we live in a time when innovation is all the rage but what does this word really
the rage but what does this word really
the rage but what does this word really mean well innovation is the creation of
mean well innovation is the creation of
mean well innovation is the creation of something new for the purposes of making
something new for the purposes of making
something new for the purposes of making a product that people will buy we’re
a product that people will buy we’re
a product that people will buy we’re told it’s this innovation that will
told it’s this innovation that will
told it’s this innovation that will improve our quality of life create new
improve our quality of life create new
improve our quality of life create new jobs invention on the other hand speak
jobs invention on the other hand speak
jobs invention on the other hand speak simply to the creation of something new
simply to the creation of something new
simply to the creation of something new with that judgment of purpose invention
with that judgment of purpose invention
with that judgment of purpose invention can play a key role in innovation but
can play a key role in innovation but
can play a key role in innovation but there’s more to it than that we can also
there’s more to it than that we can also
there’s more to it than that we can also invent simply for the purposes of
invent simply for the purposes of
invent simply for the purposes of discovery now when I think of invention
discovery now when I think of invention
discovery now when I think of invention discovery I like to think of it in terms
discovery I like to think of it in terms
discovery I like to think of it in terms of what we call a childlike curiosity
of what we call a childlike curiosity
of what we call a childlike curiosity its childlike curiosity is innate and
its childlike curiosity is innate and
its childlike curiosity is innate and something that all of us are born with
something that all of us are born with
something that all of us are born with for myself if I think back to lying in
for myself if I think back to lying in
for myself if I think back to lying in bed as a kid reading a page from a book
bed as a kid reading a page from a book
bed as a kid reading a page from a book that explained how velcro will worked
that explained how velcro will worked
that explained how velcro will worked with all the little loops and hooks I
with all the little loops and hooks I
with all the little loops and hooks I remember asking my parents seemingly
remember asking my parents seemingly
remember asking my parents seemingly innocuous questions why is the sky blue
innocuous questions why is the sky blue
innocuous questions why is the sky blue this childlike curiosity doesn’t have an
this childlike curiosity doesn’t have an
this childlike curiosity doesn’t have an agenda it’s simply a desire to learn
agenda it’s simply a desire to learn
agenda it’s simply a desire to learn something new but when was the last time
something new but when was the last time
something new but when was the last time that you asked a question out of sheer
that you asked a question out of sheer
that you asked a question out of sheer curiosity something happens we stop
curiosity something happens we stop
curiosity something happens we stop asking these questions why do we stop
asking these questions why do we stop
asking these questions why do we stop well I believe we’re trained out of
well I believe we’re trained out of
well I believe we’re trained out of asking these questions we learn to
asking these questions we learn to
asking these questions we learn to become more productive efficient members
become more productive efficient members
become more productive efficient members of society taught to achieve outcomes
of society taught to achieve outcomes
of society taught to achieve outcomes rather than explore and in light of this
rather than explore and in light of this
rather than explore and in light of this what I want to dig into here is what
what I want to dig into here is what
what I want to dig into here is what really is the value of this curiosity to
really is the value of this curiosity to
really is the value of this curiosity to our society so I want to start with an
our society so I want to start with an
our society so I want to start with an example from the medical field that of
example from the medical field that of
example from the medical field that of magnetic resonance imaging better known
magnetic resonance imaging better known
magnetic resonance imaging better known as MRI also happens to be my field of
as MRI also happens to be my field of
as MRI also happens to be my field of expertise now who here has ever been in
expertise now who here has ever been in
expertise now who here has ever been in one of these MRI scanners quite a few of
one of these MRI scanners quite a few of
one of these MRI scanners quite a few of you well MRI is really well known for
you well MRI is really well known for
you well MRI is really well known for its ability to safely image safely image
its ability to safely image safely image
its ability to safely image safely image inside the human body
inside the human body
inside the human body and it’s this ability that as men has
and it’s this ability that as men has
and it’s this ability that as men has become an invaluable tool in modern
become an invaluable tool in modern
become an invaluable tool in modern medicine for the diagnosis of diseases
medicine for the diagnosis of diseases
