get on your tiptoes I’d tell myself stand up taller lower your squeaky voice
stand up taller lower your squeaky voice
stand up taller lower your squeaky voice these were some of the thoughts that
these were some of the thoughts that
these were some of the thoughts that raced through my head every time I
raced through my head every time I
raced through my head every time I stepped foot into my research lab at age
stepped foot into my research lab at age
stepped foot into my research lab at age 11 I was always preoccupied over the
11 I was always preoccupied over the
11 I was always preoccupied over the little things like keeping my algebra
little things like keeping my algebra
little things like keeping my algebra notebook shut so no one could tell that
notebook shut so no one could tell that
notebook shut so no one could tell that I was a middle schooler working
I was a middle schooler working
I was a middle schooler working alongside PhD students and in my
alongside PhD students and in my
alongside PhD students and in my experience up to that point age had
experience up to that point age had
experience up to that point age had always been a limitation now I’m a
always been a limitation now I’m a
always been a limitation now I’m a fourteen-year-old developing a detection
fourteen-year-old developing a detection
fourteen-year-old developing a detection method for tumor spheroids in cancer
method for tumor spheroids in cancer
method for tumor spheroids in cancer diagnostics or at least I’m trying but
diagnostics or at least I’m trying but
diagnostics or at least I’m trying but most wouldn’t expect anyone like me to
most wouldn’t expect anyone like me to
most wouldn’t expect anyone like me to find a cure to cancer or a solution to
find a cure to cancer or a solution to
find a cure to cancer or a solution to global warming but I’m trying and I
global warming but I’m trying and I
global warming but I’m trying and I shouldn’t be an anomaly because
shouldn’t be an anomaly because
shouldn’t be an anomaly because unfortunately I don’t think most
unfortunately I don’t think most
unfortunately I don’t think most preteens can say they felt that
preteens can say they felt that
preteens can say they felt that encapsulating feeling where you press
encapsulating feeling where you press
encapsulating feeling where you press your eye up against a microscope just to
your eye up against a microscope just to
your eye up against a microscope just to find that florescent green stain you’ve
find that florescent green stain you’ve
find that florescent green stain you’ve been working months to find because the
been working months to find because the
been working months to find because the lab is my second home as nerdy as it
lab is my second home as nerdy as it
lab is my second home as nerdy as it sounds the hours I’ve spent every day
sounds the hours I’ve spent every day
sounds the hours I’ve spent every day after school calibrating optic systems
after school calibrating optic systems
after school calibrating optic systems or imaging the deadly masses of tumor
or imaging the deadly masses of tumor
or imaging the deadly masses of tumor spheroids are my most relaxing times a
spheroids are my most relaxing times a
spheroids are my most relaxing times a day but in all seriousness having worked
day but in all seriousness having worked
day but in all seriousness having worked in a research institution so now since I
in a research institution so now since I
in a research institution so now since I was 11 I’ve always been less than half
was 11 I’ve always been less than half
was 11 I’ve always been less than half the age of everyone around me my age
the age of everyone around me my age
the age of everyone around me my age became something I’d minimize and it
became something I’d minimize and it
became something I’d minimize and it eventually became my biggest weakness
eventually became my biggest weakness
eventually became my biggest weakness but not anymore because I’ve realized
but not anymore because I’ve realized
but not anymore because I’ve realized that kids think differently than adults
that kids think differently than adults
that kids think differently than adults it’s not a matter of better or worse
it’s not a matter of better or worse
it’s not a matter of better or worse just differently but with the modern
just differently but with the modern
just differently but with the modern world social structure the youth
world social structure the youth
world social structure the youth perspective isn’t being taken seriously
perspective isn’t being taken seriously
perspective isn’t being taken seriously in science or in general and this needs
in science or in general and this needs
in science or in general and this needs to change
to change
to change no one ever expects any groundbreaking
no one ever expects any groundbreaking
no one ever expects any groundbreaking things to come from my population
things to come from my population
things to come from my population because they’ve just never been done
because they’ve just never been done
because they’ve just never been done before by people then other than quite
before by people then other than quite
before by people then other than quite frankly older middle-aged men I mean as
frankly older middle-aged men I mean as
frankly older middle-aged men I mean as far as history of support
far as history of support
far as history of support the revolutionary ideas to change
the revolutionary ideas to change
the revolutionary ideas to change humanity forever have all come from the
humanity forever have all come from the
humanity forever have all come from the same group of people Newton Einstein
same group of people Newton Einstein
same group of people Newton Einstein Edison the list goes on even today the
Edison the list goes on even today the
Edison the list goes on even today the average age of a Nobel Prize winner in
average age of a Nobel Prize winner in
