Promoting an “Auteur Theory” for Young Scientists: Preserving Excitement and Creativity …

Why did we become scientists? Once established (which takes a long time!), we tend to forget or reinvent the initial motivation that drew us into this unusual profession. The frequently stated goals to advance knowledge (disseminated in publications and, on rare occasions, promoted in the popular media) and to potentially benefit our planet and its occupants in the process, mask the human side of the pursuit of science. Francois Jacob described this dichotomy in his autobiography, The Statue Within, distinguishing what he called “night science” from “day science.”