How Do We Get Kids To Want To Be Einstein?

Alex Knapp is the social media editor at Forbes and writes the blog Robot Overlords where he focuses on futurism, cutting edge technology, and breaking research.  He has training in biochemistry and worked as a patent lawyer before becoming a writer.  On his blog he is currently working on "Digging behind the press releases and seeing what kind of science is really going on. Making educated guesses about the future that don't devolve into wishful thinking or fantasy."

On his personal website, Alex describes himself as a knowledge evangelist.

I contacted Alex after he wrote an article about a study I conducted with my colleague Martha Putallaz, and we ended up talking about everything from the best way to educate a gifted writer, how technology amplifies the talent of scientists, how a lot of great science is being done in groups, his experience interviewing scientists, his view on how the internet and social media have changed the practice of science, how he reconciles science and religion, and even his thoughts on finding the next Einstein.It turns out that he was also part of the Duke University Talent Identification Program 7th Grade Talent Search, and a data point in theresearch study that he had actually written about!

To whet your appetite, here are some of my favorite Alex Knapp quotes from our conversation:

On writing: "There are lots of writers with great prose who, in the end, have nothing to say."

On imagination, creativity, and knowledge: "Imagination is a key aspect of creativity, but imagination is useless without a body of knowledge to build from."

On finding the next Einstein: "The bigger question is, how do we build a culture that values intellectual and artistic activity at a higher level, and where people are invited and expected to challenge and improve their own capabilities? In short, how do we make everyone WANT to be Einstein?"

Alex Knapp

WAI: I understand you have a background in biochemistry and patent law.  So why did you become a writer?  What do you write about and why do you write?

KNAPP: Well, in some respects, I've always been a writer. I even wrote a very bad fantasy book when I was around 7 years old - illustrated, bound and everything. In high school I was active in debate and wrote a small piece for the local newspaper. In college I wrote for the newspaper and as soon as I got to law school, it was around the time that blogging started - I've actually been blogging for over 10 years now. It's always been a hobby and a passion. Now I'm fortunate enough to do it for a living.

In my writing now I primarily focus on science and technology, mostly about what's breaking in research, though I do a fair bit of what's happening now stuff, too, especially with respect to social media. I also write about a fair bit of geek culture. I do a weekly music 'Geek Playlist' and my colleague Erik Kain and I just started up a sci-fi book club at Forbes.

2. Were you ever identified as gifted?  If so, how were you identified?  Was this in a verbal or writing area or also in other areas?  And what are your thoughts on the best ways to educate a gifted writer?
I was identified as gifted in Kindergarten. My parents taught me to read before I was in Kindergarten. My teacher recommended me for the program and then I was tested. I'm not sure what was involved in the testing, but I was part of my school's gifted program throughout elementary, junior high and high school. I know that the testing involved both math and verbal, and my standardized test scores throughout school were pretty much the same in terms of math vs. verbal.

As for the best way to educate a gifted writer, that's easy - it's 20% writing, and 80% learning about the rest of the world. Without a solid base of knowledge your writing might still end up sounding pretty, but it won't necessarily be good. There are lots of writers with great prose who, in the end, have nothing to say.