TEDGlobal 2013
Uri Alon: Why science demands a leap into the unknown
烏禮.艾隆: 為什麼真正革新的科學需要跳進未知的領域 ?
Filmed:
Readability: 4.3
1,123,668 views
在研讀物理學博士學位的時候,烏禮.艾隆認為自己是一個失敗者,因為他所有的研究方向都進了死巷子。不過有了即興劇場帶給他的幫助,他瞭解到在迷路時也可以是有趣的。呼籲科學家們停止把研究想成是一條從問題連結到答案的直線,反而是其他更有想像力的東西,這是一個能產生共鳴的想法,不管你處在哪一個領域。
Uri Alon - Systems biologist
Uri Alon studies how cells work, using an array of tools (including improv theater) to understand the biological circuits that perform the functions of life. Full bio
Uri Alon studies how cells work, using an array of tools (including improv theater) to understand the biological circuits that perform the functions of life. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
In the middle of my Ph.D.,
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在我研讀博士學位的過程中,
00:14
I was hopelessly stuck.
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我曾經絕望地被困住了,
00:17
Every research direction that I tried
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我所嘗試的每一個研究方向,
00:19
led to a dead end.
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都帶我進了死胡同,
00:21
It seemed like my basic assumptions
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那看起來像是我的數個基本假設
00:23
just stopped working.
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就是不管用的。
00:25
I felt like a pilot flying through the mist,
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我覺得我像是個飛行員要穿越雲霧,
00:28
and I lost all sense of direction.
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我完全不知道要往哪兒去;
00:30
I stopped shaving.
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我不再刮鬍子、
00:32
I couldn't get out of bed in the morning.
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早上都離不開床了,
00:35
I felt unworthy
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我感到沒有資格
00:36
of stepping across the gates of the university,
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踏進大學的大門,
00:39
because I wasn't like Einstein or Newton
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因為我不像愛恩斯坦、牛頓
00:42
or any other scientist whose results
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或者是其他的科學家們,
他們的研究成果
他們的研究成果
00:44
I had learned about, because in science,
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我都曾經學習過的,在科學界
00:45
we just learn about the results, not the process.
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我們就是學習結果而不是過程,
00:49
And so obviously, I couldn't be a scientist.
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所以很顯然地,
我不能成為一個科學家!
我不能成為一個科學家!
00:53
But I had enough support
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但是我有足夠的支持、助力,
00:55
and I made it through
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我走過來了,
00:56
and discovered something new about nature.
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還發現了一些有關天性的新東西。
00:59
This is an amazing feeling of calmness,
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這有一種不可思議的平靜,
01:01
being the only person in the world
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身為這世上唯一一個人
01:03
who knows a new law of nature.
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知道一條天性的新規則來說,
01:05
And I started the second project in my Ph.D,
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接著我啟動我攻讀博士學位
的第二個研究計畫,
的第二個研究計畫,
01:08
and it happened again.
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又來了!
01:09
I got stuck and I made it through.
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我又卡住了、我還是走過來了,
01:12
And I started thinking,
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我開始思考,
01:13
maybe there's a pattern here.
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也許有一個規律在這裡面,
01:14
I asked the other graduate students, and they said,
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我問了其他的研究生們,而他們跟我說:
01:16
"Yeah, that's exactly what happened to us,
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「對耶!那就是發生在我們身上的情形,
01:18
except nobody told us about it."
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只是沒人跟我們談過這些」。
01:20
We'd all studied science as if it's a series
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我們全都學過,科學就好像是一連串
01:22
of logical steps between question and answer,
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合邏輯的步驟連結在問題與答案之間,
01:26
but doing research is nothing like that.
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但是做研究就不是這麼一回事的。
01:29
At the same time, I was also studying
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相同時間,我也在學習
01:31
to be an improvisation theater actor.
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要成為即興演出劇場的表演者,
01:33
So physics by day,
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白天是物理,
01:35
and by night, laughing, jumping, singing,
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到了晚上大笑、大跳、演唱、
01:37
playing my guitar.
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演奏吉他,
01:38
Improvisation theater,
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即興演出劇場
01:39
just like science, goes into the unknown,
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就像是科學一樣
要進入未知的領域,
要進入未知的領域,
01:42
because you have to make a scene onstage
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因為你必須在舞台上表演
01:44
without a director, without a script,
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而沒有導演、劇本,
01:46
without having any idea what you'll portray
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你完全沒有頭緒要去描繪什麼,
01:48
or what the other characters will do.
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或是其他角色會做些甚麼。
01:50
But unlike science,
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不過不像是科學,
01:52
in improvisation theater, they tell you from day one
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在即興演出劇場
他們從第一天就告訴你
他們從第一天就告訴你
01:55
what's going to happen to
you when you get onstage.
you when you get onstage.
