E.O. Wilson: Advice to young scientists

Translator: Thu-Huong Ha Reviewer: Morton Bast

譯者: Anny Chung 審譯者: Gina Wang

What I'm going to do is to just give a few notes,

我今天只想淺談我的一些想法

and this is from a book I'm preparing called

大多出自於我正在寫的一本書

"Letters to a Young Scientist."

叫作《給年輕科學家的一封信》

I'd thought it'd be appropriate to

我想在這裡很適合做這個報告

present it, on the basis that I have had extensive experience

因為我擁有豐富的經驗

in teaching, counseling scientists across a broad array of fields.

於各式教學領域及輔導科學家

And you might like to hear some of the principles that I've developed in doing

而你可能想聽聽我多年教學中

that teaching and counseling.

所獲得的經驗和發展的原則

So let me begin by urging you,

首先，讓我鼓勵你們

particularly you on the youngsters' side,

尤其是你們年輕人

on this path you've chosen,

在你們所選擇的路上

to go as far as you can.

竭盡所能的發展

The world needs you, badly.

這世界急迫的需要你們

Humanity is now fully into the techno-scientific age.

人類社會正完全進入科技科學的時代

There is going to be no turning back.

已經完全沒有回頭的餘地了

Although varying among disciplines -- say, astrophysics,

雖然這在每個領域有所不同，比如說

molecular genetics, the immunology, the microbiology, the public

分子遺傳學、免疫學、微生物學

health, to the new area of the human body as a symbiont,

公共衛生，或是最新的人體生物共生領域

to public health, environmental science.

亦或是公衛或環境科學

Knowledge in medical science and science overall

我們對醫學和科學本身的認知

is doubling every 15 to 20 years.

每15至20年就會增加一倍

Technology is increasing at a comparable rate.

科技也以相當的速度在發展

Between them, the two already pervade,

在這兩者之間，它們已經

as most of you here seated realize,

在座各位大概都知道

every dimension of human life.

遍布人類生活的每一個角落

So swift is the velocity of the techno-scientific revolution,

科學與科技的革新是如此之快

so startling in its countless twists and turns, that no one can predict

如此出乎意料的曲折，沒有人能夠預料

its outcome even a decade from the present moment.

它僅十年後的面貌

There will come a time, of course,

當然，總會有一天

when the exponential growth of discovery and knowledge,

知識和新發現的指數成長

which actually began in the 1600s,

(而這約略1600年代就開始了)

has to peak and level off,

將會達到最高點而慢慢停止

but that's not going to matter to you.

但這對你來說並不重要

The revolution is going to continue

因為這科技革命少說也會

for at least several more decades.

再持續個幾十年

It'll render the human condition

它將會把人類的現況

radically different from what it is today.

徹底的由現今的面貌改變

Traditional fields of study are going to continue to grow

傳統的領域將會持續發展

and in so doing, inevitably they will meet and create new disciplines.

而發展的同時，勢必會相遇並產生新的領域

In time, all of science will come to be

在未來，科學將變成

a continuum of description, an explanation of networks, of principles and laws.

一個不受區分的連續體 是種包含各種網絡、定律及原則的解釋

That's why you need not just be training

這就是為什麼，你必須不只受訓於單一專長

in one specialty, but also acquire breadth in other fields,

還要於其他領域廣泛閱讀

related to and even distant from your own initial choice.

汲取與你興趣相關，甚至相關甚遠的知識

Keep your eyes lifted and your head turning.

持續睜亮你的目光，腦袋不停轉動

The search for knowledge is in our genes.

對知識的渴望是天生於我們基因裡的

It was put there by our distant ancestors

這慾望來自於我們遠古的祖先

who spread across the world,

他們將之散布全球

and it's never going to be quenched.

而求知的欲望也永無止盡之日

To understand and use it sanely,

但是於我們文明演化過程中

as a part of the civilization yet to evolve

了解並善用這個慾望

requires a vastly larger population of scientifically trained people like you.

需要一群像你們一般受過科學訓練的人

In education, medicine, law, diplomacy,

在如教育、醫學、法律、外交

government, business and the media that exist today.

政府、商學、已及當今各式各樣的媒體和領域

Our political leaders need at least a modest degree of scientific

我們的政治領導人至少需要一定量的科學知識

literacy, which most badly lack today --

事實上現今大多人都迫切需要加強這點

no applause, please.

拜託，請不要鼓掌

It will be better for all

如果他們能夠在上任之前就準備好

if they prepare before entering office rather than learning on the job.

而不是邊做邊學，大家都會鬆一口氣

Therefore you will do well to act on the side,

因此你們應該要從旁支援

no matter how far into the laboratory

不管你多麼深入實驗室工作

you may go, to serve as teachers

你可以走出來，於你就業生涯

during the span of your career.

