Rideau Hall, Tuesday, November 20, 2012

It is an honour to welcome you to Rideau Hall, the home of the people of Canada, for this important and timely discussion.

I am particularly pleased to once again welcome the laureates of the 2012 Killam Prizes, who are so deserving of the prestigious awards they received here last spring.

I would also like to congratulate the Killam trustees and the Canada Council for the Arts on their vision in creating this annual symposium. It promises to be a wonderful addition to Canada’s cultural and intellectual calendar.

Let me share with you an interesting statistic I learned that relates to this evening’s theme of discovery.

According to the New Scientist, it is estimated that, over the course of the next 40 years, science will create more knowledge than has been created in the history of our species.

Meaning that, while it is only six months since you last visited Rideau Hall, we nevertheless have a lot of catching up to do!

Such is the pace of discovery in our world today, and the context for this symposium which seeks to shed light on the process of discovery itself.

And, importantly, which aims to uncover the ideal conditions for discovery.

I have no doubt that tonight’s discussion will yield many insights on this subject. After all, our panelists are world leaders in the humanities, in engineering, and in the natural, health and social sciences.

There are many factors at play when it comes to making new discoveries, but I would like to briefly expand upon one essential, timeless ingredient: an open mind.

One of the most famous examples of the power of an open mind—and of its opposite—is the story of Galileo Galilei, who as you all know helped to transform our knowledge of the cosmos when he observed the moons of Jupiter through his telescope.

The implications were enormous: if moons revolve around Jupiter, it meant they do not revolve around Earth—and therefore, that Earth is not at the centre of the cosmos.

This story, and Galileo’s ensuing struggles with the authorities of the day, is now familiar.

Perhaps less well known are the lengths to which some went to preserve the old worldview, despite the evidence.

Fearing and rejecting Galileo’s findings, supporters of the status quo built elaborate mechanical models—known as armillary spheres—that tried to explain the seemingly irregular motions of planetary bodies and to preserve Earth’s place at the centre of the universe.

Ultimately, these attempts collapsed under the weight of fact—and then something very interesting happened.

Suddenly, a new constellation of possibilities arose, this time centred on the understanding that the planets, Earth included, in fact orbit the sun.

I believe this story indicates a number of basic truths about discovery. Above all, the way that one breakthrough so often spawns others, and the fundamental importance of having open, critical and curious minds.

Let us approach this evening in the same manner, and reaffirm our commitment to the timeless spirit of discovery.

Thank you.