Society of open science
I’ve always believed that science shouldn’t be too serious.
If an experiment isn’t exciting enough to make someone want to touch it, then maybe it isn’t truly alive.
At the Society of Open Science, my job wasn’t to conduct research — it was to turn science into a game compelling enough to make dozens of kids forget they were learning.
Once, I designed a “desert survival challenge” where the only way to stay alive was to formulate your own water purification solution.
One boy mixed the wrong ratio, the water turned murky green, and he screamed, “I’M A MONSTER NOW!” — the whole room burst into laughter.
He answered, “The full one, obviously.”
I smiled and said, “That — is the difference between ‘looks right’ and ‘measured right.’”
And just like that, he understood.
But five minutes later, he was the one who suggested increasing the amount of activated charcoal and trying again. Science begins with a mistake… and a laugh.
At Science Camp 2024, I wasn’t the scientist — I was the rhythm keeper.I watched over 100 students for seven days, not to ensure they memorized theories, but to ensure they were never afraid to ask questions.I used to think a great scientist was someone who discovered the truth.But after those days, I realized: a useful scientist is someone who makes others want to discover it too.