average age of a Nobel Prize winner in the sciences is 57 years old that’s
the sciences is 57 years old that’s
the sciences is 57 years old that’s still waiting more than two-thirds the
still waiting more than two-thirds the
still waiting more than two-thirds the human lifespan just to make our marks on
human lifespan just to make our marks on
human lifespan just to make our marks on society the belief that a certain number
society the belief that a certain number
society the belief that a certain number of years is equivalent to intelligence
of years is equivalent to intelligence
of years is equivalent to intelligence has stunted generations why do we ask
has stunted generations why do we ask
has stunted generations why do we ask kids what they want to be when they grow
kids what they want to be when they grow
kids what they want to be when they grow up when instead we should be asking what
up when instead we should be asking what
up when instead we should be asking what do you want to do right now shouldn’t we
do you want to do right now shouldn’t we
do you want to do right now shouldn’t we take it upon ourselves to teach kids to
take it upon ourselves to teach kids to
take it upon ourselves to teach kids to be proactive about their dreams no
be proactive about their dreams no
be proactive about their dreams no single factor determines intelligence
single factor determines intelligence
single factor determines intelligence and capability not age not race not
and capability not age not race not
and capability not age not race not gender diverse groups of people can
gender diverse groups of people can
gender diverse groups of people can contribute ideas from different
contribute ideas from different
contribute ideas from different backgrounds which is exactly what
backgrounds which is exactly what
backgrounds which is exactly what science needs at a time of so much
science needs at a time of so much
science needs at a time of so much progression rather than only having
progression rather than only having
progression rather than only having experienced people with nearly the exact
experienced people with nearly the exact
experienced people with nearly the exact same information drilled into their
same information drilled into their
same information drilled into their heads sitting around conference room
heads sitting around conference room
heads sitting around conference room tables shouldn’t we also include more
tables shouldn’t we also include more
tables shouldn’t we also include more people with perhaps less years but
people with perhaps less years but
people with perhaps less years but different ideas and ages all over the
different ideas and ages all over the
different ideas and ages all over the spectrum wouldn’t this be more
spectrum wouldn’t this be more
spectrum wouldn’t this be more productive one age group in particular
productive one age group in particular
productive one age group in particular kids are quite unique problem-solving at
kids are quite unique problem-solving at
kids are quite unique problem-solving at a younger age is entirely different from
a younger age is entirely different from
a younger age is entirely different from the standardized thinking of an adult
the standardized thinking of an adult
the standardized thinking of an adult having lived decades longer adults have
having lived decades longer adults have
having lived decades longer adults have conformed to the norms of society such
conformed to the norms of society such
conformed to the norms of society such that basically everyone has the same
that basically everyone has the same
that basically everyone has the same thinking
thinking
thinking however the youth the youth have a spark
however the youth the youth have a spark
however the youth the youth have a spark an entirely different element of
an entirely different element of
an entirely different element of innovation that simply cannot be
innovation that simply cannot be
innovation that simply cannot be replicated during the dolt hood kids
replicated during the dolt hood kids
replicated during the dolt hood kids don’t know the laws of physics the rules
don’t know the laws of physics the rules
don’t know the laws of physics the rules of society are the very concept of
of society are the very concept of
of society are the very concept of impossibility like when we see this
impossibility like when we see this
impossibility like when we see this image for instance immediately most of
image for instance immediately most of
image for instance immediately most of you would think it’s just a random black
you would think it’s just a random black
you would think it’s just a random black line but see that’s the problem
line but see that’s the problem
line but see that’s the problem when I asked adults this they replied
when I asked adults this they replied
when I asked adults this they replied with the same unimpressed response and
with the same unimpressed response and
with the same unimpressed response and some even went to the lengths of looking
some even went to the lengths of looking
some even went to the lengths of looking for cursive writing hidden within the
for cursive writing hidden within the
for cursive writing hidden within the loops but even writing is a very
loops but even writing is a very
loops but even writing is a very standardized way of thinking if you ask
standardized way of thinking if you ask
standardized way of thinking if you ask me on the other hand when I asked kids
me on the other hand when I asked kids
me on the other hand when I asked kids of 13 years and younger they gave me
of 13 years and younger they gave me
of 13 years and younger they gave me radically different answers like my
radically different answers like my
radically different answers like my younger sister my usual go to guinea pig
younger sister my usual go to guinea pig
younger sister my usual go to guinea pig said she saw a volcano a dinosaur’s head
