When we treat complex problems like they exist in a vacuum, we fail to solve real-world problems.
You know what drives me crazy? When we treat complex problems as if they exist in a vacuum.
I was recently thinking about a local issue—treating a lake with herbicides to kill invasive milfoil. Simple solution, right? Kill the bad thing, problem solved.
Except... It's never that simple.
Why Science Keeps Missing the Bigger Picture
Here's the thing: this isn't just a lake problem. It's a science problem. And it's showing up everywhere—in how we design studies, write grants, and even think about our careers.
In this video, I connect the dots between piecemeal thinking and why so much research fails to solve real-world problems. And more importantly, what the next generation can do differently.
