As we reach the midpoint of Johns Hopkins’ yearlong 150th anniversary, I’ve been thinking about what has made the Krieger School a leader in the arts and sciences over all this time. Some of the qualities I’ve come up with include expertise, dedication, mentorship, refusal to give up, patience. But I keep coming back to one: curiosity.

Curiosity on campus

Here at Homewood—and I’m sure on the other Hopkins campuses—curiosity is like an undercurrent of energy that sparks inspiration and ambition. It’s not just curiosity about the results of a research project or the meaning of a particular work of literature—though indeed that looms large. But curiosity on a grander scale as well: wondering about the makeup of dark energy; plumbing the ethical depths of artificial intelligence; conducting a deep dive into history to understand current issues in the Middle East; using large data sets to solve sociological issues such as housing insecurity; and probing the next frontier in scientific advances—the human brain.

Here at the Krieger School, curiosity breeds a love of learning. I see it on the faces of our new undergraduates as they ask and grapple with the world’s big questions in the First-Year Seminars. This semester I’m teaching a doctoral-level course on deciphering literary sources while exploring whether the dawn of printing with moveable type was revolutionary or evolutionary. My students are seasoned intellectuals, and yet their curiosity and hunger for new knowledge remains fresh.

Moving forward with an open mind

Those are just two examples of how, if nurtured, curiosity can thrive across our lifespans.
Take a look at our feature article about The Academy at Homewood, an initiative that gives retired faculty the opportunity to continue their research and collaborative scholarship. Their curiosity about the world is in full bloom, and I find it inspiring. As one member put it, the Academy is “a home for the intellectual base of our lives.”

In addition to a love of learning, I believe a healthy curiosity produces other traits for success such as the willingness to listen carefully, read critically, consider other viewpoints, and approach the world with an open mind.

I encourage you to ask yourself right now, in this moment, “What am I curious about and how do I satisfy that curiosity?” I’d love to know what you’re thinking about. Feel free to send your responses to [email protected].

Happy 150th birthday to us and our undying curiosity!

Sincerely,

Christopher S. Celenza
James B. Knapp Dean