- David Kaplan: Basic science for big breakthroughs needs to occur at a level where you're not asking "What is the economic gain?" You're asking "What do we not know, and where can we make progress?"
- Savas Dimopoulos: Why do humans do science? Why do they do art? The things that are least important for our survival, are the very things that make us human.
- Savas Dimopoulos: Jumping from failure to failure with undiminished enthusiasm is the big secret to success.