The anecdote of the “positive mosquito” arose at the end of the conversation Valentí Fuster held with journalist Mònica Planas at the Enfoquem: Solutions Forum, organized by ARA at the CCCB in Barcelona. This metaphor summarizes the two pillars of his intervention: humility and confidence in society's capacity to react to dire times.
“"I am a very positive mosquito."
The president of the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart, Hospital in New York, underscored the importance of taking a long-term view in science, noting that “China looks long-term and in science they are surpassing scientists in the rest of the world.” He insisted that real well-being is based on the fundamental trident of “science, health, and education.”
“"We cannot understand science as an absolute. Dogmatic scientists worry me. Science is totally against dogmatism, because what we believe today, tomorrow we see has a different aspect."
Regarding political instability, particularly the impact of the Trump era, Fuster expressed short-term concern but remained optimistic about its temporary nature. With the same positive spirit, he addressed questions about artificial intelligence (AI), even while acknowledging the risk that it might “cancel the spirit we have to create.”
Nevertheless, the doctor fully trusts society's ability to realize the importance of human creativity and fight against rigid systems that could turn us into robots. This confidence, he stated, stems from dedicating 15 minutes a day to thinking, which he considers the “most important part of the day.”
