How My Passion for Science Fuels Innovation and Creativity

A personal journey into the intersection of science, technology, and curiosity. From diving to coding, join me as I explore how my passion drives innovation and efficiency.

This article was originally published in 2013, and has been updated in 2025.

My Fascination with Science and the Art of Curiosity

I’ve always been captivated by the world around us—how it works, how we interact with it, and how technology shapes our everyday lives. This obsession isn’t just theoretical; it’s deeply personal and hands-on. Whether I’m diving into the depths of the ocean, scaling cliffs, or piloting a helicopter, I find myself constantly exploring how science and technology intersect with human experience.

Take diving, for instance. I’ve gravitated toward cutting-edge equipment that allows me to dive deeper, stay underwater longer, and explore places that were once unimaginable. With advances in rebreather technology, I’ve discovered a fascinating way to manipulate my body’s interaction with the physical world. By understanding gas absorption rates in bodily tissues—a concept refined through years of research and experimentation—we’ve moved from basic decompression tables to advanced algorithms that allow me to control gas onloading in real time.

With my rebreather strapped on and loaded with primary gases like oxygen and helium, I can optimize my body’s performance underwater. I can mitigate nitrogen narcosis, extend bottom time, and push the boundaries of exploration. It’s like hacking my own biology to unlock new possibilities—a truly exhilarating experience!

But this isn’t just about diving; it’s about the broader idea of interactive manipulation. The same principles apply when writing code that triggers actions in the physical world. Think about it: we can write a few lines of code, store them in the cloud, and have them influence something tangible—like sending a notification to your phone or automating a task at home. The power to bridge the digital and physical worlds is mind-blowing, and my imagination runs wild thinking about the systems we can create to enhance our lives.

The Efficiency of "Lazy" Innovation

Here’s a confession: I consider myself one of the laziest people I know—but not in the way you might think. For me, laziness is a driver of efficiency. Why do something the hard way when you can invent a smarter solution? This mindset has shaped much of my life, from school projects to large-scale systems I’ve built for businesses.

In school, for example, I spent more time writing programs to solve trigonometric problems than actually studying the material. Was it cheating? Maybe (according to my teachers). But in doing so, I had to understand each step of the process deeply enough to translate it into computer code—a skill that paid dividends long after I moved on from trigonometry class. The result? A tool that could generate repeatable results quickly and efficiently while freeing me up to focus on other challenges.

This approach has carried over into my professional life as well. Some of the most complex systems I’ve designed—ones that help run massive organizations—were born out of this drive for efficiency. And yes, I’ve even hidden Easter eggs like LOLCats within those systems because why not? Creativity thrives when you allow yourself to think differently and have fun along the way.

The Power of Playful Curiosity

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that maintaining a sense of childlike curiosity is essential—not just for creativity but for innovation itself. Acting like a kid isn’t just more fun (though it absolutely is); it also helps me set aside preconceived notions and approach problems with fresh eyes. Sometimes you need to forget what you “know” in order to see new possibilities.

This playful mindset has led me down some fascinating rabbit holes—from experimenting with interactive avatar technology while writing this very piece to dreaming up new ways to integrate science into everyday life. It’s this blend of curiosity and passion that keeps me energized and constantly pushing boundaries.

Final Thoughts: Be Obsessed

At its core, my obsession with science boils down to one thing: passion. Whether it’s exploring new technologies or reimagining old systems, following your curiosity can lead you to incredible places—both literally and metaphorically.

So here’s my advice: find something that fascinates you and dive in headfirst (sometimes literally). Let your imagination run wild because, as Albert Einstein once said,

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”