從事教學的工作

I'll now proceed quickly,

我現在將快速的進行探討

and before else, to a subject that is both a vital asset

一個對於科學家職業非常重要

and a potential barrier to a scientific career.

但也有可能成為障礙的議題

If you are a bit short in mathematical skills,

如果你的數學能力並不怎麼樣

don't worry.

不要擔心

Many of the most successful scientists

現今許多頂尖的科學家

at work today are mathematically semi-literate.

對數學也只是似懂非懂而已

A metaphor will serve here:

讓我打個比喻：

Where elite mathematicians and statisticians

頂尖的數學家、統計學家

and theorists often serve as architects in the expanding realm

理論家，是科學新疆土的建築師

of science, the remaining large majority of

剩餘大多數的應用科學家

basic applied scientists, including a large portion of those who could be

包括一些數一數二的菁英

said to be of the first rank, are the ones who map the terrain, they scout

他們冒險探測地形，開疆闢土

the frontiers, they cut the pathways,

開闢新的道路

they raise the buildings along the way.

並於途中構築高樓

Some may have considered me foolhardy,

有些人可能因此認為我愚昧不明

but it's been my habit to brush aside the fear of mathematics

但和新起的科學家談話時

when talking to candidate scientists.

我常習慣漠視他們對數學的不安

During 41 years of teaching biology at Harvard,

在我41年於哈佛教授生物的經驗中

I watched sadly as bright students turned away

我多次難過的看著聰明的學生

from the possibility of a scientific career

選擇不考慮科學相關職業

or even from taking non-required courses in science

甚至不敢修科學相關的選修課程

because they were afraid of failure.

都因為他們害怕失敗

These math-phobes deprive science and medicine

這對數學莫名的恐懼使得科學和醫學界

of immeasurable amounts of badly needed talent.

流失許多我們非常需要的人才

Here's how to relax your anxieties, if you have them:

如果你也有此恐懼，已下是克服的方法：

Understand that mathematics is a language

了解數學只是個語言

ruled like other verbal languages,

它像其他語言一樣

or like verbal language generally, by its own grammar

受限於它的文法掌控

and system of logic.

並有它的邏輯規則

Any person with average quantitative intelligence

任何擁有一般數學認知

who learns to read and write mathematics

能夠以基本程度運用數學語言的人

at an elementary level will, as in verbal language, have little difficulty

都能如學習文字語言一般 領略大多數科學領域所需要的

picking up most of the fundamentals

都能如學習文字語言一般 領略大多數科學領域所需要的

if they choose to master the mathspeak of most disciplines of science.

數學語言之基礎

The longer you wait to become at least semi-literate

你若是等越久開始學習

the harder the language of mathematics will be to master, just as again in any verbal

就如同其他語言一般 數學語言也會變得更難融會貫通

language, but it can be done at any age.

但是，無論你幾歲開始，都有辦法成功

I speak as an authority

我是這方面的權威

on that subject, because I'm an extreme case.

主要是因為我是個極端的範例

I didn't take algebra until my freshman year

我於阿拉巴馬大學一年級時

at the University of Alabama.

才第一次接觸代數

They didn't teach it before then.

在那之前沒人教過我

I finally got around to calculus as a 32-year-old tenured professor at Harvard,

當我開始學微積分時 我已是三十二歲的哈佛教授

where I sat uncomfortably in classes with undergraduate students,

與歲數比我一半的年紀沒大多少的大學生

little more than half my age.

尷尬的坐在教室裡

A couple of them were students

其中有一些學生

in a course I was giving on evolutionary biology.

還是我演化生物學的學生

I swallowed my pride, and I learned calculus.

我忍下身為教授的虛榮 學會了微積分

I found out that in science and all its applications,

我發現在科學及其應用中

what is crucial is not that technical ability,

重要的並不是技術上的能力

but it is imagination in all of its applications.

而是能充滿想像力的運用

The ability to form concepts with images of entities and processes

將個別圖像和直覺所創的各種過程 轉化成概念

pictured by intuition.

將個別圖像和直覺所創的各種過程 轉化成概念

I found out that advances in science rarely come upstream

我發現科學突破很少是由上而下的

from an ability to stand at a blackboard

在黑板前展開複雜的公式

and conjure images from unfolding mathematical propositions

假設、構圖，很少最後延伸出科學發現

and equations.

假設、構圖，很少最後延伸出科學發現

They are instead the products of downstream imagination leading to hard work,

新發現反而通常是由下游的想像力和努力實驗達成

during which mathematical reasoning may or may not prove to be relevant.

其中數學推論可能很重要，也可能一點也不

Ideas emerge when a part of the real or imagined world is studied

新想法的產生，源自於基本的求知慾

for its own sake.