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當你上了舞台會發生甚麼事,
01:57
You're going to fail miserably.
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你將會很悲慘地失敗、
02:00
You're going to get stuck.
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你會被卡住。
02:01
And we would practice staying creative
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而我們會練習保持有創造力
02:03
inside that stuck place.
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在這個被卡住的地方。
02:05
For example, we had an exercise
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例如我們有一個練習,
02:06
where we all stood in a circle,
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我們站著圍出圓圈,
02:08
and each person had to do
the world's worst tap dance,
the world's worst tap dance,
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而每一個人都要跳出
世界上最糟糕的踢踏舞,
世界上最糟糕的踢踏舞,
02:11
and everybody else applauded
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然後每一個人都會鼓掌、
02:12
and cheered you on,
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為你打氣、
02:13
supporting you onstage.
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支持你上舞台。
02:16
When I became a professor
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當我變成了一個教授後,
02:18
and had to guide my own students
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必須指導我自己的學生,
02:19
through their research projects,
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通過他們的研究專案,
02:21
I realized again,
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我又明白到了,
02:23
I don't know what to do.
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我不知道要怎麼做,
02:24
I'd studied thousands of hours of physics,
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我已經學習了上千個鐘頭的物理學、
02:26
biology, chemistry,
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生物學、化學等,
02:28
but not one hour, not one concept
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但是卻沒有一個鐘頭、一個概念,
02:30
on how to mentor, how to guide someone
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在如何指導、帶領其他人
02:33
to go together into the unknown,
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一起進入未知的領域,
02:35
about motivation.
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以及有關激勵學生?
02:37
So I turned to improvisation theater,
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所以我改用即興演出劇院的經驗,
02:39
and I told my students from day one
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打從第一天我就告訴學生,
02:41
what's going to happen when you start research,
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當他們開始做研究後
將會發生甚麼事情,
將會發生甚麼事情,
02:44
and this has to do with our mental schema
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這有關於我們的心裡的圖表:
02:45
of what research will be like.
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做研究應該像是甚麼樣子。
02:47
Because you see, whenever people do anything,
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因為你也知道的,
任何時候在我們做任何事情時,
任何時候在我們做任何事情時,
02:50
for example if I want to touch this blackboard,
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好比是我想要碰這塊黑板,
02:52
my brain first builds up a schema,
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我的大腦裡會先建構出一張圖表,
02:54
a prediction of exactly what my muscles will do
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精確地預期我的肌肉將會如何運作,
02:56
before I even start moving my hand,
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甚至早在我動起我的手之前。
02:58
and if I get blocked,
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如果過程中間我被卡住了、
03:00
if my schema doesn't match reality,
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如果我心裡那張圖表跟現況不符,
03:02
that causes extra stress called cognitive dissonance.
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那引發過多的焦慮稱做「認知失調」,
03:04
That's why your schemas had better match reality.
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那就是為什麼你的心裡圖表
最好是要跟現況相符。
最好是要跟現況相符。
03:07
But if you believe the way science is taught,
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不過如果你相信科學被教的方法、
03:10
and if you believe textbooks, you're liable
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如果你相信教科書,
相信你
相信你
03:12
to have the following schema of research.
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會有接下來這張研究的心裡圖表,
03:18
If A is the question,
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如果A是問題、
03:22
and B is the answer,
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B是答案,
03:25
then research is a direct path.
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然後「研究」就是一條筆直的路徑。
03:30
The problem is that if an experiment doesn't work,
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問題是如果一個實驗不成功、
03:33
or a student gets depressed,
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或是學生心情低落了,
03:36
it's perceived as something utterly wrong
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那被認為如同某些事情徹底地錯誤,
03:38
and causes tremendous stress.
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而造成極大的焦慮。
03:42
And that's why I teach my students
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那就是為什麼我教給我的學生
03:43
a more realistic schema.
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一張比較真實的圖表,
03:50
Here's an example
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這邊是一個例子
03:52
where things don't match your schema.
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實際情形跟你的圖表不一致。
03:58
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
04:01
(Applause)
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(鼓掌)
04:13
So I teach my students a different schema.
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所以我教給我的學生們
一張不同的圖表,
一張不同的圖表,
04:17
If A is the question,
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如果A是問題、
04:19
B is the answer,
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B是答案,
04:25
stay creative in the cloud,
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在「雲層」中時保持有創意的,
04:26
and you start going,
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而你開始往前進,
04:28
and experiments don't work, experiments don't work,
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然後實驗不成功、接著實驗又不成功、
04:31
experiments don't work, experiments don't work,
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繼續實驗還是不成功、實驗繼續不成功,
04:33
until you reach a place linked
with negative emotions
with negative emotions
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直到你來到與負面情緒連結的地步,
04:36
where it seems like your basic assumptions
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那看起來像是你的數個基本假設
04:38
have stopped making sense,
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都不再有道理了,
04:39
like somebody yanked the carpet beneath your feet.
