientists and with the

the eminent scientists and with the public were the ones that had something

public were the ones that had something

public were the ones that had something about nature

about nature

about nature if nature does it can we take a hint

if nature does it can we take a hint

if nature does it can we take a hint from it can we do something like this a

from it can we do something like this a

from it can we do something like this a powerful way to ask questions is to ask

powerful way to ask questions is to ask

powerful way to ask questions is to ask yourself can it be another way can it be

yourself can it be another way can it be

yourself can it be another way can it be another way the question asked by this

another way the question asked by this

another way the question asked by this rebel mind why aren’t plants black drove

rebel mind why aren’t plants black drove

rebel mind why aren’t plants black drove us and drove my lab to research that is

us and drove my lab to research that is

us and drove my lab to research that is still ongoing millions of dollars worth

still ongoing millions of dollars worth

still ongoing millions of dollars worth of it we’re trying to now create biomass

of it we’re trying to now create biomass

of it we’re trying to now create biomass without sunlight we are trying to

without sunlight we are trying to

without sunlight we are trying to genetically engineer and directly evolve

genetically engineer and directly evolve

genetically engineer and directly evolve algae to live on the ground and eat the

algae to live on the ground and eat the

algae to live on the ground and eat the heat the waste heat of let’s say the tea

heat the waste heat of let’s say the tea

heat the waste heat of let’s say the tea we also found that even though it’s hard

we also found that even though it’s hard

we also found that even though it’s hard to approach the scientist in normal life

to approach the scientist in normal life

to approach the scientist in normal life if you trust your own logic you actually

if you trust your own logic you actually

if you trust your own logic you actually get results we as scientists if we

get results we as scientists if we

get results we as scientists if we cannot explain to you or if we cannot

cannot explain to you or if we cannot

cannot explain to you or if we cannot answer a question simply and tell you

answer a question simply and tell you

answer a question simply and tell you now you know it’s too complex there’s so

now you know it’s too complex there’s so

now you know it’s too complex there’s so much math you need to go to university

much math you need to go to university

much math you need to go to university have a PhD to understand it that’s the

have a PhD to understand it that’s the

have a PhD to understand it that’s the red flag always know that that means

red flag always know that that means

red flag always know that that means that we don’t get it either if the

that we don’t get it either if the

that we don’t get it either if the master complex for you it’s too complex

master complex for you it’s too complex

master complex for you it’s too complex for us too it is a responsibility of the

for us too it is a responsibility of the

for us too it is a responsibility of the scientists to explain it to people and

scientists to explain it to people and

scientists to explain it to people and it is hard I asked my students to give

it is hard I asked my students to give

it is hard I asked my students to give 30 second pictures of what they’re doing

30 second pictures of what they’re doing

30 second pictures of what they’re doing and it’s the hardest thing they do and

and it’s the hardest thing they do and

and it’s the hardest thing they do and they hate it and some of them are here

they hate it and some of them are here

they hate it and some of them are here and they know that’s hard but I have to

and they know that’s hard but I have to

and they know that’s hard but I have to eat the dog food I’m talking about

eat the dog food I’m talking about

eat the dog food I’m talking about questions so what is a question the

questions so what is a question the

questions so what is a question the question is the result the outcome of

question is the result the outcome of

question is the result the outcome of curiosity so what is curiosity

curiosity so what is curiosity

curiosity so what is curiosity it’s a superpower I think community

it’s a superpower I think community

it’s a superpower I think community makes you reach out babies learn about

makes you reach out babies learn about

makes you reach out babies learn about the world by being curious you learn to

the world by being curious you learn to

the world by being curious you learn to drive your own body by trying different

drive your own body by trying different

drive your own body by trying different things and knowing how to what happens

things and knowing how to what happens

things and knowing how to what happens when you touch something curiosity takes

when you touch something curiosity takes

when you touch something curiosity takes you out of your shell it makes you touch

you out of your shell it makes you touch

you out of your shell it makes you touch something it is the fear killing animals

something it is the fear killing animals

something it is the fear killing animals humans even single cells learn by

humans even single cells learn by

humans even single cells learn by exploration and the drive towards

exploration and the drive towards

exploration and the drive towards exploration is curiosity if you look at

exploration is curiosity if you look at

exploration is curiosity if you look at the brain and what happens while you’re

the brain and what happens while you’re

the brain and what happens while you’re curious it actually goes by the same

curious it actually goes by the same

curious it actually goes by the same pathway as in

pathway as in

pathway as in H and H is there to tell you that

H and H is there to tell you that

H and H is there to tell you that something’s about to bite you a

something’s about to bite you a

something’s about to bite you a curiosity H it’s there to tell you you

curiosity H it’s there to tell you you

curiosity H it’s there to tell you you need to pay attention to this you need

need to pay attention to this you need

need to pay attention to this you need to give it life and how do you give it a

to give it life and how do you give it a

to give it life and how do you give it a life well you ask a question a very wise