said she saw a volcano a dinosaur’s head
said she saw a volcano a dinosaur’s head and a dog eating a bat and all these
and a dog eating a bat and all these
and a dog eating a bat and all these answers were produced in just five
answers were produced in just five
answers were produced in just five seconds just this simple squiggle
seconds just this simple squiggle
seconds just this simple squiggle experiment shows the worlds of
experiment shows the worlds of
experiment shows the worlds of difference that exists between the adult
difference that exists between the adult
difference that exists between the adult and kid mentality kids have the ability
and kid mentality kids have the ability
and kid mentality kids have the ability to see beyond reality almost into
to see beyond reality almost into
to see beyond reality almost into another dimension where their innovation
another dimension where their innovation
another dimension where their innovation has no limitations in 1963 dr. Raymond
has no limitations in 1963 dr. Raymond
has no limitations in 1963 dr. Raymond Cattell proposed the idea of two types
Cattell proposed the idea of two types
Cattell proposed the idea of two types of intelligence crystallized learn
of intelligence crystallized learn
of intelligence crystallized learn knowledge over experience and time and
knowledge over experience and time and
knowledge over experience and time and fluid intelligence utilizing novel logic
fluid intelligence utilizing novel logic
fluid intelligence utilizing novel logic to solve new problems whereas adults are
to solve new problems whereas adults are
to solve new problems whereas adults are more proficient in terms of crystallized
more proficient in terms of crystallized
more proficient in terms of crystallized fluid intelligence is where kids excel
fluid intelligence is where kids excel
fluid intelligence is where kids excel the youth possess the out-of-the-box
the youth possess the out-of-the-box
the youth possess the out-of-the-box thinking that will propel science
thinking that will propel science
thinking that will propel science forward and this has endless
forward and this has endless
forward and this has endless applications when we look at technology
applications when we look at technology
applications when we look at technology for example people who have whom have
for example people who have whom have
for example people who have whom have learned how to use pcs at an older age
learned how to use pcs at an older age
learned how to use pcs at an older age will obviously have a much harder time
will obviously have a much harder time
will obviously have a much harder time comprehending the mechanisms behind it
comprehending the mechanisms behind it
comprehending the mechanisms behind it this isn’t to say that they can but
this isn’t to say that they can but
this isn’t to say that they can but rather that kids are more apt as to
rather that kids are more apt as to
rather that kids are more apt as to doing so the same principle applies for
doing so the same principle applies for
doing so the same principle applies for languages in linguistic development it’s
languages in linguistic development it’s
languages in linguistic development it’s human nature to pick up surrounding
human nature to pick up surrounding
human nature to pick up surrounding language but this capability decreases
language but this capability decreases
language but this capability decreases with time the reality remains that kids
with time the reality remains that kids
with time the reality remains that kids who are exposed to a stimulus earlier in
who are exposed to a stimulus earlier in
who are exposed to a stimulus earlier in life will be much more proficient in
life will be much more proficient in
life will be much more proficient in that field we live in a world where
that field we live in a world where
that field we live in a world where devices have taken over the roles of
devices have taken over the roles of
devices have taken over the roles of babysitters as kids the curiosity of
babysitters as kids the curiosity of
babysitters as kids the curiosity of kids
kids
kids encapsulated by phones and computers
encapsulated by phones and computers
encapsulated by phones and computers technology is revolutionizing the world
technology is revolutionizing the world
technology is revolutionizing the world and the truth is that kids have the best
and the truth is that kids have the best
and the truth is that kids have the best understanding of it even though most
understanding of it even though most
understanding of it even though most parents think phones are rotting our
parents think phones are rotting our
parents think phones are rotting our brains according to my grandma that’s
brains according to my grandma that’s
brains according to my grandma that’s what her parents said about electricity
the technology boom has put younger
the technology boom has put younger generations on an entirely alternative
generations on an entirely alternative
generations on an entirely alternative understanding of applications of
understanding of applications of
understanding of applications of artificial intelligence in advanced
artificial intelligence in advanced
artificial intelligence in advanced diagnostics in radiology or analysis of
diagnostics in radiology or analysis of
diagnostics in radiology or analysis of Astrophysical phenomena these are things
Astrophysical phenomena these are things
Astrophysical phenomena these are things that are just happening now
that are just happening now
that are just happening now with the decreasing age of exposure of
with the decreasing age of exposure of
with the decreasing age of exposure of babies and infants to technology but now
babies and infants to technology but now
babies and infants to technology but now here’s the thing just acknowledging this
here’s the thing just acknowledging this
