Yangyang Cheng is a physicist based in the US. Apart from her scientific research in the field of experimental particle physics, she is also a columnist who discusses social and culture issues in international publications like the New York Times.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Kr: Do you reject the use of success or failure in defining people or things?

YC: Yes. Ill give the example of Pan Jianwei, Chinas preeminent quantum scientist. He has won so many national and international awards. Hes also an alumni of my alma mater, USTC.

He said that when he was an undergraduate, his grades were mediocre. In particular, he almost failed his first quantum physics test. While he did study using the textbook and problem sets, he found himself very much intrigued by the science behind these existing well-solved, well-defined problems. So he spent a lot of time thinking, overthinking and did badly on the test day itself. He almost failed the test. However, because he possessed that wrong curiosity and drive, which was problematic for passing a test, he became an accomplished scientist later on through these very same qualities. I think its critical to understand, original research thrives on curiosity and drive.

To continue reading, clickhereto hop on to Oasis, the brainchild ofKrASIA.

See the original post here:

[Tuning in] Physicist Yangyang Cheng on not to define things with 'success' and 'failure' - KrASIA