Science is play for
both kids and grown-ups
Does this man look unhappy or bored?
Of course not! Padma Shukla is talking
about something he loves - Physics!
The Story
Cognitive science researcher Alison Gopnik and her colleagues have discovered that very young children are just like little scientists, because in their playing they devise theories, perform experiments, and carefully adjust one thing at a time to see how things work. However; the very best scientists, the ones who are the most successful with breakthrough discoveries and new developments, are also very playful - and I have seen this first-hand. I've heard several top scientists - including Nobel laureates - talk about the importance of remaining playful, in order to make rapid progress in scientific research. Science is a whole lot of fun for those exploring its frontiers, and the joy of expanding human knowledge is infectious. I've watched and experienced the great elation many scientists have when talking about their work to others of like mind, and you can feel the excitement and fulfillment that doing Science brings them. I think it is time the rest of the world learned the well kept secret that at its core Science is Play!
Jonathan J. Dickau