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就像是有人抽走在你腳下
的地毯一樣,
的地毯一樣,
04:42
And I call this place the cloud.
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我把這個地步叫做「雲層」。
04:59
Now you can be lost in the cloud
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你可以在「雲層」裡迷失了
05:02
for a day, a week, a month, a year,
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一天、一個星期、一個月、一年、
05:04
a whole career,
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整個職涯;
05:06
but sometimes, if you're lucky enough
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不過有些時候如果你夠幸運、
05:08
and you have enough support,
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有足夠的助力、後援,
05:10
you can see in the materials at hand,
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你可以看清楚手上握有的資訊,
05:12
or perhaps meditating on the shape of the cloud,
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或者是冥想出「雲層」的形狀,
05:15
a new answer,
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出現一個新答案:C
05:19
C, and you decide to go for it.
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而你決定要去得到這答案,
05:22
And experiments don't work, experiments don't work,
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然後實驗不成功、接著實驗又不成功,
05:25
but you get there,
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不過最後你走到答案那邊了,
05:26
and then you tell everyone about it
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之後你告訴每一個人關於這件事,
05:28
by publishing a paper that reads A arrow C,
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你透過發表論文,那寫著A箭頭到C,
05:31
which is a great way to communicate,
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這是很棒的方式用來交流訊息,
05:33
but as long as you don't forget the path
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不過前提是你也不要忘記
05:35
that brought you there.
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帶你到達答案的路徑。
05:37
Now this cloud is an inherent part
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「雲層」是研究既有的部分、
05:39
of research, an inherent part of our craft,
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我們技術上既有的部分,
05:42
because the cloud stands guard at the boundary.
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因為「雲層」守護著疆界,
05:49
It stands guard at the boundary
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它護守著
05:51
between the known
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介於已知
05:57
and the unknown,
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跟未知之間的疆界,
06:05
because in order to discover something truly new,
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為了要找到一些確實是新的東西,
06:07
at least one of your basic
assumptions has to change,
assumptions has to change,
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至少你的多個基本假設中的一個
必須要做改變,
必須要做改變,
06:10
and that means that in science,
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那代表在科學上
06:12
we do something quite heroic.
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我們相當英勇的做著一些事情。
06:14
Every day, we try to bring ourselves
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每一天我們試著帶我們自己
06:15
to the boundary between
the known and the unknown
the known and the unknown
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來到已知跟未知之間的疆界,
06:17
and face the cloud.
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來面對雲層。
06:19
Now notice that I put B
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注意這邊我把B放在
06:21
in the land of the known,
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已知的地方,
06:22
because we knew about it in the beginning,
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因為我們從一開始就知道有B了,
06:23
but C is always more interesting
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但是C總是更有趣、
06:27
and more important than B.
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更重要過於B,
06:30
So B is essential in order to get going,
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所以為了向前進B是不可少的,
06:32
but C is much more profound,
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但是C是更有深意的。
06:34
and that's the amazing thing about resesarch.
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那就是研究不可思議的地方。
06:38
Now just knowing that word, the cloud,
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只是知道「雲層」這個字眼,
06:40
has been transformational in my research group,
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已經在我的研究團隊裡起了變化,
06:43
because students come to me and say,
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因為學生會過來跟我說:
06:45
"Uri, I'm in the cloud,"
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「烏禮!我在雲層裡了!」
06:46
and I say, "Great, you must be feeling miserable."
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而我說:
「很好,你一定感覺很淒慘吧!」
「很好,你一定感覺很淒慘吧!」
06:50
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
06:52
But I'm kind of happy,
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不過我是有一點高興,
06:54
because we might be close to the boundary
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因為我們可能是接近了那條疆界,
06:55
between the known and the unknown,
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介於已知與未知之間,
06:57
and we stand a chance of discovering
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我們握有機會發現
06:59
something truly new,
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一些確實存在的新事物。
07:01
since the way our mind works,
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自從我們思緒是這種方式運作
07:02
it's just knowing that the cloud
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只要知道「雲層」
07:05
is normal, it's essential,
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是正常的、不可少的,
07:10
and in fact beautiful,
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還有事實上是美麗的。
07:11
we can join the Cloud Appreciation Society,
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我們就能加入「理解雲層社會」,
07:14
and it detoxifies the feeling that something
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這會解去「我真的有些地方完全錯掉」
07:16
is deeply wrong with me.
