On October 16, eminent historian of science Henrique Leitão and Portugal’s most renowned science journalist Teresa Firmino, joined physicist Vítor Cardoso and artist Ana Carvalho for a lively discussion about the origin of ideas in science. The occasion was organised to celebrate the launch of the book “Assim Nasce uma Ideia” (“This is How an Idea is Born”), published by Gradiva and co-organized by Cardoso and Carvalho.

After a brief introduction by Teresa Firmino, Vítor Cardoso—who is also the author of one of the essays in the book—pointed out that the world of ideas consists largely of “a big graveyard and a very small nursery” and discussed the pain and pleasure that underlie the creative process. Next, Ana Carvalho talked about the different approaches artists and scientists take when it comes to their creative process.

Henrique Leitão, who also wrote the preface, highlighted the unique character of this book, showing the struggle, the painful process, and the darkness that precedes all creation in science. “This is a book unlike any other and should have been written decades ago. A book about the act of creation in science, by scientists.” Science is also about failure; it is a search for enlightenment when there is only darkness. “There is no scientific method to create. It is an art, a struggle, an individual process. What scientists crave is the instant, when light comes.”

The book is the result of a longstanding collaboration between physicist Vítor Cardoso and artist Ana Carvalho, and features selected essays from the Birth of an Idea, an online archive created in 2015 that collects testimonials from physicists from around the world about the origin of their scientific ideas. The Birth of an Idea project has also inspired the exhibition “Illuminations” at the Department of Physics at Técnico Lisboa.

The session ended with a brief Q&A session and was then followed by a reception and further informal discussions with members of the audience.