When Avi Loeb was discussing uncertainty and how current scientists deal with it, he stated that scientists must display their failures and their lack of certainty, as it can make them better scientists and it will also make the public more trusting of these scientists and their processes. Loeb went on to discuss that allowing oneself to make scientific mistakes is very important, because not doing so may limit one’s ability to make critical discoveries. I found this to be really compelling, as I have heard that many scientists do not feel the same way he does (due to their concern of awards, prestigious societies, social media, etc.). Consequently, my question to Avi Loeb is: how can a scientist avoid and not surrender to this social/academic pressure that exists in his/her respective fields, so that they can focus on what truly inspires them?
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