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這種感覺的毒。
07:19
And as a mentor, I know what to do,
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身為指導者我知道該做些甚麼,
07:21
which is to step up my support for the student,
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就是要增加我的支持給學生們,
07:24
because research in psychology shows
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因為心理學的研究指出,
07:25
that if you're feeling fear and despair,
169
433541
3559
如果你感覺恐懼和絕望,
07:29
your mind narrows down
170
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997
你的思路就會窄化到
07:30
to very safe and conservative ways of thinking.
171
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非常安全跟保守的思考方式。
07:32
If you'd like to explore the risky paths
172
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如果你想要探索有風險的路徑,
07:34
needed to get out of the cloud,
173
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1388
那是帶你離開雲層所必要的,
07:35
you need other emotions --
174
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1761
你需要其他的情緒:
07:37
solidarity, support, hope —
175
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2201
踏實、靠山、希望,
07:39
that come with your connection from somebody else,
176
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1737
那來自與你跟你以外的人產生的關連,
07:41
so like in improvisation theater,
177
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1550
就像在即興演出劇場裡,
07:43
in science, it's best to walk into the unknown
178
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2301
科學裡面最棒的事是
07:45
together.
179
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1969
一起進入未知。
07:47
So knowing about the cloud,
180
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2442
所以清楚明白了「雲層」,
07:49
you also learn from improvisation theater
181
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3324
你也從即興演出劇場學到了
07:53
a very effective way to have conversations
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2602
非常有效的的方法
07:55
inside the cloud.
183
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1760
在「雲層」裡交談,
07:57
It's based on the central principle
184
465538
1977
那是基於即興演出劇場
07:59
of improvisation theater,
185
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1767
的中心準則。
08:01
so here improvisation theater
186
469282
1093
所以在這邊即興演出劇場
08:02
came to my help again.
187
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1296
又再次成為了我的幫助。
08:03
It's called saying "Yes, and"
188
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2291
就是說:「沒錯!然後..」,
08:05
to the offers made by other actors.
189
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3465
由其他演員做球來給你,
08:16
That means accepting the offers
190
484297
2894
那意味著接受做球,
08:19
and building on them, saying, "Yes, and."
191
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2511
然後從這句話去建設。說「沒錯!然後..」
08:21
For example, if one actor says,
192
489702
1239
舉例來說如果一個演員說:
08:22
"Here is a pool of water,"
193
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1155
「這裡有一個水池。」
08:24
and the other actor says,
194
492096
1045
而其他演員說:
08:25
"No, that's just a stage,"
195
493141
1869
「不是啦!這裡是舞台。」
08:27
the improvisation is over.
196
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1738
這一場即興演出就結束了,
08:28
It's dead, and everybody feels frustrated.
197
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3772
它完蛋了,每一個人都感覺受到挫折了,
08:32
That's called blocking.
198
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1348
那叫做「堵塞」。
08:33
If you're not mindful of communications,
199
501868
1607
如果你的交談不是體貼的,
08:35
scientific conversations can have a lot of blocking.
200
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2937
科學的對話就有很多的「堵塞」。
08:38
Saying "Yes, and" sounds like this.
201
506412
2236
說:「沒錯!然後…」,聽起來像是
08:40
"Here is a pool of water."
"Yeah, let's jump in."
"Yeah, let's jump in."
202
508648
2508
「這裡有一個水池!」;
「耶!讓我們跳進水池裡吧!」
「耶!讓我們跳進水池裡吧!」
08:43
"Look, there's a whale! Let's grab it by its tail.
203
511156
3009
「看,那裡有一隻鯨魚!」;
「讓我們從尾巴抓住牠!」
「讓我們從尾巴抓住牠!」
08:46
It's pulling us to the moon!"
204
514165
2101
「牠將會把我們拉上月球去的!」
08:48
So saying "Yes, and" bypasses our inner critic.
205
516266
3020
所以說「沒錯!然後」
來繞過我們內在的批判,
來繞過我們內在的批判,
08:51
We all have an inner critic
206
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1694
我們都會有一個內在的批判,
08:52
that kind of guards what we say,
207
520980
1241
那有點像是我們說話時的防衛,
08:54
so people don't think that we're obscene
208
522221
1923
所以大家不會認為我們說漏了甚麼、
08:56
or crazy or unoriginal,
209
524144
1115
或是發瘋了的、沒新意的,
08:57
and science is full of the fear
210
525259
1260
而科學是充滿
08:58
of appearing unoriginal.
211
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1557
表現沒新意的恐懼。
09:00
Saying "Yes, and" bypasses the critic
212
528076
2167
說「沒錯!然後」
來繞過我們內在的批判,
來繞過我們內在的批判,
09:02
and unlocks hidden voices of creativity
213
530243
2612
解放創意被藏起來的聲音,
09:04
you didn't even know that you had,
214
532855
1525
你甚至不知道你已經有的創意,
09:06
and they often carry the answer
215
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2030
那些聲音經常會帶來答案,
09:08
about the cloud.
