An Argument for Campfires - Observations from RDS
—Tucson, AZ—
Part of my job is interviewing researchers so passionate about their science that they’ve bypassed more economically stable careers to navigate academia’s precarious terrain. Many seem to have let go of the hope that those outside their discipline will fully grasp their passion, so they’ve settled among their kind, around common knowledge and tongue.
As a member of a university team representing funding possibilities, researchers make an exception for Muggle me and take time to explain their science. I often leave the interview thinking, This work could spark a revolution—it’s too important to ignore! The conversation has made me more optimistic about the trajectory of humankind and determined to contribute.
For many reasons, academic disciplines end up sequestering their researchers while neighboring academics, students and community members barely register their presence. However justifiable, this is too bad since there's tremendous potential in the neighborhood.
New voices are joining the call to solve the problem of siloed research; it’s increasingly recognized as an important step in addressing our world’s grand challenges. And here at the University of Arizona, we have little excuse for inaction because under our noses we have the two primary tools we need to break our silos: willing researchers and capable storytellers.
Researchers, seek out storytellers! Storytellers, engage your researchers! Researchers who are storytellers, take time to craft and tell your stories! Our divided, uncertain world needs so much more of the type of magic emerging through Hearing the Invisible (described above).
To offer a metaphor, storytellers build the campfire, and researchers provide the fire. Together, they create spaces where data and discovery meet shared language and become relatable. Conversations spark, countenances warm and new ideas ignite. The researcher and layperson (or colleague across campus) build trust, and collaboration begins.*
* For extra motivation, visit the Big Idea Challenge.