medicine for the diagnosis of diseases from brain tumors to all kinds of
from brain tumors to all kinds of
from brain tumors to all kinds of sporting injury
sporting injury
sporting injury but what fewer people realize is that
but what fewer people realize is that
but what fewer people realize is that MRI is actually an application of a
MRI is actually an application of a
MRI is actually an application of a quantum physics concept first discovered
quantum physics concept first discovered
quantum physics concept first discovered in 1937 now quantum physics is
in 1937 now quantum physics is
in 1937 now quantum physics is inherently abstract deeply mathematical
inherently abstract deeply mathematical
inherently abstract deeply mathematical so attempts to understand it we draw
so attempts to understand it we draw
so attempts to understand it we draw pictures and the picture that was drawn
pictures and the picture that was drawn
pictures and the picture that was drawn in 1937 was that of a nuclear magnetic
in 1937 was that of a nuclear magnetic
in 1937 was that of a nuclear magnetic resonance now when I save resonance what
resonance now when I save resonance what
resonance now when I save resonance what I mean is that it was found that if you
I mean is that it was found that if you
I mean is that it was found that if you took a nucleus put it in a magnetic
took a nucleus put it in a magnetic
took a nucleus put it in a magnetic field then directed a radio wave towards
field then directed a radio wave towards
field then directed a radio wave towards towards it that nucleus would sing back
towards it that nucleus would sing back
towards it that nucleus would sing back to you just as if it were a tuning fork
to you just as if it were a tuning fork
to you just as if it were a tuning fork but it wasn’t until the 1970s that this
but it wasn’t until the 1970s that this
but it wasn’t until the 1970s that this discovery became MRI the key insight
discovery became MRI the key insight
discovery became MRI the key insight which arrived about 40 years later was
which arrived about 40 years later was
which arrived about 40 years later was that if you took many nuclei put them in
that if you took many nuclei put them in
that if you took many nuclei put them in different magnetic fields
different magnetic fields
different magnetic fields they’d each seemed to you at a different
they’d each seemed to you at a different
they’d each seemed to you at a different frequency it’s very much in the way that
frequency it’s very much in the way that
frequency it’s very much in the way that you would expect each of these
you would expect each of these
you would expect each of these wineglasses to each resonate at a
wineglasses to each resonate at a
wineglasses to each resonate at a different frequency or pitch it was this
different frequency or pitch it was this
different frequency or pitch it was this insight they laid to the fuse first
insight they laid to the fuse first
insight they laid to the fuse first human MRI scan in 1977 now when
human MRI scan in 1977 now when
human MRI scan in 1977 now when scientists discovered nuclear magnetic
scientists discovered nuclear magnetic
scientists discovered nuclear magnetic resonance they weren’t doing so with the
resonance they weren’t doing so with the
resonance they weren’t doing so with the expectation that they would transform
expectation that they would transform
expectation that they would transform what in medicine they’ll simply
what in medicine they’ll simply
what in medicine they’ll simply exploring and of course the power of
exploring and of course the power of
exploring and of course the power of this curious exploration extends beyond
this curious exploration extends beyond
this curious exploration extends beyond medicine GP GPS which many of you use to
medicine GP GPS which many of you use to
medicine GP GPS which many of you use to find your way here tonight
find your way here tonight
find your way here tonight I’m guessing came about after a bunch of
I’m guessing came about after a bunch of
I’m guessing came about after a bunch of scientists at MIT were simply trying to
scientists at MIT were simply trying to
scientists at MIT were simply trying to build a system to track the newly
build a system to track the newly
build a system to track the newly launched Sputnik satellite just for fun
launched Sputnik satellite just for fun
launched Sputnik satellite just for fun no one told him to do it
no one told him to do it
no one told him to do it lasers are crucial to modern
lasers are crucial to modern
lasers are crucial to modern communications technologies including
communications technologies including
communications technologies including the Internet now they came about nearly
the Internet now they came about nearly
the Internet now they came about nearly 40 years after the enabling theory of
40 years after the enabling theory of
40 years after the enabling theory of stimulated emission was first written
stimulated emission was first written
stimulated emission was first written down and so what we see time and time
down and so what we see time and time
down and so what we see time and time again is it’s these most abstract ideas
again is it’s these most abstract ideas
again is it’s these most abstract ideas that often do the most to progress our
that often do the most to progress our
that often do the most to progress our society in the long term but if we
society in the long term but if we
society in the long term but if we rewind to that point when they were
