Editorial - Failure

Hello Dear Reader, and welcome to Issue 4 of Consilience.

In this issue we take a deep poetic dive into the crucible of ‘failure’.

Failure exists in many forms and scales. In science it ranges from spilled agar to oil spills; in poetry, from missed rhyme schemes to systematic erasure and oppression of certain viewpoints. Some failures allow for growth, and some are unforgivable. In most instances, failure is a positive catalyst for change that should be embraced; yet despite its crucial role in advancing knowledge, failure is something even scientists struggle to embrace. Yet failures are essential for the progression of scientific research: every negative result, unexpected reaction, or disproved hypothesis acts as a stepping stone towards new discoveries and understandings.

Failure in poetry is also something to be held tight and celebrated, a mechanism to hone one’s craft, build a voice, and turn abject letters into searing insights. Or, in the words of the educator and author Eloise Ristad:

“When we give ourselves permission to fail, we, at the same time, give ourselves permission to excel.”

However, there are also many failures within science for which there can be no cause for celebration. Chernobyl. The misuse of epigenetics. MMR autism fraud. The systemic racism and sexism that globally pervades society. The continued hegemony of Western thought, and the disregard of Indigenous Knowledge. We could go on…

Despite these failures, it is essential that we talk about them--that we hold them up to the light and openly engage in meaningful dialogue about the impact they have on groups and individuals alike. Doing so is hard, it requires to go beyond personal vanity and to retain integrity.Yet when humanity is at its worst, it can shine the brightest; the worst problems require the best solutions.

And so, we might turn to poetry.

Poetry is relentless in its brilliance. It seeks out imperfections, reveals truths, forces confrontations. In turn, poetry has the capacity to hold a mirror to science, capturing its reflection--difficulties and all--to present a powerful tool to both celebrate the successes while simultaneously exposing its many failings, so that they might instead engender a positive catalyst for necessary change.

As ever, thank you to all of the poets that feature in this issue, as well as to Paul Hintermeier and Roland Eichinger who designed the stimulating cover image. We hope that in reading these poems you find comfort, confidence, and companionship, and that they serve to help highlight those failures we should permit, and those we should seek to heal in the light.

The Consilience Team