When Failure Powers Progress: Scientists and Artists Unite to Challenge Success Paradigms

In a purposeful convergence of science and art that bridges disciplines, three renowned innovators will gather to challenge conventional wisdom about failure’s role in breakthrough achievements.

Today’s panel discussion “Scientists and Artists on Failure” at Caltech’s Ramo Auditorium (1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena) brings together Jet Propulsion Laboratory Chief Engineer Emeritus Rob Manning, California Institute of Technology Materials Science Professor and Kavli Nanoscience Institute Director Julia Greer, and Culture Clash co-founder and accomplished playwright Herbert Sigüenza. It’s free and open to the public.

In pre-panel interviews with Pasadena Now, the scientists shared insights about failure’s crucial role in innovation.

“If you don’t make mistakes, you don’t make progress,” says Greer. “You can only make new discoveries and advances if you have made a few mistakes and learn from them. In fact, how do you even define success if you don’t know what failure is?”

The event comes at a critical moment when social media and societal pressure increasingly stigmatize failure, organizers said.

Manning, who led multiple Mars missions at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, offers a revealing perspective: “When you watch us land our missions, when we see our faces on landing day, you see us standing up and cheering, we are not happy. We are relieved that we didn’t forget something.”

Manning detailed the unique challenges in Mars exploration, including the 26-month wait between launch windows. Unlike SpaceX, which quickly iterates rocket designs on Earth, Mars missions must rely heavily on simulation and careful testing. The 1999 failures of Mars Climate Orbiter and Mars Polar Lander served as pivotal learning experiences that transformed JPL’s approach to testing and risk management.

In materials science, Greer’s team made breakthrough discoveries about unexpected strength in nanoscale gold structures, challenging established principles by maintaining scientific integrity when faced with surprising results.

“We wouldn’t be where we are in our careers had we not made a lot of mistakes,” she reflected.

Both scientists expressed concern about society’s decreasing tolerance for failure. Greer pointed out how social media and constant judgment make people more hesitant to take risks, while Manning emphasized the role of creating safe environments for criticism and learning from mistakes.

The panel discussion, running from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., is part of the Opening Doors performing arts series exploring the intersection of art and science at California Institute of Technology. It connects to a broader Southern California initiative involving a host of exhibitions through Getty’s PST ART: Art & Science Collide program, offering the public a unique opportunity to understand how failure drives success across disciplines.

“Dare Mighty Things is a challenge for us to try to somehow balance the need for pushing the envelope without inducing too much hubris at the same time having humility to know that we are in fact fallible human beings,” Manning explained, summarizing Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s philosophy of innovation while advocating for a cultural shift in how society views failure.