The role of human emotions in science and research | Ilona Stengel

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Yanyan Hong

I'm a scientist,

我是科學家，

and I'm a big fan of Star Trek,

我也是《星際爭霸戰》的死忠影迷，

especially of Mr. Spock.

最喜歡的角色是史巴克。

Mr. Spock is a scientist as well,

史巴克也是科學家，

and at the same time, he's the first [officer]

同時，他也是企業號太空船的大副，

of the starship Enterprise,

and during the adventures of the Enterprise crew,

在企業號船員的冒險過程中，

he and his colleagues are dealing a lot

他和他的同事常常要處理

with the presence or absence of Mr. Spock's emotions.

史巴克變化無常的情緒。

Mr. Spock is half-human and half-Vulcan,

史巴克是半人類、半瓦肯族人，

and Vulcans are an alien race

瓦肯族是一個外星種族，

who learn to control and suppress their feelings

他們能夠控制和壓抑他們的感受，

and to act purely out of logic.

完全只依照邏輯來行事。

As Mr. Spock is only half-Vulcan,

因為史巴克只是半個瓦肯族人，

he sees himself constantly in conflict in between logic and emotions,

他常常會發現自己在 邏輯和情緒之間產生矛盾，

and as he's part of a team,

且因為他是團隊的一份子，

the whole crew is struggling with,

全體船員都要面對

is analyzing,

這種矛盾，分析它，

and is making fun of this conflict.

並拿它開玩笑。

And also the fans of Star Trek watch with amusement

而《星際爭霸戰》粉絲 是抱著娛樂的心態

this seemingly contradictory behavior.

在看這種似乎很矛盾的行為。

They find it quite fascinating.

他們覺得這行為挺迷人的。

And the matter is a golden thread

而這個問題，是從六十年代至今，

through the whole Star Trek series and movies from the '60s until today.

貫穿了整個《星際爭霸戰》 影集和電影的故事線。

And that's actually what I want to talk about today:

那其實就是我今天想談的主題；

the role of emotions in science.

情緒在科學中的角色。

We tend to think that science is all about facts and logic

我們通常會認為，科學的 重點就是事實和邏輯，

and human feelings are often neglected or considered an obstacle to get rid of.

而人類的感受，通常會被忽略， 或被視為是障礙而被擺脫掉。

I would like to suggest that emotions are as important in science

我想提出的是， 情緒在科學中的重要性，

as they are in any other part of our lives.

並不亞於它在我們人生中 其他部分的重要性。

Science is made by humans,

科學是人造的，

and as human beings,

而身為人類，

even if we try hard, we cannot get rid of our emotions.

不論如何努力， 我們都無法擺脫我們的情緒。

So instead of fighting them,

所以，我認為不要對抗感受，

I believe that even in science, we should make use of our feelings,

反之，即使在科學中， 也應該要擅用我們的感受，

because for breakthroughs and innovation,

因為，對於突破以及創新而言，

they are equally important as facts and logic.

感覺和事實及邏輯是同等重要的。

I will come back to Mr. Spock,

我等會兒再來談史巴克，

but first let me share my experience on the role of emotions in science,

但首先，先讓我分享我關於情緒 在科學中所扮演角色的經驗，

and one story in particular kept me thinking about it

有一個故事，

特別讓我在過去數年間 不斷思考這一點。

for the last couple of years.

I'm working in research on organic light-emitting diodes,

我所研究的主題是有機發光二極體，

so-called OLEDs.

也就是所謂的 OLED。

This is how you might know them,

各位對 OLED 的認識可能是

as new generation of displays.

新一代的顯示應用。

OLEDs are more and more used in smartphone displays and TV screens.

越來越多智慧手機顯示以及 電視螢幕開始採用 OLED。

They make them appear bright, truly colorful and bendable.

OLED 讓顯示效果會更明亮， 顏色更豐富，還可以彎曲。

This is how they look like

在我的物理學家同事的 研究實驗室中，

in the research lab of my physicist colleagues.

它們看起來是這樣的。

And this is what I, as a chemist,

而我身為一個化學家，

在思考 OLED 時腦中想的是這樣。

have in mind when I think about them.

I've loved it ever since I started to work on it.

從我開始研究它，就愛上了它。

So I didn't really like the news

所以，我很不樂意聽到

when the company I had been working for --

我過去工作的公司──

that was my previous employer --

也就是我的前僱主──

announced that they wanted to stop OLED research.

宣佈他們想要終止 OLED 的研究。

At the time, the management had reasons for this decision,

當時管理階層做出 這個決策是有理由的，

and the company handled it very well, actually.

且公司其實把這件事處理得非常好。

Nobody lost their jobs,

沒有人失業，

and everybody was rewarded for their performed work.

每個人都依其所做的事 得到該有的獎勵。

What I want to show you today

今天，我想告訴各位

is what happened with my scientist colleagues and me

我的科學家同事和我在公司宣佈後

during the time in between the announcement

一直到專案的最後一天之間，

and the last working day on our project.