216
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2405
有關於「雲層」的。
09:10
So you see, knowing about the cloud
217
538815
2601
你也清楚,知道有關「雲層」、
09:13
and about saying "Yes, and"
218
541416
1404
和說「沒錯!然後」,
09:14
made my lab very creative.
219
542820
2859
使我的實驗室變得非常有創意,
09:17
Students started playing off of each others' ideas,
220
545679
2528
學生們開始挑動彼此的想法,
09:20
and we made surprising discoveries
221
548207
2114
而且我們做出數個令人驚喜的發現,
09:22
in the interface between physics and biology.
222
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2869
在物理學和生物學交疊的區域,
09:25
For example, we were stuck for a year
223
553190
2950
例如我們以前被卡住了一年,
努力嘗試想要了解在我們細胞中
09:28
trying to understand the intricate
224
556140
1149
09:29
biochemical networks inside our cells,
225
557289
2693
複雜精細的生物化學網絡,
09:31
and we said, "We are deeply in the cloud,"
226
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2457
我們說:「我們在雲層裡的深處」。
09:34
and we had a playful conversation
227
562439
1980
以及我們有一個好玩的交談,
09:36
where my student Shai Shen Orr said,
228
564419
1788
我的學生歐俠伸說:
09:38
"Let's just draw this on a
piece of paper, this network,"
piece of paper, this network,"
229
566207
2843
「讓我們把這個網絡給畫在一張紙上。」,
09:41
and instead of saying,
230
569050
1453
取代會說出
09:42
"But we've done that so many times
231
570503
2151
「但是我們已經做過那麼多遍了
09:44
and it doesn't work,"
232
572654
1034
都行不通的。」
09:45
I said, "Yes, and
233
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2943
我說:「沒錯!
09:48
let's use a very big piece of paper,"
234
576631
2041
讓我們用一張非常大的紙。」
09:50
and then Ron Milo said,
235
578672
1092
接著朗.米羅說了:
09:51
"Let's use a gigantic architect's
236
579764
2220
「讓我們用一張巨大的建築師用的
09:53
blueprint kind of paper, and I know where to print it,"
237
581984
1796
底稿籃圖那樣的紙,
我知道要去哪裡影印。」
我知道要去哪裡影印。」
09:55
and we printed out the network and looked at it,
238
583780
2500
我們印出那個網絡、盯著它看,
09:58
and that's where we made
our most important discovery,
our most important discovery,
239
586280
2509
那裡是我們做出最重要發現的地方。
10:00
that this complicated network is just made
240
588789
2201
這一個複雜精細的網路
10:02
of a handful of simple, repeating interaction patterns
241
590990
3463
只是由幾個簡單的、重複的
互動模式所組成的,
互動模式所組成的,
10:06
like motifs in a stained glass window.
242
594453
3163
就像是彩色玻璃窗戶的圖案一樣,
10:09
We call them network motifs,
243
597616
2048
我們叫它網路圖案。
10:11
and they're the elementary circuits
244
599664
2152
它們是基本的迴路,
10:13
that help us understand
245
601816
1385
它幫我們了解
10:15
the logic of the way cells make decisions
246
603201
2700
體內所有器官、包括身體的
10:17
in all organisms, including our body.
247
605901
2849
細胞做決定的邏輯。
10:20
Soon enough, after this,
248
608750
1925
此後很快地,
10:22
I started being invited to give talks
249
610675
1620
我開始受到邀請去演講
10:24
to thousands of scientists across the world,
250
612295
3011
給上千位世界各地的科學家聽。
10:27
but the knowledge about the cloud
251
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1833
但是有關「雲層」的知識、
10:29
and saying "Yes, and"
252
617139
1132
說「沒錯!然後..」等,
10:30
just stayed within my own lab,
253
618271
1839
都還只留在我自己的實驗室裡,
10:32
because you see, in science,
we don't talk about the process,
we don't talk about the process,
254
620110
2131
因為你也知道的
在科學界我們並不談論研究過程、
在科學界我們並不談論研究過程、
10:34
anything subjective or emotional.
255
622241
2433
任何主觀還是情緒上的東西,
10:36
We talk about the results.
256
624674
1863
我們談的就是結果。
10:38
So there was no way to talk about it in conferences.
257
626537
2069
所以沒有辦法在研討會裡談到
過程、主觀上、情緒上
過程、主觀上、情緒上
10:40
That was unthinkable.