而研究真實或虛構的世界

Of foremost importance is a thorough, well-organized knowledge

當然最重要的是對於你決定進入的研究領域

of all that is known of the relevant entities and processes that might be involved in that domain

擁有相關該域種種的全面性、 組織良好的知識

you propose to enter.

擁有相關該域種種的全面性、 組織良好的知識

When something new is discovered,

而每當有新發現時

it's logical then that one of the follow-up steps is

合乎邏輯的下一步之一就是

to find the mathematical and statistical methods to move its analysis forward.

尋找合理的數學和統計學分析方法

If that step proves too difficult for

但如果這一步對於該發現的創始者而言太過困難

the person or team that made the discovery,

但如果這一步對於該發現的創始者而言太過困難

a mathematician can then be added by them

他們很可以加入一位數學家

as a collaborator.

作為合作者

Consider the following principle,

想想以下原則

which I will modestly call Wilson's Principle Number One:

我將謙虛的稱之為威爾遜的第一定律：

It is far easier for scientists

科學家們，包括醫學研究者

including medical researchers, to require needed collaboration

找到所需的數學家和統計學家來合作幫忙

in mathematics and statistics

要比數學家和統計學家

than it is for mathematicians and statisticians

找到能夠利用他們的方程式的科學家

to find scientists able to make use of their equations.

還容易多了

It is important in choosing the direction to take in science

在年輕科學家選擇研究方向時

to find the subject at your level of competence that interests you deeply,

最重要的是找到符合你能力 並深感興趣的主題

and focus on that.

然後專注於此

Keep in mind, then, Wilson's Second Principle:

但還請記住，威爾遜的第二個定律：

For every scientist, whether researcher, technician,

每一位科學家，不管是研究員、 技術員、

teacher, manager or businessman,

老師、 經理或商人

working at any level of mathematical competence,

雖然他們各自擁有不同的數學能力

there exists a discipline in science or medicine

但都存在一個科學或醫學的學科

for which that level is enough to achieve excellence.

讓他們無論數學水準為何都能有卓越成就

Now I'm going to offer quickly

我現在要快速提供

several more principles that will be useful

幾個於規劃你的教育和職業生涯中

in organizing your education and career,

非常有用的幾個原則

or if you're teaching, how you might

或者如果你是教育者

enhance your own teaching and counseling of young scientists.

如何提高你自己的教學及輔導的青年科學家的能力

In selecting a subject in which to conduct original research,

當在選擇一個進行原創性的研究主題

or to develop world-class expertise,

或開發世界一流的專業技能時

take a part of the chosen discipline that is sparsely inhabited.

盡量參與那領域中人口稀少的一部分

Judge opportunity by how few other students and researchers

一個領域中的學生和研究人員越少 研究和成功機會越多

are on hand.

一個領域中的學生和研究人員越少 研究和成功機會越多

This is not to de-emphasize the essential requirement

這並不是說廣泛培訓不重要

of broad training, or the value of apprenticing yourself

也不是說 投身高品質研究計畫的學徒

in ongoing research to programs of high quality.

是了無新意的

It is important also to acquire older mentors within these successful

擁有這些成功的科學家為導師也是非常重要

programs, and to make friends and colleagues of your age

同時還要與年齡相仿的同事成為朋友

for mutual support.

相互支援

But through it all, look for a way to break out,

但是，在這之中，尋找突破的空間

to find a field and subject not yet popular.

找找尚未流行的領域和主題

We have seen this demonstrated already in the talks preceding mine.

這點在我之前的講者們都已說明了

There is the quickest way advances are likely to occur,

這是進步發生最快的方式

as measured in discoveries per investigator per year.

我說的昰每年、每位調查人員 所發表新發現的速率

You may have heard the

你可能聽說過

military dictum for the gathering of armies:

聚集軍隊的軍事名言：

March to the sound of the guns.

往炮聲方向前進

In science, the exact opposite is the case: March away from the sound of the guns.

在科學領域，情況正好相反： 往炮聲反方向前進

So Wilson's Principle Number Three:

所以威爾遜的第三定律：

March away from the sound of the guns.

往炮聲反方向前進

Observe from a distance,

從遠處觀察

but do not join the fray.

但不要加入混戰

Make a fray of your own.

創造你自己的戰局

Once you have settled on a specialty,

一旦你決定了你的專業

and the profession you can love, and you've secured opportunity,

及你熱愛的職業，並擁有了機會

your potential to succeed will be greatly enhanced if you study it

如果你以成為專家的目標去進行研究

enough to become an expert.

你成功的潛力將會大大提升

There are thousands of professionally delimited

在物理和化學、生物學和醫學中

subjects sprinkled through physics and chemistry

有成千上萬的專業分隔

to biology and medicine.

