What trips the trigger to produce the flash of genius- the crucial act in the discovery process- the ultimate revelation of the art of creativity?

Charles Martin Hall a senior at Oberlin College in 1885, heard his chemistry Professor tell the class one day that the metal aluminium could revolutionize the metals field if someone could just find the method of  metallurgy by which aluminium could be prepared cheaply enough to compete with iron. Hall said, “but I am going after that Metal.” Upon graduation he borrowed some batteries and apparatus from his Professor and went to work in the shed at back his father’s house. Eight months later he reported to this Professor that he had found the process. That is the basic process for metallurgy of aluminium today.

We can make a ready explanation of discovery by trial and error and by planned research. The clue to discovery by trial and error process depends heavily on doing enough experiments- one of them will probably give the desired results. That was Hall’s method in the discovery of method of metallurgy of aluminium. The clue to the discovery process in planned research depends heavily on the pattern or picture (theory of facts) that forms as the data are collected, this was the method of Arrhenius in developing the theory of ionization, the work of Madam Curie in the isolation of compounds of polonium and radium, and the work in developing the nuclear reactor and atomic bomb.As we study these different cases of discovery we shall probably conclude that perhaps the most vital elements common to most of the researchers of discoverers are:

Furthermore, we shall see that the two basic generalizations or assumptions that apply to the method of discovery are: (1) if we learnt to ask nature the right questions, we will get the right answers; and (2) we must assume that we’re dealing with an orderly universe. These assumptions are basic to all research and can contribute to the exciting, brain stretching prospect of interpreting the universe- and to our search for an understanding of the creative process in the idea world where the mind of man triumphs over matter. This is the new century and its demand.

Someone has said that that a new invention or scientific discovery is the result of 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration. Whatever the relative percentages, we must recognize that most discoveries are the result of a creative process that involves much toil, time turmoil.

During the period of time turmoil frustration and waiting for the results are very often serious or critical for many people. Organizations must recognize this and respect these emotions. The exciting step must be the moment of birth of the new idea.

I do hope that the GHR Labs and Research Center provides the ambience for a new generation of researchers whose contribution would make a mark in solving the problems of society and its people.

Sunil Raisoni
Chairman
Raisoni Group of Institutions