The Importance of Crazy Ideas in Science: Professor Bāliņa Encourages Persistence and Innovation

Asked about how many successful scientific ideas there are, Bāliņa tells the presenter Paul Timrot that it depends on the field. “Often in science, something happens to you and then you don’t understand how it happened to you, and then you work and think, but how did I get there? What was its chemical formula? What did I do? What happened to me there and why did it happen? And I think that in science those challenges are even greater there. One is that you get, and you have to prove that it is not a case, but that it really is. You have to have repetition.”

She continues: “I always tell my students – think crazy ideas, think – the crazier the ideas, the better, because life will put you where you are, you’ll be fine, but if you don’t have any crazy ideas, then there will be nothing. The other is also – if you don’t succeed once, try again.”

The professor points out that it is typical for Latvians – if something doesn’t work out, then it’s bad.

“It’s an experience you get. I think it’s very important and essential to show in studies that you can’t always get everything, but do more and get it all,” she explains, remembering her 18 years and her father’s words that knowledge comes from where you meet several industries. “It is the strength of the University of Latvia that we have so many specialists,” adds Bāliņa.

You can listen to the full recording of the program here!

2024-02-22 21:58:39


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