rewind to that point when they were
rewind to that point when they were discovered we see that these
discovered we see that these
discovered we see that these applications weren’t known and I believe
applications weren’t known and I believe
applications weren’t known and I believe this tells us something important which
this tells us something important which
this tells us something important which is that the value of this curiosity
is that the value of this curiosity
is that the value of this curiosity needs to be intrinsic
needs to be intrinsic
needs to be intrinsic and the knowledge we create needs to be
and the knowledge we create needs to be
and the knowledge we create needs to be able to stand on its own two feet your
able to stand on its own two feet your
able to stand on its own two feet your respective of some future hypothetical
respective of some future hypothetical
respective of some future hypothetical applications but increasingly that’s
applications but increasingly that’s
applications but increasingly that’s exactly not the way that were valuing
exactly not the way that were valuing
exactly not the way that were valuing research discoveries without foreseeable
research discoveries without foreseeable
research discoveries without foreseeable short-term application or under threat
short-term application or under threat
short-term application or under threat the way this manifests itself is that we
the way this manifests itself is that we
the way this manifests itself is that we evaluate research in terms of its impact
evaluate research in terms of its impact
evaluate research in terms of its impact which is essentially a judgment of the
which is essentially a judgment of the
which is essentially a judgment of the effect the work will have on the economy
effect the work will have on the economy
effect the work will have on the economy the environment society what value will
the environment society what value will
the environment society what value will it deliver now scientific journals are
it deliver now scientific journals are
it deliver now scientific journals are ranked on the basis of a system that
ranked on the basis of a system that
ranked on the basis of a system that measures their impact as a number of
measures their impact as a number of
measures their impact as a number of times their articles are cited in just
times their articles are cited in just
times their articles are cited in just two years after publication and of
two years after publication and of
two years after publication and of course what all this leads to is a de
course what all this leads to is a de
course what all this leads to is a de prioritizing of long-term discovery at
prioritizing of long-term discovery at
prioritizing of long-term discovery at the expense of short-term goals every
the expense of short-term goals every
the expense of short-term goals every University now has an innovation
University now has an innovation
University now has an innovation strategy and every University is looking
strategy and every University is looking
strategy and every University is looking to see what value it can deliver in
to see what value it can deliver in
to see what value it can deliver in return for industry partnerships this is
return for industry partnerships this is
return for industry partnerships this is a situation where the value of science
a situation where the value of science
a situation where the value of science can only ever be evaluated on a five to
can only ever be evaluated on a five to
can only ever be evaluated on a five to ten year time scale but of course these
ten year time scale but of course these
ten year time scale but of course these pressures for value now extend beyond
pressures for value now extend beyond
pressures for value now extend beyond the research to me in the corporate
the research to me in the corporate
the research to me in the corporate world companies used to write ten-year
world companies used to write ten-year
world companies used to write ten-year plans now they’re writing to you plans
plans now they’re writing to you plans
plans now they’re writing to you plans in part this is a reflection of a
in part this is a reflection of a
in part this is a reflection of a rapidly changing world but it’s also a
rapidly changing world but it’s also a
rapidly changing world but it’s also a sign of lower risk tolerance a sign that
sign of lower risk tolerance a sign that
sign of lower risk tolerance a sign that we’re only willing to invest in things
we’re only willing to invest in things
we’re only willing to invest in things that we can see being successful over
that we can see being successful over
that we can see being successful over the short term a reluctance to explore
the short term a reluctance to explore
the short term a reluctance to explore the unknown for fear that nothing of
the unknown for fear that nothing of
the unknown for fear that nothing of monetary value we found if we really
monetary value we found if we really
monetary value we found if we really want to see this innovation that we
want to see this innovation that we
want to see this innovation that we claim to value so highly thrive for the
claim to value so highly thrive for the
claim to value so highly thrive for the decades to come
decades to come
decades to come we need to keep finding the abstract
we need to keep finding the abstract
we need to keep finding the abstract ideas and of course doing this means
ideas and of course doing this means
