Science YouTuber Lee Min-hwan: 'The purpose of experiments is to find the 'why''

In an era where artificial intelligence can provide answers in an instant, the true value lies not in the answers themselves, but in the questions we ask. Lee Min-hwan, the operator of the popular science YouTube channel 'Jishikin Minani' and author of 'Science Falls with One Question,' believes that fostering curiosity and the ability to question is paramount for developing scientific thinking in children.

“

The questions that parents might dismiss as 'nonsense' are actually the most powerful switches for awakening a child's scientific thinking.

Lee explains that seemingly "absurd" questions, like "Does eating boogers harm the body?" or "Do zombie mushrooms really exist?" are powerful catalysts for a child's scientific inquiry. Instead of simply memorizing facts, he stresses the importance of teaching children how to formulate questions. For instance, a question about zombie mushrooms can lead to further inquiries about how fungi control insects or the interconnectedness of ecosystems. This iterative process of questioning and exploring is, in itself, a training ground for independent thought.

Lee advocates for a learning process that involves questioning, predicting, understanding concepts, and verifying through experiments. He argues that providing immediate answers "injects" knowledge into a child's mind, whereas encouraging prediction primes the brain for learning. When children predict and their predictions are incorrect, it's not a failure but an opportunity for deeper learning. This experience teaches them that "it's okay to be wrong" and transforms potential setbacks into new avenues of curiosity, building a "mental muscle" for tackling challenges without fixating on the right answer.

“

When parents don't provide the answer directly but show the process of inferring it together, the child's thinking ability grows even more.

For parents concerned about the complexity or messiness of home science experiments, Lee offers reassurance. His book focuses on experiments using readily available household items like baking soda, vinegar, and plastic bottles. The key, he emphasizes, is not achieving perfect results but engaging in the process of inquiry. When experiments don't go as planned, parents should encourage children to explore why, fostering a problem-solving mindset. The ultimate goal of these experiments is not a "pretty outcome" but the journey of discovering "why."

“

The purpose of the experiment is not the pretty result, but the process of finding out 'why'.

Lee also draws a parallel between elementary science education and later academic success. He believes that nurturing a child's "why" curiosity in elementary school lays a strong foundation for understanding complex concepts in middle and high school. Children who have explored their curiosities early on are more likely to connect with abstract scientific principles, viewing them as extensions of their initial questions rather than daunting formulas. This early engagement builds a robust framework for future scientific learning.

“

In the AI era, curiosity that asks 'Why?' is a much more powerful weapon than getting the right answer.