258
628606
1924
那是無法想像的。
10:42
And I saw scientists in other groups get stuck
259
630530
2076
還有我知道其他團隊的
科學人員們被卡住了,
科學人員們被卡住了,
10:44
without even having a word to describe
260
632606
1774
甚至沒有一個字形容
10:46
what they're seeing,
261
634380
1321
他們看見什麼了,
10:47
and their ways of thinking
262
635701
1355
他們的思路
10:49
narrowed down to very safe paths,
263
637056
1528
窄化為非常安全的路徑,
10:50
their science didn't reach its full potential,
264
638584
1660
他們的科學研究
並沒有達到最大潛力,
並沒有達到最大潛力,
10:52
and they were miserable.
265
640244
1753
而他們是很痛苦,
10:53
I thought, that's the way it is.
266
641997
1939
我認為就是這麼一回事。
10:55
I'll try to make my lab as creative as possible,
267
643936
2021
我會努力讓我的實驗室
盡可能維持有創意,
盡可能維持有創意,
10:57
and if everybody else does the same,
268
645957
1680
如果每一個人都照這樣做,
10:59
science will eventually become
269
647637
2190
科學成果最終會變得
11:01
more and more better and better.
270
649827
2214
越來越多、越來越好。
11:04
That way of thinking got turned on its head
271
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2920
那樣的思考方式被顛覆了過來,
11:06
when by chance I went to hear Evelyn Fox Keller
272
654961
2339
當偶然下我去聽
艾芙玲.福克斯
艾芙玲.福克斯
11:09
give a talk about her experiences
273
657300
1358
演講有關她身為女人
11:10
as a woman in science.
274
658658
1691
在科學領域的經驗。
11:12
And she asked,
275
660349
1823
她問說:
11:14
"Why is it that we don't talk about the subjective
276
662172
1948
「為什麼我們不談有關做科學的主觀上
11:16
and emotional aspects of doing science?
277
664120
2186
還有情緒上這方面的事情呢?」
11:18
It's not by chance. It's a matter of values."
278
666306
3992
那並不是偶然發生的,
那是關於價值的。
那是關於價值的。
11:22
You see, science seeks knowledge
279
670298
2178
你們都知道科學是尋求
11:24
that's objective and rational.
280
672476
1795
客觀還有合理的知識,
11:26
That's the beautiful thing about science.
281
674271
2198
那是科學美麗的地方;
11:28
But we also have a cultural myth
282
676469
1956
但是我們有文化上的迷思,
11:30
that the doing of science,
283
678425
1254
做科學
11:31
what we do every day to get that knowledge,
284
679679
2300
那是我們為了求取知識每天在做的事,
11:33
is also only objective and rational,
285
681979
2440
也是只有客觀跟合理的,
11:36
like Mr. Spock.
286
684419
2432
好像史巴克博士一樣。
11:38
And when you label something
287
686851
1414
然而當你將某些事物標記為
11:40
as objective and rational,
288
688265
1813
客觀的、合理的,
11:42
automatically, the other side,
289
690078
1642
自動地另一邊
11:43
the subjective and emotional,
290
691720
1457
主觀的和情緒性的,
11:45
become labeled as non-science
291
693177
2102
被貼上非科學的、
11:47
or anti-science or threatening to science,
292
695279
1971
反科學的、危害科學的標籤,
11:49
and we just don't talk about it.
293
697250
1811
我們只有不去談它。
11:51
And when I heard that,
294
699061
1954
當我聽到這些,
11:53
that science has a culture,
295
701015
2167
說科學界有一個文化,
11:55
everything clicked into place for me,
296
703182
1547
我恍然大悟過來,
11:56
because if science has a culture,
297
704729
1664
因為如果科學裡有文化,
11:58
culture can be changed,
298
706393
1256
而文化是可以被改變的,
11:59
and I can be a change agent
299
707649
1593
那我就可以當做一個改變的代表,
12:01
working to change the culture
of science wherever I could.
of science wherever I could.
300
709242
2712
不管我到哪裡都能夠從事
改變科學的文化。
改變科學的文化。
12:03
And so the very next lecture I gave in a conference,
301
711954
3069
所以在研討會裡我緊接下來
開的課程裡,
開的課程裡,
12:07
I talked about my science,
302
715023
1612
我談我的科學,
12:08
and then I talked about the importance
303
716635
1512
隨後我談關於
12:10
of the subjective and emotional
aspects of doing science
aspects of doing science
304
718147
2182
主觀的、情緒的這方面在
做科學的重要性
做科學的重要性
12:12
and how we should talk about them,
305
720329
1120
還有我們應該如何來談論它們;
12:13
and I looked at the audience,
306
721449
1234
接著我看著聽眾們,
12:14
and they were cold.
