Night Science

Keith Yamamoto, professor and science policy leader at UCSF, discusses with us how modern science became trapped in a system that discourages creative risk-taking. Keith contrasts academia's fear of failure with Silicon Valley's acceptance of it as just another day at the office. We also talk about Keith’s introduction of a new NIH grant category specifically for paradigm-challenging ideas, where he deliberately chose generalist reviewers rather than domain experts who might reject ideas threatening their own paradigms.For more information about Night Science, visit https://www.biomedcentral.com/collections/night-science .

Peter Godfrey-Smith, a renowned Professor of Philosophy of Science at the University of Sydney, dives into the complex interplay between creativity in science and philosophy. He discusses how scientists operate within structured paradigms while philosophers have more freedom. The conversation highlights the role of 'middle-class science'—independent labs that foster innovation—illustrated by breakthroughs like CRISPR. Peter also draws a captivating parallel between the transition of night to day and the evolution of scientific thought, reminiscent of Händel's aria.

In this episode, Itai and Martin delve into the interplay between hypothesis-driven and exploratory research, drawing on insights from past guests of the Night Science Podcast. They discuss how being focused on a single hypothesis can prevent us from making discoveries, while emphasizing the value of open-ended exploratory analyses—often dismissed as “fishing expeditions.” The episode also examines the risks inherent to both approaches: hypothesis-driven Day Science may overlook key insights, while exploratory Night Science risks being misled by randomness.This episode was supported by Research Theory (researchtheory.org). For more information about Night Science, visit https://www.biomedcentral.com/collections/night-science .

Michael Fischbach, a Stanford professor specializing in chemistry, microbiology, and genetics, shares invaluable insights on selecting impactful research problems. He emphasizes the importance of investing time in problem selection and the concept of 'dating' ideas before committing. Fischbach discusses the balance between fixed and floating project parameters and the need to embrace risks strategically. He also introduces the idea of 'killer experiments' to determine project viability early on and encourages turning crises into opportunities for deeper understanding.

James Kaufman, a Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut, specializes in creativity research. In this conversation, he delves into the intricate relationship between personality traits and creativity, emphasizing the significant role of openness and conscientiousness. Kaufman discusses the 4C model of creativity and how unique teaching methods can stimulate student engagement. Plus, he highlights metacognition—understanding one's creative strengths—as a vital tool for enhancing creative potential and problem-solving skills.

Robert Weinberg, a leading cancer researcher at MIT, shares his insights on fostering innovation in science. He emphasizes the necessity of blending ideas from diverse fields to drive breakthroughs. The discussion highlights the importance of personal interactions among researchers, revealing how informal collaborations can spark creativity. Weinberg also stresses the need to continuously question the relevance of research focuses amidst ever-evolving methodologies and the role of AI in reshaping scientific inquiry. His anecdotes showcase the nonlinear path of discovery.

Manu Prakash, a Stanford University bioengineering professor, is known for his innovative FoldScope, a paper microscope aimed at democratizing science. He discusses the essence of 'frugal science' and how it fosters curiosity and personal transformation. Manu highlights the importance of immersing oneself in research environments, drawing on his deep-sea experiences. He reflects on how poorly formed questions can inspire breakthroughs and shares a profound moment of solitude at sea that reshaped his understanding of nature and self.

Dianne Newman – a molecular microbiologist at CalTech – is a professor both in Biology and Geology. In this episode, she encourages young scientists to pursue questions to which they have a visceral connection, rather than following popular trends. In its search for fundamental truths guided by our inner biases and preferences, Dianne likens scientific curiosity to artistic expression. She emphasizes our control over how much we dwell on the difficult aspects of our research, helping us to find satisfaction in creatively working around whatever obstacles we meet. Dianne also reflects on the unpredictable nature of research, and stresses how a problem that somebody else gives you can very rapidly become yours if you take it upon yourself to become its creative driver.This episode was supported by Research Theory (researchtheory.org). For more information about Night Science, visit https://www.biomedcentral.com/collections/night-science .

Tina Seelig is Executive Director of the Knight-Hennessy-Scholars at Stanford University. She is widely known for teaching creativity courses and workshops with an entrepreneurial focus. In this episode, Tina emphasizes the importance of living in the problem space longer, taking time to challenge assumptions and reframe questions before rushing to solutions. We discuss how deliberately generating bad ideas can lead to innovative solutions, as they allow for bigger conceptual leaps and often contain the seeds of brilliant ideas. Treating ideas as less precious allows for a continuous flow of creativity. But ideas aren’t cheap – they are free but incredibly valuable, like oxygen.This episode was supported by Research Theory (researchtheory.org). For more information about Night Science, visit https://www.biomedcentral.com/collections/night-science .

Venki Ramakrishnan, a Nobel laureate in Chemistry renowned for his work on ribosome structure, discusses the essence of embracing the scientific journey. He emphasizes finding joy in the process, not just the outcomes, and the importance of collaboration. Venki shares how creativity emerges from dialogue and problem reflection. He advocates for scientists to view seeking help as a strength and highlights the need for resilience in navigating the ups and downs of research, while nurturing curiosity and long-term aspirations.