Igniting Curiosity and Passion for Science Through Edith Widder's Ted Talk

“To inspire” defined by the Google dictionary “to fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative”. Science in its core is creative thinking and curiosity about the unknown. Science is a subject that infinitely expands its branches. There are many things that if not for science we wouldn’t even know existed. A great example is Edith Widders’ Ted Talk “The weird, wonderful world of bioluminescence”. In her speech, she expertly utilized both words and visuals to ignite the interest of her audience about an incredibly complex and fascinating subject, bioluminescent. The images and videos were quite astonishing, capturing immediately the interest of the audience and earning gasps as the experience the phenomenon right before their eyes. It is hard to capture students' attention but with her presentation, Edith Widder surely piqued their interest in the bioluminescence and the incredible world of science as a whole.

Science, in my opinion, is one of the greatest subjects. However, not everyone feels the same. Especially, many students don’t seem to appreciate the value of science because it has always been labeled as a “difficult subject”. Students just need that extra push to find the drive to learn about science. Books, magazines, websites and Ted Talks are just a few of the many ways that students can find that inspiration they need. Sources that show real-life applications of science. For example in her Ted Talk Edith Widder said that when she came back from her undersea explorations, words were not inadequate to explain the phenomenon. She found the perfect way to present the subject: The Single Person Submersible stimulates before your eyes the effect of Bioluminescence, and it is undeniable that a picture is worth a thousand words.

As a science major, I have been interested in science ever since I was a little girl. However, I was never that intrigued by marine biology or ecology. If I hadn’t watched Edith Widders’ Ted Talk, I would have never know what Bioluminescence is. I can say with certainty, that I was extremely fascinated with the subject. I realized as humans don’t realize how deep the ocean is and how many wonders lie beneath its surface. Those creatures that use bioluminescence are so beautiful and unique and I am thankful for being exposed to it because I found a new interest and I was inspired to find out more about it. As I am a visual learner, If I had just read about the subject in an article without seeing it with my own eyes, I would have surely forgotten about it the next day.

Being a scientist means when you reply “I do not know” to a question, you will try your best to find a solution. Not knowing the answer to a sudden question that pops in your head is frustrating, but a great opportunity to learn more. I aspire to learn something new every day, which is why I enjoy watching Ted Talks daily because they raise awareness about different subjects. Their themes range from life-changing experiences to scientific research. Edith Widders’ Ted Talk managed to pique my interest in marine biology and made me realize how beautiful the world we live in is, even the part that we normally don’t see. Inspiration is only the start of a beautiful journey of knowledge.