life well you ask a question a very wise

life well you ask a question a very wise nine hundred year old frog or something

nine hundred year old frog or something

nine hundred year old frog or something said fear leads to anger anger leads to

said fear leads to anger anger leads to

said fear leads to anger anger leads to hate and hate leads to suffering and we

hate and hate leads to suffering and we

hate and hate leads to suffering and we have a lot of that going around the

have a lot of that going around the

have a lot of that going around the planet today curiosity is the fear

planet today curiosity is the fear

planet today curiosity is the fear killer you cannot be curious about

killer you cannot be curious about

killer you cannot be curious about something and afraid of it at the same

something and afraid of it at the same

something and afraid of it at the same time in fact if you are afraid of

time in fact if you are afraid of

time in fact if you are afraid of something try and be curious about it

something try and be curious about it

something try and be curious about it and the fear will disappear and we say

and the fear will disappear and we say

and the fear will disappear and we say this about science and yet and we all

this about science and yet and we all

this about science and yet and we all celebrate curiosity as a joyful thing

celebrate curiosity as a joyful thing

celebrate curiosity as a joyful thing and he had in our culture curiosity is

and he had in our culture curiosity is

and he had in our culture curiosity is punished curiosity killed the cat the

punished curiosity killed the cat the

punished curiosity killed the cat the doubting Thomas is the most reviled

doubting Thomas is the most reviled

doubting Thomas is the most reviled character in the entire Bible not even

character in the entire Bible not even

character in the entire Bible not even Judas is worse spoken of than Thomas

Judas is worse spoken of than Thomas

Judas is worse spoken of than Thomas Thomas wanted to know he asked too many

Thomas wanted to know he asked too many

Thomas wanted to know he asked too many questions just recently the spokesman

questions just recently the spokesman

questions just recently the spokesman for the White House told us that is it

for the White House told us that is it

for the White House told us that is it inappropriate to ask questions of a

inappropriate to ask questions of a

inappropriate to ask questions of a four-star general and I want to say well

four-star general and I want to say well

four-star general and I want to say well at how many stars do you stop being able

at how many stars do you stop being able

at how many stars do you stop being able to ask somebody some questions it’s not

to ask somebody some questions it’s not

to ask somebody some questions it’s not free the powerful are afraid of

free the powerful are afraid of

free the powerful are afraid of questions and you the youth have a

questions and you the youth have a

questions and you the youth have a natural advantage over the powerful

natural advantage over the powerful

natural advantage over the powerful because you have this innate he hasn’t

because you have this innate he hasn’t

because you have this innate he hasn’t been bitten out of you yet try and

been bitten out of you yet try and

been bitten out of you yet try and reignite it if you’re an adult and see

reignite it if you’re an adult and see

reignite it if you’re an adult and see what happens so I have to be honest I

what happens so I have to be honest I

what happens so I have to be honest I have to be curious it causes me to be

have to be curious it causes me to be

have to be curious it causes me to be honest I have to ask myself when we

honest I have to ask myself when we

honest I have to ask myself when we created this prize the molecular

created this prize the molecular

created this prize the molecular frontiers inquiry prize with all the new

frontiers inquiry prize with all the new

frontiers inquiry prize with all the new bells this was in 2006 why was that the

bells this was in 2006 why was that the

bells this was in 2006 why was that the first time in the history of humanity

first time in the history of humanity

first time in the history of humanity that we ever rewarded questions we’ve

that we ever rewarded questions we’ve

that we ever rewarded questions we’ve always been rewarding answers why is

always been rewarding answers why is

always been rewarding answers why is that why is it that we have this climate

that why is it that we have this climate

that why is it that we have this climate change deniers and we have these debates

change deniers and we have these debates

change deniers and we have these debates and we give them more and more evidence

and we give them more and more evidence

and we give them more and more evidence and have these people now who said the

and have these people now who said the

and have these people now who said the earth is flat and we

earth is flat and we

earth is flat and we I’m ignorant and we keep trying the same

I’m ignorant and we keep trying the same

I’m ignorant and we keep trying the same thing over and over which is to call

thing over and over which is to call

thing over and over which is to call them ignorant and to give them data how

them ignorant and to give them data how

them ignorant and to give them data how many more times do you have to do this

many more times do you have to do this

many more times do you have to do this before we start thinking that who is

before we start thinking that who is

before we start thinking that who is responsible for this ignorant whose job

responsible for this ignorant whose job

responsible for this ignorant whose job is to invent a new way of communicating

is to invent a new way of communicating

is to invent a new way of communicating and bring us together is there another

and bring us together is there another

and bring us together is there another way other than pushing you through books

way other than pushing you through books

way other than pushing you through books and education that often times the same

and education that often times the same

and education that often times the same book is read the same evidence is seen

book is read the same evidence is seen

book is read the same evidence is seen and yet different conclusions are met so

and yet different conclusions are met so

and yet different conclusions are met so how do you remain curious and how do you

how do you remain curious and how do you

how do you remain curious and how do you become fearless well first of all don’t

become fearless well first of all don’t

become fearless well first of all don’t panic

panic

panic and second of all ask and if there’s no

and second of all ask and if there’s no

and second of all ask and if there’s no one to ask ask me there’s a website you

one to ask ask me there’s a website you

one to ask ask me there’s a website you don’t need to put your name in you don’t

don’t need to put your name in you don’t

don’t need to put your name in you don’t need to give us your email just put your

need to give us your email just put your

need to give us your email just put your questions out there in the universe and

questions out there in the universe and

questions out there in the universe and I will read them and other people read

I will read them and other people read

I will read them and other people read them you don’t own them but they might

them you don’t own them but they might

them you don’t own them but they might very well be the next thing that saves

very well be the next thing that saves

very well be the next thing that saves the world thank you very much

the world thank you very much

the world thank you very much [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] you