It's exhausting, right?

很累人，對吧？

You must be puzzled by the fact that some teens do well in school,

你一定感到令人費解吧！有些青少年在校表現傑出，

lead clubs and teams

帶領社團和團隊，

and volunteer in their communities,

並且在自家社區當義工，

but they eat Tide Pods for an online challenge,

但另一方面，卻參加網路瘋傳的吞食汰漬洗衣膠囊挑戰，

speed and text while driving,

開車時邊催油門邊傳訊息，

binge drink and experiment with illicit drugs.

嘗試瘋狂飲酒和禁藥試驗。

How can so many teens be so smart, skilled and responsible --

怎麼會有這麼多青少年如此聰明、品學兼優又有責任心，

and careless risk-takers at the same time?

同時卻也是個不顧後果的冒險青年呢？

When I was 16,

我 16 歲時，

while frequently observing my peers in person

經常親自觀察我的同學，

as well as on social media,

在社群媒體上也是，

I began to wonder why so many teens took such crazy risks.

我開始猜想為何有這麼多的青少年
冒著如此瘋狂的風險，

It seems like getting a certificate from DARE class in the fifth grade

這樣的行為看起來就像是在 5 年級的大膽課得到認證一樣，

can't stop them.

沒人阻止得了他們。

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

What was even more alarming to me

更讓我感到擔憂的是

was that the more they exposed themselves to these harmful risks,

他們越是嘗試這些傷害性的冒險，

the easier it became for them to continue taking risks.

他們就越是容易不斷地冒險。

Now this confused me,

這件事讓我覺得困惑，

but it also made me incredibly curious.

但我也對此感到無比好奇。

So, as someone with a name

所以就如同我的名字，

that literally means "to explore knowledge,"

字面的意思是「開拓知識」，

I started searching for a scientific explanation.

我開始為此尋找一個科學解釋。

Now, it's no secret that teens ages 13 to 18

大家都知道 13 到 18 歲的青少年，

are more prone to risk-taking than children or adults,

比小孩或成人更容易有冒險的傾向，

but what makes them so daring?

但他們為什麼這麼大膽呢？

Do they suddenly become reckless,

他們是突然就變得魯莽嗎？

or is this just a natural phase that they're going through?

或是這只是一個他們必經且自然的成長階段？

Well neuroscientists have already found evidence

神經科學家已經找到證據了。

that the teen brain is still in the process of maturation --

證據顯示青少年時期的大腦仍處於成熟中的階段，

and that this makes them exceptionally poor at decision-making,

所以他們在做決定時的判斷力相當的差，

causing them to fall prey to risky behaviors.

讓他們深受冒險行為之苦。

But in that case, if the maturing brain is to blame,

但既然如此，如果罪魁禍首是成熟中的大腦，

then why are teens more vulnerable than children,

那麼為什麼青少年卻比孩童更加脆弱呢？

even though their brains are more developed than those of children?

即使和孩童相比，青少年大腦發展得更完全但卻更脆弱呢？

Also, not all teens in the world take risks at the same level.

另外，並非世界上所有的青少年都
冒著一樣大的風險。

Are there some other underlying or unintentional causes

這其中是否還有其他內在或無意識的起因

driving them to risk-taking?

導致他們冒險?

Well, this is exactly what I decided to research.

這正是我決定要研究的原因。

So, I founded my research on the basis of a psychological process

我的研究以心理學的歷程為基礎，

known as "habituation,"

就是所謂的「習慣化」，

or simply what we refer to as "getting used to it."

或是我們一般簡單地稱為「適應」。

Habituation explains how our brains adapt to some behaviors,

習慣化指的是我們的大腦如何去適應一些行為，

like lying, with repeated exposures.

像是反覆地編織謊言。

And this concept inspired me to design a project

而這個概念讓我有了設計一個計畫的靈感，

to determine if the same principle

這個計畫的目的是確認相同的原理是否

could be applied to the relentless rise of risk-taking in teenagers.

也能應用在冒險人數不斷增加的青少年身上。

So I predicted that habituation to risk-taking

所以我的預測是，就以冒險行為來說，習慣性

may have the potential to change the already-vulnerable teenage brain

可能改變那些已經很脆弱的青少年大腦，

by blunting or even eradicating

藉由減弱或甚至消滅

the negative emotions associated with risk,

和風險有關的負面情緒，

like fear or guilt.

像是恐懼或罪惡感。

I also thought because they would feel less fearful and guilty,

我還認為既然他們覺得比較不害怕和比較沒有罪惡感，

this desensitization would lead them to even more risk-taking.

