Sociologist Duncan Watts - ScienceLives

The speaker discusses their journey from engineering to network science and sociology, emphasizing the importance of experiments, theory, and models in research. They reflect on their work during the 1970s energy crisis, exploring building insulation. The concept of 'taste' in scientific inquiry is highlighted, focusing on the ability to ask interesting questions. The impact of networks on society, including epidemics and information flow, is explored. Influences from mentors and the significance of scientific conversations are discussed. The speaker addresses misconceptions about scientists and the value of thinking time, concluding with personal interests and musical preferences.

What did the speaker's first advisor suggest about focusing on experiments, theory, or models?

• Concentrate solely on theory

• Ignore models completely

• Integrate experiments, theory, and models

• Focus only on experiments

During the first energy crisis, what was the speaker's focus in their early career?

• Designing energy-efficient vehicles

• Creating renewable energy policies

• Testing building insulation for energy conservation

• Developing new energy sources

What does the speaker consider crucial for asking interesting scientific questions?

• Following strict scientific protocols

• Having extensive technical skills

• Relying solely on intuition

• Possessing a sense of 'taste'

How do networks influence various aspects of life according to the speaker?

• They are only relevant in technological fields

• They have no significant impact

• They influence disease spread, information flow, and problem-solving

• They only affect social interactions

Who does the speaker credit as a significant influence in their scientific journey?

• Isaac Newton

• Marie Curie

• Steve Strogatz

• Albert Einstein

What common misconception about scientists does the speaker address?

• Scientists are always in the lab

• Scientists spend a lot of time thinking

• Scientists have a clear daily routine

• Scientists work in isolation

What does the speaker use to document their thoughts and ideas over the years?

• Notebooks

• Digital databases

• Video diaries

• Audio recordings