The Side Hustle Of The Nobel Laureates
And how picking up a projects and hobbies helped Nobel Prize winners.
The Side Projects Of Nobel Prize Winners
In 2022, researchers Michele and Robert Root-Bernstein from Michigan State University sought to answer an intriguing question: Do Nobel Prize winners intentionally pursue hobbies outside their primary field to spark creativity and innovation in their work?1
While previous studies have shown that Nobel laureates often have interests beyond their primary field, these pursuits were sometimes dismissed as exceptions—until now.
Michele and Robert examined the life and works of 773 Nobel laureates across all fields of academia. One such subject of study was a doctor named Sir Ronald Ross, who had a tendency to pursue interests outside his primary field of research...
Sir Ronald Ross
One notable subject of their study was Sir Ronald Ross, the 1902 Nobel Prize winner who discovered that mosquitoes transmit malaria. His groundbreaking work forever changed the global understanding of the disease. However, Ross was more than just a researcher—he was also a man with diverse interests.
Outside the laboratory, Ross engaged in a variety of activities, such as playing golf, tennis, and fishing.2 He was also an avid reader and poet, known for his literary works Lyra Modulata and Fables and Satires.
Beyond writing, Ross delved into broad intellectual pursuits, such as studying European literature and developing mathematical models that contributed to the early foundations of epidemiology.3
Clearly, Ronald was a man of many interests. Rather than locking himself into his primary research, he gave himself the grace to pursue his interests outside the lab.
Why Polymaths Earn Nobel Prizes
After examining the lives of 773 Nobel laureates, Michele and Robert found a striking common thread among them: a commitment to cross-disciplinary interests. Unlike their peers, these laureates were able to:
Connect ideas across fields.
Transfer techniques from one discipline to another.
Identify novel problems at the intersection of various domains.
This ability to synthesize knowledge beyond their specialty proved to be a hallmark of groundbreaking innovation.
The study suggests that, rather than focusing solely on specialization, embracing a wide range of interests and expertise fosters the creativity needed to make breakthrough discoveries.
How We Can Learn From The Nobel Prize Winners
While I don’t aspire to win a Nobel Prize, there’s much we can learn from Sir Ronald Ross and other laureates. Here are a few key takeaways from their lives and side projects:
It's OK to step away from your primary focus and pursue what genuinely interests you.
Be intentional with your side projects—invest the time and effort to develop them fully.
The diverse skills you acquire may eventually allow you to tackle complex problems in unexpected ways.
— Grant Varner
Root-Bernstein, M., & Root-Bernstein, R. (2022). Polymathy among Nobel laureates as a creative strategy—The qualitative and phenomenological evidence. Creativity Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2022.2051294
Mégroz, R. L. (1931). Ronald Ross: Discoverer and Creator (p. 47). George Allen & Unwin.
Malpe, M., Choudhari, S. G., Nagtode, N., & Gharde, P. M. (2024). The legacy of Sir Ronald Ross: From malaria research to multifaceted achievements. Cureus, 16(8), e65999. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.65999