307
722683
2360
他們是冷淡的,
12:17
They couldn't hear what I was saying
308
725043
3291
他們沒辦法聽懂我當時正在說的東西,
12:20
in the context of a 10 back-to-back
309
728334
1251
在連續10場
12:21
PowerPoint presentation conference.
310
729585
1839
有投影片介紹的研討會裡。
12:23
And I tried again and again,
conference after conference,
conference after conference,
311
731424
2482
我試著一遍又一遍、
一場接著一場研討會
一場接著一場研討會
12:25
but I wasn't getting through.
312
733906
2373
但是我無法克服這情形,
12:28
I was in the cloud.
313
736279
2906
我當時在「雲層」裡的。
12:31
And eventually I managed to get out the cloud
314
739185
3514
終於我成功離開了「雲層」,
12:34
using improvisation and music.
315
742699
2811
利用即興表演和音樂
12:37
Since then, every conference I go to,
316
745510
2739
從那時候起每一場我去的研討會,
12:40
I give a science talk and a second, special talk
317
748249
2862
我做一個科學的演說,
以及第二個是特別的演說
以及第二個是特別的演說
12:43
called "Love and fear in the lab,"
318
751111
1993
叫做「在實驗室裡的愛好和恐懼」,
12:45
and I start it off by doing a song
319
753104
2217
我做了一首歌來當開場,
12:47
about scientists' greatest fear,
320
755321
2572
是有關科學家們最大的恐懼,
12:49
which is that we work hard,
321
757893
2912
就是我們工作得很賣力,
12:52
we discover something new,
322
760805
2342
發現了一些新的東西,
12:55
and somebody else publishes it before we do.
323
763147
3357
但是外面其他人搶先我們發表了,
12:58
We call it being scooped,
324
766504
2616
我們把這叫做「被搶走獨家了」,
13:01
and being scooped feels horrible.
325
769120
3214
被搶走獨家感覺是恐怖可怕。
13:04
It makes us afraid to talk to each other,
326
772334
2213
讓我們害怕去跟彼此談話
13:06
which is no fun,
327
774547
833
這並不好玩,
13:07
because we came to science to share our ideas
328
775380
2760
因為我們到了科學界來
分享我們的想法
分享我們的想法
13:10
and to learn from each other,
329
778140
1311
以及從彼此的身上來學習,
13:11
and so I do a blues song,
330
779451
3489
所以我做了一首藍調歌曲,
13:17
which — (Applause) —
331
785040
5504
(掌聲)
13:22
called "Scooped Again,"
332
790544
3223
叫做「又被搶走獨家了!」
13:25
and I ask the audience to be my backup singers,
333
793767
2658
然後我邀請聽眾們當我的副歌歌手,
13:28
and I tell them, "Your text is 'Scoop, Scoop.'"
334
796425
3980
我告訴他們說:你們的歌詞是
「被搶走獨家了!被搶走獨家了!」
「被搶走獨家了!被搶走獨家了!」
13:32
It sounds like this: "Scoop, scoop!"
335
800405
2645
聽起來就像這樣
「被搶走獨家了!被搶走獨家了!」
「被搶走獨家了!被搶走獨家了!」
13:35
Sounds like this.
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聽起來就像這樣
13:36
♪ I've been scooped again ♪
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「我又一次被搶走獨家了!」
13:38
♪ Scoop! Scoop! ♪
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「被搶走獨家了!被搶走獨家了!」
13:39
And then we go for it.
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之後我們就開始唱
13:41
♪ I've been scooped again ♪
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「我又一次被搶走獨家了!」
13:43
♪ Scoop! Scoop! ♪
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「被搶走獨家了!被搶走獨家了!」
13:44
♪ I've been scooped again ♪
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「我又一次被搶走獨家了!」
13:46
♪ Scoop! Scoop! ♪
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「被搶走獨家了!被搶走獨家了!」
13:47
♪ I've been scooped again ♪
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「我又一次被搶走獨家了!」
13:49
♪ Scoop! Scoop! ♪
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「被搶走獨家了!被搶走獨家了!」
13:51
♪ I've been scooped again ♪
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「我又一次被搶走獨家了!」
13:52
♪ Scoop! Scoop! ♪
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「被搶走獨家了!被搶走獨家了!」
13:54
♪ Oh mama, can't you feel my pain ♪
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噢!媽呀!難道你無法體會我的痛嗎?
13:57
♪ Heavens help me, I've been scooped again ♪
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天哪!幫幫我!我又被搶走獨家了呀!
14:02
(Applause)
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(掌聲)
14:09
Thank you.
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謝謝大家!
14:10
Thank you for your backup singing.