here’s the thing just acknowledging this age discrimination that exists in
age discrimination that exists in
age discrimination that exists in science isn’t enough to do anything
science isn’t enough to do anything
science isn’t enough to do anything about it
about it
about it what am I saying throw your infants into
what am I saying throw your infants into
what am I saying throw your infants into a nuclear hazard lab not exactly but a
a nuclear hazard lab not exactly but a
a nuclear hazard lab not exactly but a love for problem solving needs to be
love for problem solving needs to be
love for problem solving needs to be nurtured from a younger age and this
nurtured from a younger age and this
nurtured from a younger age and this responsibility falls on adults when I
responsibility falls on adults when I
responsibility falls on adults when I was in eighth grade I was looking for a
was in eighth grade I was looking for a
was in eighth grade I was looking for a mentor to support me in writing a
mentor to support me in writing a
mentor to support me in writing a publication so surely enough I emailed a
publication so surely enough I emailed a
publication so surely enough I emailed a few professors my research abstract and
few professors my research abstract and
few professors my research abstract and a few days later they all responded
a few days later they all responded
a few days later they all responded extremely positively to even offered me
extremely positively to even offered me
extremely positively to even offered me positions in their Graduate research
positions in their Graduate research
positions in their Graduate research labs at major universities I was
labs at major universities I was
labs at major universities I was accelerated that I would have the
accelerated that I would have the
accelerated that I would have the opportunity to work with such
opportunity to work with such
opportunity to work with such world-renowned scientists I was so
world-renowned scientists I was so
world-renowned scientists I was so excited that I was sure I would have at
excited that I was sure I would have at
excited that I was sure I would have at least 20 publications and definitely win
least 20 publications and definitely win
least 20 publications and definitely win a Nobel Prize by the end of it but
a Nobel Prize by the end of it but
a Nobel Prize by the end of it but that’s not what happened not even close
that’s not what happened not even close
that’s not what happened not even close when I replied hesitantly of revealing
when I replied hesitantly of revealing
when I replied hesitantly of revealing my age that I was 13 years old at the
my age that I was 13 years old at the
my age that I was 13 years old at the time none of them ever responded even
time none of them ever responded even
time none of them ever responded even after countless desperate follow-up
after countless desperate follow-up
after countless desperate follow-up emails the opportunity was severed all
emails the opportunity was severed all
emails the opportunity was severed all because of an unchangeable number tagged
because of an unchangeable number tagged
because of an unchangeable number tagged on to every human being in situations
on to every human being in situations
on to every human being in situations like these
like these
like these the blame falls on adults for entirely
the blame falls on adults for entirely
the blame falls on adults for entirely leaving a child hopeless making them
leaving a child hopeless making them
leaving a child hopeless making them think that their ideas are irrelevant
think that their ideas are irrelevant
think that their ideas are irrelevant and especially when the kid took such an
and especially when the kid took such an
and especially when the kid took such an initiative to reach out hidden under the
initiative to reach out hidden under the
initiative to reach out hidden under the mask of email people were actually
mask of email people were actually
mask of email people were actually taking me seriously but when reality
taking me seriously but when reality
taking me seriously but when reality fell upon them they immediately cut the
fell upon them they immediately cut the
fell upon them they immediately cut the connection we can’t let the next
connection we can’t let the next
connection we can’t let the next generations stop taking risks because we
generations stop taking risks because we
generations stop taking risks because we need to fuel the next changemakers that
need to fuel the next changemakers that
need to fuel the next changemakers that will improve the world in the modern era
will improve the world in the modern era
will improve the world in the modern era of science there’s still a lot left to
of science there’s still a lot left to
of science there’s still a lot left to be done but if we can start by breaking
be done but if we can start by breaking
be done but if we can start by breaking the age barrier the possibilities are
the age barrier the possibilities are
the age barrier the possibilities are endless as long as we push the next
endless as long as we push the next
endless as long as we push the next generations in the right direction
generations in the right direction
generations in the right direction the only problem left will be to harness
the only problem left will be to harness
the only problem left will be to harness all the brain power because quite
all the brain power because quite
all the brain power because quite frankly the first people on Mars are the
frankly the first people on Mars are the
frankly the first people on Mars are the ones to develop a vaccine for AIDS won’t
ones to develop a vaccine for AIDS won’t
ones to develop a vaccine for AIDS won’t look like these guys anymore thank you
look like these guys anymore thank you
look like these guys anymore thank you [Applause]
”
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