Josh Cobb

Let’s begin with curiosity. Of all the traits of a scientist, this one is most important as it relates to the next two—relentless investigation and joyful wonder. I have read many studies that discuss how when we are young, we are effortlessly inquisitive, and then, as we age, that natural curiosity diminishes. So you, at fourteen years old, may have to work for it a bit, but just think of how much you still have to experience now that you are about to step beyond Graland. Life, with all its fascinating twists and turns, is in front of you, and what will it be? Who will you become? What will you do? There is so much to be curious about at this moment, maybe it’s a bit scary, but it is also so exciting. Embrace that captivating feeling of what if…

 

Scientists see life as a catalyst for questioning. Why does that happen? How does that work? As Albert Einstein once said, “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” Often we feel like we have to have it all figured out. To me, that know-it-all tendency is a false sense of security. Instead, we should become comfortable with how much we don’t know as it means we will always be pursuing knowledge and therefore always be learning. To me, this expansive pursuit seems much more captivating than reaching an entrenched conclusion and never being able to see beyond that solidified viewpoint. Like a scientist, I hope that you keep seeking to understand the world and the unique people that live in it. Let your intellect evolve.

 

In his book, Righteous Mind, Jonathan Haidt proposes that we should train our minds to be more like a scientist using our intellect “to figure out the truth, the real truth of who did what and why, rather than using all that brainpower just to find evidence in support of what [we] wanted to believe.” This search for truth is a lifetime endeavor. In Minds Wide Shut, authors Gary Morson and Morton Schapiro also celebrate how scientific achievements were attained. They describe a process of inquiry that questions “what was the earlier or rival theory, and why was it accepted by intelligent people; what unexpected evidence dislodged it, and on what basis the current theory rests.” Even when science arrives at what appears to be a fixed truth—like Newton’s Laws, for example—they are still open to be continually tested, affirmed, or denied by recent scientific thought. 

 

This unrelenting experimentation takes curiosity, yes, but it also takes resilience. All of the scientists who were involved in the creation of the COVID vaccine, at least those that I have read about—Doctors Sahin, Tureci, Corbett, Kariko and Weissman—all displayed perseverance in their efforts. As fast as the vaccine was created, it was the result of decades of work in a variety of fields that came together in this critical moment. For an example of their commitment, Drs. Sahin and Tureci, who are a couple, immediately left their wedding ceremony to return to the lab. All of these scientists’ initial fascination in the world spurred them to have the necessary dedication to research, years and years in the lab, striving for solutions to the biggest medical problems—cancer, HIV, and now COVID.

 

During their ambitious pursuit, I am sure there were many setbacks. Thomas Edison said, “I’ve never made a mistake. I’ve only learned from experience.” This quote helps frame the perspective needed for perseverance. Instead of seeing each stumble as some permanent sign of imperfection, Edison saw it as a chance to grow. I am sure we have all stumbled a bit during the last year—how could we not with all the anxiety, exhaustion, and frustration that came with COVID—but we have also grown immensely. You have grown in ways you haven’t even realized yet. Specifically, you have definitely built up your grit, a trait that will serve you well in the future.

 

This year, I joined the sixth graders on their southwest trip, just like I joined half of you two years ago. We hiked up to one of the Ancestral Puebloan sites above the campground. One of the students had brought her own camera, and she stopped along the trail to take a picture of whatever interested her. We would walk a few yards, and she would pause for a blooming cactus. Another several feet, a design in the cryptobiotic soil. Then, amazingly, a pottery shard in the midst of rocks and pebbles. Her vigilant observation and documentation placed her in a constant state of awe. She embodied a joy of discovery with each plant, animal, and arrowhead that she saw, all recorded as a reminder of how wondrous the world is. 

 

I hope that as you go on to high school, you embrace the scientific way, even if you choose to study poetry instead of chemistry. By living a life of curiosity about your earth and your fellow humans, you will relentlessly pursue truth with openness and discernment, and you will find joy among the cacti and rocks of life. After a year of darkness, I believe the attributes of a scientist—questioning, lifelong learning, perseverance—will bring positivity and purpose to your life, two elements much needed in the world today.

 

This speech celebrates the scientists who developed the vaccines, celebrates the scientific approach, and celebrates you for all the growth you displayed, all the effort and optimism you gave to Graland, and all the gifts you will contribute to helping us have a more open, empathetic and joyful society. Thank you and congratulations!