Meet Dr. Zsóka Vásárhelyi, evolutionary biologist, in a thoughtful episode on exploratory thinking. She shares how childlike curiosity, slowing down, and citizen science—like the Mosquito Monitor project—help us understand ecological change and imagine better futures.
In this podcast episode, we meet Dr. Zsóka Vásárhelyi, an evolutionary biologist, with whom we had an inspiring conversation about exploratory thinking —a competence that shapes both her work and her everyday life. She says, exploratory behaviour is something we all naturally have. It’s that childlike moment when we ask why and start noticing the world a bit differently. For Zsóka, this curiosity is key to understanding ecological change and imagining better futures. Her work with the Mosquito Monitor project shows how even one photo sent by a volunteer can open the door to new questions and a sense of discovery.
In today’s fast, noisy world, exploratory thinking isn’t about chasing endless new information. It’s about slowing down, paying attention, and connecting the dots. As a teacher, Zsóka encourages learners to take ownership of their questions and explore actively, whether the topic is evolution, ecology, or statistics. She believes this mindset is something everyone can grow throughout their lives — a quiet but powerful tool for staying open, creative, and connected to the world around us.
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