這段時間內發生了什麼事。

Consider it a small case study on emotions in science.

把它想成是一個小型個案 研究關於科學中的情緒。

In 2015, our research team had grown to more than 80 people,

2015 年，我們的 研究團隊擴展到八十人，

and even after the announcement that our project was discontinued,

即使是已經宣佈了我們的 專案計畫不會再繼續下去，

we could not stop working from one day to another.

我們還是無法停止天天工作。

It took several months to bring all activities to a sound end

花了好幾個月，才把所有的活動 都畫下美好的句點，

and to find new jobs within the company for everyone.

並為每個人在公司內部找到新工作。

Here's what happened.

這就是發生的情況。

Even though we knew that we were working on a project

即使我們知道我們所投身的

that was to be stopped,

專案計畫將要被終止，

during those months our output hit the roof.

在那幾個月當中， 我們的產出達到了頂峰。

We were actually working on two different OLED projects:

我們其實在進行兩個 不同的 OLED 專案計畫：

first, the development of materials for blue-shining OLEDs,

第一，開發藍光 OLED 的材料，

which had started in 2001;

這個計畫始於 2001 年；

and second, materials for green OLEDs, which had started in 2014.

第二，開發綠光 OLED 的材料， 這個計畫始於 2014 年。

And the results I show you here concern the green OLED project.

各位在這裡看到的結果， 是綠光 OLED 專案計畫的。

In the graph, you can see how the lifetime,

在圖上可以看見「壽命」，

which is a crucial measure for the durability of our devices,

對於我們的裝置而言， 它是耐用度的重要測量指標，

developed over time.

隨時間，壽命越來越長。

In 2015, just half a year into the project,

在 2015 年， 這個專案計畫開始才半年，

we were told to scale down,

我們就被告知規模要縮小，

to stop working on the project as soon as possible

盡快停止這項專案計畫的工作，

and to start over in other jobs.

到其他的工作上重新開始。

Nevertheless, from this time on,

然而，自此之後，

our results continued to improve rapidly.

我們的結果持續快速進步。

How did that happen?

那是怎麼發生的？

After the announcement, pretty quickly, colleagues started leaving the team,

宣佈計畫要終止之後， 很快同事就開始離開團隊，

and soon, we were left in a small group,

沒多久，我們就只剩一小群人，

all pretty much sharing the same attitude of,

大致上都有著相同的態度：

"I'm going to be the last person leaving the ship."

「我要當最後一個離開沉船的人。」

What I mean is,

我的意思是，

while the number of scientists working on the project was decreasing,

雖然投入那個專案計畫的 科學家人數減少，

the dedication of people remaining grew dramatically.

人們投注的心力卻持續顯著成長。

And also, a new and more intense team spirit formed.

此外，也形成了一種 更強的新團隊精神。

We all shared the same passion for our work,

我們對我們的工作 都有著相同的熱忱，

we all were sad that it was about to end,

我們都對專案計畫要終止感到難過，

and we all wanted to show that we could turn our ideas into reality.

我們都想要展現出， 我們能把我們的想法實現。

We felt that we belonged to something bigger.

我們覺得，我們屬於更大的目標。

And furthermore,

此外，

our project was less and less in the focus of the management,

管理階層越來越不關注 在我們的專案計畫上，

because they started to think about new projects,

因為他們開始思考新的專案計畫，

restructuring and so on.

改組等等。

This resulted in additional freedom

這讓我們有了額外的自由，

and the possibility to take a few things into our own hands.

且有機會自己掌控幾件事情。

Of course, more freedom also means more responsibility,

當然，更多的自由 也意味著更多的責任，

which we were happy to take, because we believed in our work.

我們很樂意承擔責任， 因為我們對我們的工作有信心。

We felt empowered.

我們覺得能夠去做。

And these three pillars --

而這三大支柱──

dedication, belonging and empowerment --

投入、歸屬、賦權──

worked together in a kind of self-reinforcing cycle,

以一種自我強化循環的 形式共同運作，

and the closer we got to shutdown,

我們越接近截止期限，

the better our output became.

我們的產出結果就更好。

So we were working with such personal engagement

所以，我們工作時， 對這個已被判死刑的

on a project already sentenced to death

專案計畫，投注的是個人的心血，

because we felt connected to something meaningful.

因為我們感到這是件有意義的事。

Of course, it was also a hard and sometimes frustrating time,

當然，有些時候會很艱難， 有時很讓人灰心，

but we were sitting together in the lab,

但我們會一起坐在實驗室中，

or occasionally in the café,

或偶爾在咖啡廳中，

sharing our sadness about the end of our project

分享我們對於專案計畫 即將終止的悲傷，

as well as the joy in our work.

以及在工作上的喜悅。

So overall, we had a very intense and mesmerizingly exciting time.

整體來說，我們渡過了一段 非常緊繃又有著迷人刺激感的時光。

And the lifetime we finally obtained for our materials

我們研發的材料，最後達成的壽命

was on one level with already commercialized materials

水平已達到了當時已經商業化的

for green OLEDs at the time,

綠光 OLED 材料，

and we achieved this within just one year.

