The Power of Human Connection for Behavioral Science: A Personal Reflection

Maricarmen Vizcaino, PhD

As academics, we pursue new knowledge to advance our careers and contribute to our fields of study. We may also be motivated to gain new knowledge out of curiosity, for the love of wisdom, or simply because learning has become a way of life. If you are like me, all of the previous reasons apply. As a graduate student, I was obsessed about learning as much as I can about every topic imaginable that I believed would be crucial for my future career. I would travel to scientific conferences and spent all my time becoming an ‘expert’ in a variety of topics (or so I thought), attending as many sessions as possible from early morning until late afternoon. I would pay close attention to the speakers and take notes. I remained focused on my pursuit of knowledge, never talking to anyone, never attending any social events or taking advantage of networking opportunities. It took me a long time to finally understand that the wisdom I was aspiring to did not reside in the information being presented before my eyes, but in the people around me.

Over the next decade attending the SBM annual conferences, I saw countless presentations and participated in numerous workshops – these of course are important as they represent valuable opportunities of continuing education and represent our means of disseminating our work. However, the most significant impact of SBM for me has been the mentors and peers I have had the opportunity to meet. SBM is unique in providing these opportunities for human connection.

For example, I am very grateful that the SBM’s Bridging the Gap Award included a mentoring component. For an early career investigator, having a mentor outside your institution provides a fresh perspective on the possibilities of your current work and future career. Beyond that, I am grateful for my assigned mentor that offered me encouragement and support, both online and in person when we finally met this past Summer during the annual meeting.

Another important example is the mentoring program that SBM organized in 2021 in the middle of the pandemic. I cannot say enough in this brief space about how valuable it has been to have an incredible mentor that patiently delivers his wisdom through a respectful and open dialogue. I also have amazing peers that support me through the ups and downs of my academic journey – and I talk in the present tense because our group continues to meet in spite of different time zones spanning from the US, Pacific, and all the way to Europe.

I am still not the wise researcher I aspire to be, but at least I have finally understood where true wisdom resides. My best advice for new generations of investigators is to establish human connections and focus your attention on the people around you. Be humble and learn from those that have been in the field much longer than you. Be generous and offer support to those that are trying to learn from you. Working together is the only way to truly become wise and advance the field.