Recently, I read an insightful essay into what stupidity means to a graduate student. This single-page essay resonated with me. It was very powerful in explaining the relationship between stupidity, ignorance, and valuable research discoveries. The article, titled “The Importance of Stupidity in Scientific Research” was written by Martin A. Schwartz and published in the Journal of Cell Science in April 2008.
 
It is often said that in order to grow, you need to get out of your comfort zone. This can mean exposing yourself to critique and feedback. In this essay, the author explains how it is okay to say “I don’t know” because it is very difficult to do important research. Stating these three words show you’ve reached the limits of your knowledge and have found an area to learn more.
 
The article can be found here: http://jcs.biologists.org/content/121/11/1771
 
Kelsey Fieseler | Mechanical Engineering​

Kelsey Fieseler is a first-year Master’s student in Mechanical Engineering from Sugar Land, Texas.