e-Bulletin June 2025

Socrates said, “Wisdom begins in wonder.” Wonder goes beyond simple curiosity with continuous humble questioning of why and how. Wonderers can never be sure that the case is closed. Wondering can go on for a lifetime as long as we stay open and persuadable.

Our careers require the fuel of confidence to persist despite difficulty. However, over-confidence can kill wonder when it is built on self-deception. Thinking we already know the answer because we learned it years ago makes our mind a closed door. Unless scholars stay open to being persuaded—unless they can wonder—there cannot be scientific progress. I wish all peer reviewers were “wonder-full” and I hope we are full of wonder when we help each other as colleagues.

Every day at the University of Hong Kong brings a torrent of facts. Some lie on a road to wisdom if we choose that journey. We each must preserve our shared ability to always become persuaded by evidence. This sense of wonder will allow us to grow professionally as a community and to share our wisdom to light up the path for those who follow.

Professor David Bishai
Director and Clinical Professor
School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong