Share the fire

No matter how you cut it: research means taking a very long hike towards your destination. This hike is exhausting. Many people take this hike simply because others say they need to do it to have their hiking skills judged, to get a hiking certificate. And then there are those who found their love for hiking, for exploring, for becoming more athletic, for being out in the fresh air, for experiencing nature. To those people, hiking tends to be less strenuous. And they are usually good at inspiring others, explaining why hiking makes more sense than just being judged for hiking skills.

There is no obligation to share with others how you access the fun and purpose in research. But there is great reward connected to it. Inspiration shared is inspiration doubled—especially if you inspire a young and energetic mind with an attitude that will help their curiosity paired with their skills go a long way. Multiply that potential by roughly 50 million graduates around the world, each year, and the advantage of sharing inspiration for research becomes even more palpable.

Research, to a degree, also means sharing an impression of what curiosity and skills can accomplish, of why research matters. Since it has nothing to do with methodology, theory, or practical implications, this aspect is all too often overlooked or brushed off as a subjective bit of sense-making that is pure motivational nectar to anyone who is trying to understand why they should get thoroughly engaged in a research project.

(This is a preview section. The full chapter on this topic continues with the sections “Rough coordinates”, “Train of thought”, “In essence”, “To reflect”, “Two travellers’ tales”, “Devil’s advocate”, and “How to tackle”.)