A look at Schneider’s residency at CSH:
Science, Stories, and Side Projects
For three months, Reto Schneider—a veteran science journalist and deputy editor of NZZ Folio—traded his editorial desk in Zürich for a desk at the Complexity Science Hub (CSH) in Vienna. A former electrical engineer turned writer, Schneider has spent decades chronicling everything from the composition of household waste to the psychology behind first names.
“My specialty is writing long narrative texts, sometimes on offbeat topics, but often raising fundamental questions,” says Schneider, who found a fitting home at CSH.
At CSH, Schneider wasn’t just observing researchers at work—he actively engaged with their world. One of his contributions was a workshop on Elegant, Bizarre, and Funny Experimental Methods, which invited CSH scientists to reimagine eccentric scientific inquiries from the past two centuries. How would you test whether time slows down during moments of fear? How can you put people to the test in embarrassing situations?
Science As a Process
“These are questions that might seem naive or even childish,” says Schneider. “But they push us to think differently. A lot of people think science is about having knowledge. But science is really about the process of acquiring it. That’s what fascinates me—the methods, especially the strange ones.”
The workshop emphasized creativity in experimental design. Some CSH scientists came up with orignal, and humorous, experimental designs to answer the proposed research questions. Most importantly, they learned how researchers have done it in the past and were encouraged to exercise their creativity and outside-the-box thinking.
“A highlight for me was the study on why men in Western societies are attracted to women with low waist-to-hip ratios. When I showed the workshop participants the study and the solution, which involved blind men without prior visual experience, Victor (Møller Poulsen), exclaimed, “Yes, that was the idea!” It is a proof that fresh perspectives often yield the most elegant ideas,” points out Schneider.
Team Work
“The workshop was also like a treasure hunt,” recalls Schneider. “Somebody has an idea, another person builds on it, and suddenly a third brings in something entirely new. You see how group dynamics can produce something greater than the sum of its parts.”
During his stay at CSH, Schneider also presented his latest book “Die Kunst des Klugen Streitgesprächs” (translated as The Art of Intelligent Debate), highlighting how we often believe our worldview is built on solid reasoning when, in fact, it may not be. Scientists like Hannah Metzler, Victor Møller Poulsen, Eddie Lee, and others had a fascinating exchange of ideas around his findings.
Schneider especially enjoyed interacting with our senior and junior researchers during tea time. Tea time is a tradition at CSH, where our community gathers for tea and refreshments, as well as an exchange of ideas. “These encounters sparked engaging conversations with CSH scientists”, remarks Schneider.
Past, Present and Possible Futures
Schneider also explored deeper historical themes during his residency, engaging in extensive conversations with Peter Turchin and his research group. “I’ve always been fascinated by the predictability of history,” says the journalist. “Peter and I had a fascinating conversation, and we discussed a wide range of things.”
“In contrast, by joining his group meetings, I was surprised to learn how much work goes into collecting historical data. Before you can test a hypothesis, you need data—how many elites lived in 14th-century France, for example? That’s where it starts.”
Side Projects in Journalism–and in Science
Reflecting on his time at CSH, Schneider draws a parallel between scientific side projects and good journalism. “Most journalism is short term,” says Schneider. “But if you follow something or someone over time—even if you’re not the best writer—you’ll end up with a deeper, more meaningful story. That’s what I always tell young journalists: pick a side project. Let it grow with you.”
“At CSH, I could see a similar thing, as some scientists also pursue a side project,” points out Schneider. “It can be a research question that is interesting in different ways from the PhD thesis, or a celebration of curiosity for its own sake. However, it may be stimulating to see how your skills can be applied in an unexpected way to solve a problem.”