ideas and of course doing this means finding a balance it means pushing back
finding a balance it means pushing back
finding a balance it means pushing back on those short-term goals to create a
on those short-term goals to create a
on those short-term goals to create a space for curiosity to just exist really
space for curiosity to just exist really
space for curiosity to just exist really this is a classic problem do we
this is a classic problem do we
this is a classic problem do we prioritize the short term or the long
prioritize the short term or the long
prioritize the short term or the long term now for myself I try to carry this
term now for myself I try to carry this
term now for myself I try to carry this childlike curiosity it’s my work where
childlike curiosity it’s my work where
childlike curiosity it’s my work where we’re looking for new ways to track
we’re looking for new ways to track
we’re looking for new ways to track cancer drugs cancer of course is one of
cancer drugs cancer of course is one of
cancer drugs cancer of course is one of the biggest health challenges facing our
the biggest health challenges facing our
the biggest health challenges facing our society predicted that one in four
society predicted that one in four
society predicted that one in four children born today will eventually die
children born today will eventually die
children born today will eventually die from cancer despite decades of work
from cancer despite decades of work
from cancer despite decades of work in for a cure the problem is that we
in for a cure the problem is that we
in for a cure the problem is that we haven’t worked out a way to kill cancer
haven’t worked out a way to kill cancer
haven’t worked out a way to kill cancer without killing the person who has it
without killing the person who has it
without killing the person who has it now key step in overcoming this is the
now key step in overcoming this is the
now key step in overcoming this is the development of targeted chemotherapy
development of targeted chemotherapy
development of targeted chemotherapy drugs that can be selectively delivered
drugs that can be selectively delivered
drugs that can be selectively delivered to tumors such that they spare the rest
to tumors such that they spare the rest
to tumors such that they spare the rest of the otherwise healthy person from
of the otherwise healthy person from
of the otherwise healthy person from their toxic effects but of course to do
their toxic effects but of course to do
their toxic effects but of course to do this we need to know where those drugs
this we need to know where those drugs
this we need to know where those drugs are going and that’s why as part of my
are going and that’s why as part of my
are going and that’s why as part of my work here at the University of Sydney
work here at the University of Sydney
work here at the University of Sydney we’ve been developing new non-toxic
we’ve been developing new non-toxic
we’ve been developing new non-toxic markers for use with MRI and the
markers for use with MRI and the
markers for use with MRI and the material we’ve chosen for this is one of
material we’ve chosen for this is one of
material we’ve chosen for this is one of the most inert substances known to
the most inert substances known to
the most inert substances known to humankind Dimond now we can attach
humankind Dimond now we can attach
humankind Dimond now we can attach chemotherapy drugs to these tiny tiny
chemotherapy drugs to these tiny tiny
chemotherapy drugs to these tiny tiny diamonds which are also known as nano
diamonds which are also known as nano
diamonds which are also known as nano diamonds it could give us an entirely
diamonds it could give us an entirely
diamonds it could give us an entirely new way to see where these drugs go in
new way to see where these drugs go in
new way to see where these drugs go in the bottom in the body but a problem
the bottom in the body but a problem
the bottom in the body but a problem we’ve faced is that conventional MRI
we’ve faced is that conventional MRI
we’ve faced is that conventional MRI just isn’t sensitive enough to image
just isn’t sensitive enough to image
just isn’t sensitive enough to image these nano diamonds so how we trying to
these nano diamonds so how we trying to
these nano diamonds so how we trying to overcome it well we’re looking to the
overcome it well we’re looking to the
overcome it well we’re looking to the abstract ideas from the past of course
abstract ideas from the past of course
abstract ideas from the past of course we found that by using a process known
we found that by using a process known
we found that by using a process known as hyper polarization which was first
as hyper polarization which was first
as hyper polarization which was first discovered in the 1950s we can boost the
discovered in the 1950s we can boost the
discovered in the 1950s we can boost the signal from our diamonds by a factor of
signal from our diamonds by a factor of
signal from our diamonds by a factor of 10,000 now the MRI is listening to just
10,000 now the MRI is listening to just
10,000 now the MRI is listening to just one nuclear scene MRI with hyper
one nuclear scene MRI with hyper
one nuclear scene MRI with hyper polarization is listening to a
polarization is listening to a
polarization is listening to a well-trained choir and when we do this
well-trained choir and when we do this
well-trained choir and when we do this we find that our diamonds become beacons
we find that our diamonds become beacons