那麼這個減敏感法會讓他們變本加厲地去冒險。

In short, I wanted to conduct a research study

簡而言之，我想要進行一個研究調查， 


to answer one big question:

藉此回答一個大問題：

Why do teens keep making outrageous choices

為什麼青少年不斷的做出猖狂的選擇，

that are harmful to their health and well-being?

不斷做出不利於他們的健康和美好人生的選擇呢？

But there was one big obstacle in my way.

但我的實驗面臨一個巨大的阻礙。

To investigate this problem,

為了調查這個問題，

I needed teenagers to experiment on,

我需要青少年當作實驗對象，

laboratories and devices to measure their brain activity,

我需要實驗室和器材才能量測他們的腦部活動，

and teachers or professors to supervise me and guide me along the way.

還需要老師或教授在各個環節指導我和引導我。

I needed resources.

我需要資源。

But, you see, I attended a high school in South Dakota

但是，我讀的是一所位於南達科他州的高中，

with limited opportunity for scientific exploration.

在這裡進行科學試驗的機會有限。

My school had athletics,

我的學校有運動社團、

band, choir, debate and other clubs,

樂團、合唱團、辯論社和其他社團，

but there were no STEM programs or research mentors.

但就是沒有 STEM 教育學程或研究導師。

And the notion of high schoolers

而且高中生普遍認為，

doing research or participating in a science fair was completely foreign.

做研究或參加科展的人根本是異類。

Simply put, I didn't exactly have the ingredients

簡單的說，我擁有的食材無法

to make a chef-worthy dish.

做出一道主廚料理。

And these obstacles were frustrating,

而且這些阻礙真令人沮喪，

but I was also a stubborn teenager.

但我就是一個倔強的青少女。

And as the daughter of Bangladeshi immigrants

身為孟加拉移民的女兒，

and one of just a handful of Muslim students

再加上我是少數穆斯林學生的一份子，

in my high school in South Dakota,

在我位於南達科他州的高中裡，

I often struggled to fit in.

為了融入大家我時常得經過一番努力。

And I wanted to be someone with something to contribute to society,

而且我想要成為一個能夠對社會有貢獻的人，

not just be deemed the scarf-wearing brown girl

我不要只被視為一個包著頭巾的褐皮膚女孩，

who was an anomaly in my homogenous hometown.

在我同文同種的家鄉，我被當成是不正常的人。

I hoped that by doing this research,

我希望藉由這個研究，

I could establish this

我可以得到認可

and how valuable scientific exploration could be for kids like me

且證明科學探索對像我一樣的小孩來說有多麽重要，

who didn't necessarily find their niche elsewhere.

我們不需要去別處找尋自己的人生定位。 


So with limited research opportunities,

在有限的研究機會之下，

inventiveness allowed me to overcome seemingly impossible obstacles.

創造力讓我克服那些看似不可能越過的阻礙。

I became more creative in working with a variety of methodologies,

我變得更有創意，像是運用各種方法論、

materials and subjects.

材料和實驗對象。

I transformed my unassuming school library

我將不起眼的學校圖書館改造成

into a laboratory

一間實驗室

and my peers into lab rats.

我讓同學當白老鼠。

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

My enthusiastic geography teacher,

我充滿熱忱的地理老師，

who also happens to be my school's football coach,

剛好是我學校的足球教練，

ended up as my cheerleader,

結果變成我的啦啦隊長，

becoming my mentor to sign necessary paperwork.

成為我的導師簽署必要文件。

And when it became logistically impossible

而且邏輯上不可能的事情是

to use a laboratory electroencephalography,

使用一個實驗室的腦電圖，

or EEG,

又稱為 EEG，

which are those electrode devices used to measure emotional responses,

利用電極設備用來測量情緒反應，

I bought a portable EEG headset with my own money,

我自掏腰包買了一個攜帶式的腦電圖頭套，

instead of buying the new iPhone X

而不是把錢拿去買最新的 iPhone X，

that a lot of kids my age were saving up for.

許多跟我一樣大的青少年存錢就是為了買這隻手機。

So finally I started the research

最後我終於開始我的研究，

with 86 students, ages 13 to 18, from my high school.

總共有 86 位年紀介於 13 到 18 歲的同校學生參加實驗。

Using the computer cubicles in my school library,

我在學校圖書館裡的電腦隔間做實驗，

I had them complete a computerized decision-making simulation

我請他們完成一個電腦決策的模擬試驗，

to measure their risk-taking behaviors comparable to ones in the real world,

利用模擬試驗，量測他們的冒險行為和真實行為相比較，

like alcohol use, drug use and gambling.