和許許多多的附屬領域

And on then into the social sciences,

社會科學領域就更不用說了

where it is possible in short time to acquire

在這些附屬領域中 你很有可能在短時間內

the status of an authority.

成為該主題的權威

When the subject is still very thinly populated,

當那主題仍然很少人研究時

you can with diligence and hard work become

你能靠著勤奮和努力成為

the world authority.

世界權威

The world needs this kind of expertise,

世界需要這種專業知識

and it rewards the kind of people

並會獎勵有能力擁有這種知識的人

willing to acquire it.

並會獎勵有能力擁有這種知識的人

The existing information and what you self-discover

雖然一開始，現有的資訊和你自己的發現

may at first seem skimpy and difficult to connect

可能看起來很單薄，難以其他的學科領域連接

to other bodies of knowledge.

可能看起來很單薄，難以其他的學科領域連接

Well, if that's the case,

好吧，如果真是這樣，那其實很好

good. Why hard instead of easy?

為什麼要往難而非容易的方向走呢？

The answer deserves to be stated as Principle Number Four.

這問題的答案值得稱為第四定律。

In the attempt to make scientific discoveries,

在科學發現的過程當中

every problem is an opportunity,

每個問題都是一個機會

and the more difficult the problem,

而越是困難的問題

the greater will be the importance of its solution.

它的答案就越是重要

Now this brings me to a basic categorization

這讓我來到科學發現方式

in the way scientific discoveries are made.

的基本分類

Scientists, pure mathematicians among them,

科學家，包括純數學家

follow one or the other of two pathways:

都按照這兩個途徑：

First through early discoveries,

第一，通過早期發現

a problem is identified

找出問題

and a solution is sought.

並尋求解決辦法

The problem may be relatively small;

該問題可能是相對較小

for example, where exactly in a cruise ship does the norovirus begin to spread?

例如，諾羅病毒是在遊輪的哪個位置開始傳播？

Or larger, what's the role of dark matter in the expansion of the universe?

或更大，像是黑暗物質在宇宙膨脹中有什麼作用？

As the answer is sought, other phenomena are typically discovered

在尋求答案的過程中，會發現其他現象

and other questions are asked.

並衍生其他的問題

This first of the two strategies is like a hunter,

這第一個戰略就像一個獵人

exploring a forest in search of a particular quarry,

在森林尋找特定的獵物

who finds other quarries along the way.

並在途中找到其他獵物

The second strategy of research

而做研究的第二種策略

is to study a subject broadly

就是廣泛地研究一個題目

searching for unknown phenomena or patterns of known phenomena

搜索未知的現象或已知現象的原則

like a hunter in what we call "the naturalist's trance,"

就像一個獵人在我們稱之為"博物學家的恍惚狀態"

the researcher of mind is open to anything interesting,

研究員的心智對於任何有趣的、值得考慮的獵物

any quarry worth taking.

採取完全開放的心態

The search is not for the solution of the problem,

這種搜索時不昰為了一個問題的解決方案

but for problems themselves worth solving.

而是為了值得解決的問題

The two strategies of research,

這兩個作研究或原創性的研究的策略

original research, can be stated as follows,

可以如以下說明

in the final principle I'm going to offer you:

是我要為你提供的最後一個定律：

For every problem in a given discipline of science,

對於在任何一個學科的任何一個問題

there exists a species or entity or phenomenon

都存在一個物種、實體或現象

ideal for its solution.

是其解決方案的理想研究對象

And conversely, for every species or other entity

相反，對於每個物種或其現象

or phenomenon, there exist important problems

都存在著重要的問題

for the solution of which, those particular objects of research are ideally suited.

使它成為其解決方案非常適合的研究對象

Find out what they are.

找出它們是什麼

You'll find your own way to discover,

你將會已你自己的方式來發現

to learn, to teach.

來學習、教學

The decades ahead will see dramatic advances

在未來數十年我們將會看到在疾病預防、

in disease prevention, general health, the quality of life.

日常保健、 生活品質方面有劇烈的進展

All of humanity depends on the knowledge and practice of the medicine and the science

全人類都依賴你將掌握的醫學和科學的 知識與實踐

behind it you will master.

全人類都依賴你將掌握的醫學和科學的 知識與實踐

You have chosen a calling that will come in steps

你所選擇的志業，將會一步一步

to give you satisfaction, at its conclusion, of a life well lived.

讓你滿足，最終，給你充滿意義的一生

And I thank you for having me here tonight.

謝謝你們今晚邀請我來到這裡

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Oh, thank you.

喔，謝謝你

Thank you very much.

謝謝

I salute you.

我向你們致敬