Innovation is "a diversion, a surprise"

The word diversity comes from the Latin roots meaning 'to turn aside.' The same root gives us the words divert and diverticulum - the term physicians use to describe an abnormal out-pouching from a structure such as the bowel or bladder. A diversion is a deviation from the expected path. By definition, every fundamental innovation, whether in the biological or intellectual arena, represents just such a surprise. Our penchant for safety and predictability sometimes leads us to regard unexpected outcomes as failures. Yet without such surprises, we would never learn anything truly new....

Above all, we need to guard against the impulse to impose simple solutions on complex problems. As physicians know all too well, panaceas frequently fail. Pathology consists not of one disease but hundreds of diseases, which in turn manifest differently in different patients. One-size-fits-all solutions are not just ineffective but often counterproductive. An organization of clones will be rife with redundancy, while a diverse organization stands to reap the rewards of complementarity. By prizing diversity, we promote not only success but humanity's full breadth and richness.

Taking his cues from biology, Richard Gunderman, MD and professor of radiology, pediatrics, medical education at Indiana University, applies the lesson of diversity to the brain, demonstrating how rich cognitive terrain prepares the brain to withstand neurological damage from brain disease, and to organizations, demonstrating how, for bureaucracies, the injuries are self-inflicted. As for incoming medical classes, his immediate concern, diversity he argues "is an excellence issue."

Like Gunderman, the IdeaFestival believes fundamental innovation cannot occur without surprise, and surprise cannot occur without a diverse and wide range of people and ideas. Surprise truly is an innovator's best friend.

Wayne

Image: Some rights reserved by hanna b™

Jason Silva's latest video on awe, awesome

Awe is imbued with the power to stop time, can increase our sense of well-being and our willingness to help others, and has been described by Emily Dickinson as a source of both fear and of its remove in a letter from 1883: "I work to drive the awe away, yet awe impels the work."

It can be found alone on a cool still evening before a crystalline sky or experienced among thousands, or it can find you in the electric realization one very early Tuesday morning that you will always, always love the blinking, bloodied and helpless form whose searching eyes, darting anxiously from one impossible fact to the next in a hospital room, pause ever so briefly, unknowingly, before your face.

In his latest video, "The Biological Advantage of Being Awestruck," Jason Silva connects awe to our biology, wondering, in awe, how we came to be so fortunate as to contemplate our very existence on this mantle swept along by Newton's laws, and yet, and yet, somehow buoyed by the unreasonable sense that it all means something. Using the Hubble telescope, which itself only sees 6 percent of the universe directly available to our senses, he describes how, in a surprisingly literal sense, the act of seeing through that instrument "mainlines the whole of time through the optic nerve." Enjoy.

And awe at the IdeaFestival? It's that amazing conclusion halfway through the latest presentation that a problem you've been thinking about forever and ever has an analog in what you're hearing that very moment. "Oh! Oh! Oh!

So that's it."

Wayne

Coming through! Roller Derby 101

At one of the regularly scheduled IF University classes last Wednesday, "Roller Derby 101," a group of IdeaFestival fans were introduced to the Rocknrollergirls, who demonstrated the techniques of flat track roller derby at West Sixth Brewing Company in Lexington, Ky., and held a Q & A following.

School was never like this.

The well timed shoulder bump is encouraged, but clotheslining, as one of the team members carefully explained, has been outlawed since the 1970's. In truth, roller derby has been resurgent in the past few years. Rules standardization and competitive leagues have attracted many new participants to what decades ago had been a kitschy staple of Saturday morning television, more akin to professional wrestling than serious sport. Times have definitely changed.

As one of the team members explained later, roller derby is one of the few sports where the men's teams take their sartorial clues from the women. It's not unusual to see the men sporting fishnet stocking. In fact as the women - a mom to a special needs child, a veteranarian's assistant in an animal hospital, a middle school math teacher - explained, roller derby not only gives each of them a chance to be physical - and get fit - but to adopt personas that, as we learned, are carefully chosen and filed with the national roller derby league so that they remain unique to the participant. It's combination of team sport, theatrical flair and the satisfying take down that drew Sugar Shock, Kitty O’Doom, Rainbow Smite and Robin Souls to the roller derby.

Thanks to West Sixth Brewing Company for hosting!

For more information on the next event, check out IF University, or follow @IFUniversity on twitter.

Wayne

Kevin Olusola - Thrivals 5.0

23-year-old cellist and beatboxer Kevin "KO" Olusola, hails from Owensboro, Kentucky. Since he started at six, he became Principal Cellist of the Kentucky All-State Symphony Orchestra and also co-principal cellist of the Yale Symphony Orchestra. Kevin has soloed for From the Top, National Public Radio, Carnegie Hall, and PBS. In January of 2009, KO was the Runner-up in world-wide renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma's "Celebrate and Collaborate" international competition out of more than 400 contestants from across the globe. Yo-Yo Ma commented that Kevin's cello/beatbox version of "Dona Nobis Pacem" was "inventive and unexpected." Kevin’s Youtube video of him performing Mark Summer’s “Julie-O” for cello and beatboxing garnered national acclaim on media channels like CBS, AOL, Huffington Post, Washtington Post, and others.  Because of this video, Kevin not only toured with Gungor on the David Crowder Band “7” Tour, but also became a founding member of Pentatonix, a 5-member a cappella electro-pop a cappella group.  Last fall, Pentatonix was recently signed to Sony for winning Season Three of NBC’s “The Sing-Off.”  Since then, he was just recently named a member of The Grio’s 100: Class of 2012, a website dedicated to 100 influential African-Americans influincing change in the world, was featured on the Today Show, and soloed at the 2012 Orlando NBA All-Star Game.  Pentatonix will be releasing their debut EP in June.  

Photo Credit: Rachel Ceretto

Spencer West - Thrivals 5.0

Inspirational and charismatic, Spencer West speaks candidly about the struggles he overcame after losing his legs at the age of five. He speaks about overcoming stereotyping and bullying, about finding meaning and happiness in a material world and how he never lost the hope or courage needed to mount personal obstacles. Infused with humour and humility, his thought-provoking message inspires people to find opportunity in every challenge. With every speech, Spencer leaves an indelible mark on his audiences, instilling hope and strong leadership so that they can inspire others to create positive change.

In 2008, Spencer travelled to Kenya on an international volunteer trip where he helped build a school in a rural community in the Maasai Mara. On this trip, he met young people who strive to overcome challenges every day. He credits this experience for helping him recognize his true calling—to motivate and inspire people around the world. Since he began speaking, Spencer has reached millions of people including students, educators, corporations, college/universities, faith-based groups and families with his encouraging words. He captivated audiences of tens of thousands at We Day events with his keynote address, which was featured nationally on CTV. Spencer has shared the stage with such influential people as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Dr. Jane Goodall, former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore, Mia Farrow, Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr., Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Betty Williams and Elie Wiesel, and his musical idol Jason Mraz.

Before joining Me to We Speakers, Spencer was on the Go Global speaking tour for Free The Children. Through a keynote address and leadership workshop, Spencer encouraged youth to overcome their daily challenges, believe in themselves as active change-makers, and find personal strength to fight for the issues they are passionate about. His words have encouraged millions of young people to become more socially involved in their communities and the world. Spencer’s incredible story will soon be shared with the world in his upcoming memoir, Standing Tall: My Journey.