像是、飲酒、吸毒和賭博。

Wearing the EEG headset,

他們帶著腦電圖的頭套，

the students completed the test 12 times over three days

這些學生在 3 天內，完成了 12 次的試驗，

to mimic repeated risk exposures.

模仿重複的冒險行為。

A control panel on the EEG headset

腦電圖頭套上有一個控制版，

measured their various emotional responses:

用來測量他們不同的情緒反應，

like attention, interest, excitement, frustration,

例如專注力、興趣、興奮、沮喪

guilt, stress levels and relaxation.

罪惡感、壓力程度和放鬆度。

They also rated their emotions

這些受試者也將自己的情緒分級，

on well-validated emotion-measuring scales.

他們用充分驗證的情緒測量表分級。

This meant that I had measured the process of habituation

這代表我已經量測了習慣化的過程，

and its effects on decision-making.

以及它對決策的影響。

And it took 29 days to complete this research.

整個研究花了 29 天完成。

And with months of frantically drafting proposals,

花了好幾個月的時間，匆忙地草擬提案，

meticulously computing data in a caffeinated daze at 2am,

在凌晨 2 點，灌了咖啡因的恍惚狀態下，細心謹慎地推算資料，

I was able to finalize my results.

我終於可以下結論了。

And the results showed that habituation to risk-taking

研究結果顯示，以冒險來說，習慣化

could actually change a teen's brain by altering their emotional levels,

的確可以改變青少年的大腦，只要改變他們的情緒分級，

causing greater risk-taking.

和製造更大的風險就可行。

The students' emotions that were normally associated with risks,

學生的情緒通常和風險相關，

like fear, stress, guilt and nervousness,

像是恐懼、壓力、罪惡感和緊張，

as well as attention,

以及專注力，

were high when they were first exposed to the risk simulator.

他們第一次做風險模擬試驗時，這些情緒都很高漲。 


This curbed their temptations and enforced self-control,

這個試驗抑止了他們的情緒且加強了自我掌控的能力，

which prevented them from taking more risks.

也因此能阻止他們冒更多的風險。

However, the more they were exposed to the risks through the simulator,

然而，他們透過模擬器做了越多次的冒險行為測試，

the less fearful, guilty and stressed they became.

他們就變得越不害怕、不覺得有罪惡感和壓力。

This caused a situation

這導致了一種情況，

in which they were no longer able to feel

也就是他們再也無法感知，

the brain's natural fear and caution instincts.

大腦自然產生的恐懼和警覺的本能。

And also, because they are teenagers and their brains are still underdeveloped,

而且正因為他們是青少年且他們的大腦仍未發育完全，

they became more interested and excited in thrill-seeking behaviors.

所以他們變得對於追求刺激感的行為更加感興趣和興奮。

So what were the consequences?

那麼後果是什麼呢？

They lacked self-control for logical decision-making,

對於有邏輯的做決策他們缺乏自我控制，

took greater risks

他們會冒更大的風險

and made more harmful choices.

且做更多會造成傷害的選擇。

So the developing brain alone isn't to blame.

所以我們不能錯怪了發展中的大腦。

The process of habituation also plays a key role in risk-taking

在冒險行為中，習慣化的過程也扮演著重要的角色，

and risk escalation.

且在風險增加中也是如此。

Although a teen's willingness to seek risk

儘管青少年會主動冒險，

is largely a result of the structural and functional changes

很大的原因是因為結構及功能的改變，

associated with their developing brains,

這些改變和他們發育中的大腦相關，

the dangerous part that my research was able to highlight

我的研究中要強調的危險部分，

was that a habituation to risks

指的是對於風險來說，習慣化

can actually physically change a teen's brain

的確可以實質上改變青少年的大腦，

and cause greater risk-taking.

且讓他們冒更大的風險。

So it's the combination of the immature teen brain

所以青少年愛冒險是因為，尚未成熟的青少年大腦，

and the impact of habituation

加上習慣化的影響。

that is like a perfect storm to create more damaging effects.

這就像一個完美的暴風結構，將帶來更多會造成傷害的後果。

And this research can help parents and the general public

這份研究能夠幫助家長和大眾，

understand that teens aren't just willfully ignoring warnings

了解青少年並不是故意要忽略警告，

or simply defying parents by engaging in increasingly more dangerous behavior.

也不是故意做出更加危險的行為就只是要和父母做對。

The biggest hurdle they're facing is their habituation to risks:

青少年面對最大的阻礙是他們對於冒險的習慣化，

all the physical, detectable and emotional functional changes

所有實質且可檢測的情緒功能的改變，

that drive and control and influence their over-the-top risk-taking.