我們只用了一年就達到這個成果。

And those results helped our employer

那些結果，協助我們的僱主

to sell the patents for real value.

把專利以很好的價格出售。

Now, let me tell you the same story

現在，讓我告訴各位 一個同樣的故事，

with different characters and a slightly different operation.

只是角色不同， 且營運有些微差異。

The story is part of Star Trek.

這個故事是取自《星際爭霸戰》。

And sorry for those of you who haven't seen the movies,

對於沒看過這個系列的人，很抱歉，

but I need to introduce a spoiler here.

我得要在這裡破一個梗。

After Mr. Spock sacrificed himself to save the starship Enterprise

在史巴克犧牲了他自己 來拯救企業號之後，

at the end of Star Trek II,

這是《星際爭霸戰》第二集的結尾，

Captain Kirk and his core team

寇克艦長和他的核心團隊

were determined to hunt through the universe to search for Spock,

下定決心要搜索 全宇宙，找到史巴克，

even though they could see only very little chance

即使他們也知道，找到他且 他還活著的機率是微乎其微。

in finding him alive.

And Starfleet Command did not give them permission

而星艦指揮官沒有給予他們許可，

也沒給他們船艦來讓他們這麼做。

nor a starship to do so,

so they took it very passionately into their own hands

所以，他們非常有熱忱地 自己接手這件事，

to travel out to find Spock.

開始向外尋找史巴克。

And after dealing with great challenges, they eventually found Spock,

在面臨並解決了巨大的挑戰之後， 他們最終找到了史巴克，

and he happily and gratefully joined the team again.

他很開心且很感恩地 再次加入了團隊。

He could feel the dedication and the connection of his team

他的團隊的專案計畫 就是拯救他並團結組員，

towards their project, which was to save him

而他能感受到這個團隊 對專案計畫有多麼

and to hold the crew together.

投入且緊密連結。

And over the years, over the episodes of the saga,

經過許多年，經過 很多集的冒險故事，

Mr. Spock came to realize

史巴克漸漸了解，

that the combination of both logic and emotions

邏輯和情緒的結合

is crucial for facing challenges and exploring new worlds,

對於面對挑戰以及探索 新世界而言都是很重要的，

and there was no contradiction anymore.

他也就不再有矛盾了。

So the storyline here for both our OLED story and Star Trek

所以，我們的 OLED 故事 和《星際爭霸戰》的劇情，

is actually the basic setting for a lot of breakthrough stories,

其實是在科學領域內外，關於突破的

in and out of science.

許多故事的基本背景。

The main characters are all part of a great team.

主要角色都是偉大團隊的一部分。

All team members show a huge dedication towards reaching their goal.

所有團隊成員都展現出他們 願為其目標做出極大的奉獻。

They strive to seize all the freedom they can get,

他們努力抓住所有能取得的自由，

and they take the responsibility they need to take.

他們扛起他們必須要扛起的責任。

During the time our OLED project was nearing the end,

在我們的 OLED 專案計畫 快要結束的時期，

I received one piece of advice several times.

我收到了一項建議， 且不只一個人這麼跟我說：

"Don't take it to your heart.

「別把這事放在心上。

You can work on something else."

你可以去做其他的事。」

If I had followed it,

如果我遵循這項建議，

it would have saved me several depressed evenings

我可能就可以省下 好幾個沮喪的夜晚

and many tears,

以及許多眼淚，

but at the same time,

但同時，

I would have failed to gain a great deal in personal development and happiness.

我也無法收穫如此多的 個人進步和成功的喜悅。

And as the same is true for my colleagues and our whole project,

對於我同事以及我們的整個 專案計畫而言亦是如此，

we would have achieved far less.

我們本來不可能有那麼高的成就的。

So of course, science should be based on facts and logic.

所以，當然，科學應該 以事實和邏輯為根據。

When I say we should use our emotions in science,

我說我們應該要把情緒用在科學中，

I do not suggest we should use feelings instead of facts.

我的意思並非要用感覺來取代事實。

But I say we should not be afraid of using our feelings

我的意思是，我們不該 害怕使用我們的感覺，

to implement and to catalyze fact-based science and innovation.

來導入和催化以事實 為根據的科學及創新。

Emotions and logic do not oppose each other.

情緒和邏輯並非彼此對立的。

They complement each other,

它們能互相支持，

and they reinforce each other.

它們能互相强化。

The feeling of being dedicated to something meaningful,

感覺到自己在為 有意義的事情投入心血，

of belonging to something bigger

感覺自己屬於某個更大的目標，

and of being empowered

感覺被賦權去做事，

is crucial for creativity and innovation.

對於創意和創新而言都是很重要的。

Whatever you are working on,

不論你在做的是什麼事，

make sure that it matters,

要確保它是重要的事，

and take it to your heart as much as you like.

然後以喜歡的方式用心去做。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）