we find that our diamonds become beacons showing us their location in the body
showing us their location in the body
showing us their location in the body like lights on a Christmas tree in case
like lights on a Christmas tree in case
like lights on a Christmas tree in case any of you were wondering I’ve checked
any of you were wondering I’ve checked
any of you were wondering I’ve checked the inventors of hyper-polarization
the inventors of hyper-polarization
the inventors of hyper-polarization never pretty did their work would be
never pretty did their work would be
never pretty did their work would be used for imaging diamonds now the payoff
used for imaging diamonds now the payoff
used for imaging diamonds now the payoff of work like this could potentially be
of work like this could potentially be
of work like this could potentially be huge but the risks that will never lead
huge but the risks that will never lead
huge but the risks that will never lead to a profitable product in the long term
to a profitable product in the long term
to a profitable product in the long term it’s just too high for company for most
it’s just too high for company for most
it’s just too high for company for most companies to bear and a lot of this we
companies to bear and a lot of this we
companies to bear and a lot of this we do need to be realistic in the corporate
do need to be realistic in the corporate
do need to be realistic in the corporate world there’s always going to be a need
world there’s always going to be a need
world there’s always going to be a need for profit but it doesn’t mean we can’t
for profit but it doesn’t mean we can’t
for profit but it doesn’t mean we can’t change our perspective and I believe the
change our perspective and I believe the
change our perspective and I believe the first step in doing this is we really
first step in doing this is we really
first step in doing this is we really need to learn to pause before we ever
need to learn to pause before we ever
need to learn to pause before we ever ask that question what’s it good for
ask that question what’s it good for
ask that question what’s it good for of course doing this can pay dividends
of course doing this can pay dividends
of course doing this can pay dividends in the corporate world as well
in the corporate world as well
in the corporate world as well Google is famous for having taken a step
Google is famous for having taken a step
Google is famous for having taken a step in the direction of creativity with
in the direction of creativity with
in the direction of creativity with what’s called 20% time now under 20%
what’s called 20% time now under 20%
what’s called 20% time now under 20% time employees are encouraged to spend
time employees are encouraged to spend
time employees are encouraged to spend up to 20% of their time working on
up to 20% of their time working on
up to 20% of their time working on projects that just interest them now
projects that just interest them now
projects that just interest them now the important point is whether or not a
the important point is whether or not a
the important point is whether or not a given employee ever actually uses all
given employee ever actually uses all
given employee ever actually uses all this time it helps to create an
this time it helps to create an
this time it helps to create an environment where people feel safe to
environment where people feel safe to
environment where people feel safe to spend time exploring projects that may
spend time exploring projects that may
spend time exploring projects that may be ultimately doomed to fail and what
be ultimately doomed to fail and what
be ultimately doomed to fail and what Google has found is that after half of
Google has found is that after half of
Google has found is that after half of its new product lines have come out of
its new product lines have come out of
its new product lines have come out of work initiated during this 20% time
work initiated during this 20% time
work initiated during this 20% time other big technology is sorry other big
other big technology is sorry other big
other big technology is sorry other big technology companies such as Alaskan
technology companies such as Alaskan
technology companies such as Alaskan based here in Australia are developing
based here in Australia are developing
based here in Australia are developing similar programs in attempts to bolster
similar programs in attempts to bolster
similar programs in attempts to bolster creativity and really what all these
creativity and really what all these
creativity and really what all these programs are are an acknowledgment that
programs are are an acknowledgment that
programs are are an acknowledgment that at the core of the innovations that do
at the core of the innovations that do
at the core of the innovations that do the most progress our society is
the most progress our society is
the most progress our society is curiosity not profit because at the end
curiosity not profit because at the end
curiosity not profit because at the end of the day innovation isn’t bad but it
of the day innovation isn’t bad but it
of the day innovation isn’t bad but it can be short-sighted we need to refined
can be short-sighted we need to refined
can be short-sighted we need to refined our childlike curiosity and treasure the
our childlike curiosity and treasure the
our childlike curiosity and treasure the abstract ideas thank you
abstract ideas thank you
abstract ideas thank you [Applause]
”
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