這驅使、控制和影響了他們，而去過分冒險。

So yes, we need policies that provide safer environments

所以沒錯，我們需要的政策不僅要能夠提供更安全的環境，

and limit exposures to high risks,

且限制高風險情況發生，

but we also need policies that reflect this insight.

我們需要的政策也要能反映此見解。

These results are a wake-up call for teens, too.

這些研究結果對於青少年來說也是一種警醒。

It shows them that the natural and necessary fear and guilt

這讓他們知道，自然產生的恐懼和罪惡感是不可或缺的，

that protect them from unsafe situations

因為那些情緒可以保護他們遠離不安全的情況。

actually become numb when they repeatedly choose risky behaviors.

但當他們不斷做出冒險行為時，就察覺不到這些情緒了。

So with this hope to share my findings with fellow teenagers and scientists,

我希望和青少年和科學家分享我的發現，

I took my research

所以我帶著我的研究，

to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, or ISEF,

參加英特爾國際科技展覽會，簡稱 ISEF，

a culmination of over 1,800 students

這個科展超過 1800 位學生參加，

from 75 countries, regions and territories,

他們分別來自 75 個國家、區域和領土，

who showcase their cutting-edge research and inventions.

發表了他們最頂尖且最先進的研究和發明。

It's like the Olympics of science fair.

這就像是自然科學展的奧林匹克。

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

There, I was able to present my research to experts in neuroscience and psychology

在那裡，我將我的研究呈現給神經科學及心理學領域的專家們看，

and garner valuable feedback.

且得到珍貴的建言。

But perhaps the most memorable moment of the week

但也許那個禮拜最值得紀念的時刻，

was when the booming speakers suddenly uttered my name

是講者的嘴巴突然蹦出了我的名字，

during the awards ceremony.

就在頒獎典禮進行中。

I was in such disbelief that I questioned myself:

我當時不敢相信，我甚至問了自己，

Was this just another \"La La Land\" blunder

不會是誤唸了我的名字，就像電影《樂來越愛你》一樣，

like at the Oscars?

在奧斯卡頒獎典禮上被唸錯了吧？

(Laughter)

(笑聲)

Luckily, it wasn't.

很幸運地，這是真的！

I really had won first place

我真的得到第一名！

in the category \"Behavioral and Social Sciences.\"

我是行為及社會科學類的第一名。

(Applause)

(掌聲)

Needless to say,

更不用說，

I was not only thrilled to have this recognition,

我不僅僅是超開心能夠獲得此殊榮，

but also the whole experience of science fair that validated my efforts

而且我也很開心參加科展驗證了我的努力，

keeps my curiosity alive

讓我的好奇心不滅。

and strengthens my creativity,

且為我的創造力注入滿滿能量，

perseverance and imagination.

鞏固我的毅力和豐富我的想像力。

This still image of me experimenting in my school library

這是我在學校圖書館做實驗的照片，

may seem ordinary,

看似普通，

but to me, it represents a sort of inspiration.

但對我來說，這張照片代表一種靈感。

It reminds me that this process taught me to take risks.

這張照片提醒我，實驗的過程教導我要勇於冒險。

And I know that might sound incredibly ironic.

我知道這句話聽起來非常諷刺。

But I took risks realizing

但正因為我冒了這個險，我才發現，

that unforeseen opportunities often come from risk-taking --

預料之外的機會，通常會因冒險而出現，

not the hazardous, negative type that I studied,

我說的並非是我研究的那種，有危險且負面的冒險，

but the good ones,

我說的是正向的冒險，

the positive risks.

正面的冒險。

The more risks I took,

我越是冒險，

the more capable I felt of withstanding my unconventional circumstances,

就越是覺得，自己能夠禁得起我那非傳統的情況，

leading to more tolerance, resilience and patience

讓我更能容忍、更有韌性和耐心，

for completing my project.

去完成我的計畫。

And these lessons have led me to new ideas

而且這些經驗讓我找到新的點子，

like: Is the opposite of negative risk-taking also true?

例如：負面冒險行為的相反也適用嗎？

Can positive risk-taking escalate with repeated exposures?

藉由重複的正面冒險，能夠加強正面的冒險行為嗎？

Does positive action build positive brain functioning?

正面行為能夠樹立正向的腦部運作嗎？

I think I just might have my next research idea.

我想我可能正好找到，我下一個研究主題了。

(Applause)

(掌聲)