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謝謝你們!謝謝你們唱副歌。
14:12
So everybody starts laughing, starts breathing,
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這樣一來每個人都笑開來了、活過來了、
14:14
notices that there's other scientists around them
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注意到他們周遭有其他科學家們
14:16
with shared issues,
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有著共同問題,
14:17
and we start talking about the emotional
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我們開始談論關於
做研究會碰上的
做研究會碰上的
14:19
and subjective things that go on in research.
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情緒上的、主觀上的東西,
14:21
It feels like a huge taboo has been lifted.
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感覺就像禁忌被解開了。
14:23
Finally, we can talk about
this in a scientific conference.
this in a scientific conference.
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最後我們可以在科學的
研討會裡談這些,
研討會裡談這些,
14:26
And scientists have gone on to form peer groups
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科學家們已經組成數個同儕團體,
14:28
where they meet regularly
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那裡他們定期的聚會、
14:30
and create a space to talk about the emotional
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創造空間來談有關情緒的、
14:31
and subjective things that
happen as they're mentoring,
happen as they're mentoring,
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主觀的東西,
發生在當他們指導人時、
發生在當他們指導人時、
14:34
as they're going into the unknown,
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在他們進入未知領域、
14:35
and even started courses
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甚至是開始展開
14:37
about the process of doing science,
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做科學的過程裡、
14:38
about going into the unknown together,
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有關於一起進入未知的領域、
14:40
and many other things.
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和很多其他東西。
14:42
So my vision is that,
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我的看法是
14:43
just like every scientist knows the word "atom,"
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就像每一個科學家知道「原子」,
14:46
that matter is made out of atoms,
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重點是辨認出原子,
14:48
every scientist would know the words
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每一位科學家都知道
14:50
like "the cloud," saying "Yes, and,"
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「雲層」、說「沒錯!然後呢..」
這些字
這些字
14:52
and science will become much more creative,
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科學將會變得非常有創意,
14:55
make many, many more unexpected discoveries
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做出很多預期不到的研究發現,
14:58
for the benefit of us all,
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造福我們所有人的,
15:01
and would also be much more playful.
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科學也會變成非常有趣的。
15:03
And what I might ask you to remember from this talk
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我想請你從這場演說
裡記住的是:
裡記住的是:
15:06
is that next time you face
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當你下一次面對
15:08
a problem you can't solve
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生活上或是工作上
15:10
in work or in life,
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無法解決的問題時,
15:13
there's a word for what you're going to see:
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這時候你眼前會浮現這個字
15:15
the cloud.
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「雲層」,
15:16
And you can go through the cloud
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而你可以穿越「雲層」,
15:17
not alone but together
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不是單獨而是一起,
15:19
with someone who is your source of support
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跟那位你的助力幫你
15:21
to say "Yes, and" to your ideas,
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對你的想法說「沒錯!然後呢..」,
15:23
to help you say "Yes, and" to your own ideas,
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幫助你對你自己的想法說
「沒錯!然後呢..」
「沒錯!然後呢..」
15:25
to increase the chance that,
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來增加機會
15:27
through the wisps of the cloud,
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穿越雲氣,
15:29
you'll find that moment of calmness
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你會得到平靜的時刻,
15:30
where you get your first glimpse
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那時候你就有第一次瞄到
15:32
of your unexpected discovery,
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沒預期到的答案:
15:35
your C.
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你的C。
15:38
Thank you.
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謝謝大家!
15:40
(Applause)
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(掌聲)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Uri Alon - Systems biologistUri Alon studies how cells work, using an array of tools (including improv theater) to understand the biological circuits that perform the functions of life.
Why you should listen
First trained as a physicist, Uri Alon found a passion for biological systems. At the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, he and his lab investigate the protein circuits within a cell (they focus on E. coli), looking for basic interaction patterns that recur throughout biological networks. It's a field full of cross-disciplinary thinking habits and interesting problems. And in fact, Alon is the author of a classic paper on lab behavior called "How to Choose a Good Scientific Problem," which takes a step back from the rush to get grants and publish papers to ask: How can a good lab foster growth and self-motivated research?
In Alon's lab, students use tools from physics, neurobiology and computer science -- and concepts from improv theatre -- to study basic principles of interactions. Using a theater practice called the "mirror game," they showed that two people can create complex novel motion together without a designated leader or follower. He also works on an addicting site called BioNumbers -- all the measurements you need to know about biology. The characteristic heart rate of a pond mussel? Why it's 4-6 beats per minute.
More profile about the speakerIn Alon's lab, students use tools from physics, neurobiology and computer science -- and concepts from improv theatre -- to study basic principles of interactions. Using a theater practice called the "mirror game," they showed that two people can create complex novel motion together without a designated leader or follower. He also works on an addicting site called BioNumbers -- all the measurements you need to know about biology. The characteristic heart rate of a pond mussel? Why it's 4-6 beats per minute.
Uri Alon | Speaker | TED.com