Humble Science — A Quiet Ode to Caltech

This weekend, I had the privilege to walk the Caltech campus with my son — and I’m still reflecting on what we experienced there.

I’ve seen many universities position themselves with flashy amenities, big student centers, high-end eateries, and big promises about “the experience.”

Caltech does almost none of that. 

Here’s what struck me most:

• The campus is calm, almost minimalist — no sprawling student union, centers, or chain eateries trying to impress. Just spaces where brilliant minds gather to learn, experiment, and imagine.

• The culture is fiercely collaborative. They don’t want competition that harms — they want people who lift each other up and advance knowledge together.

• The first year is pass/fail. Think about that for a moment. Instead of turning 18-year-olds into GPA-obsessed performers, they give students a year to adapt, explore, and grow as humans and learners first. It’s genius — and so needed.

• Their honor code is a simple, powerful promise: don’t take advantage of anyone, ever. They trust their community to live by this. It shows in how students interact and how faculty engage with them.

• They didn’t try to “sell” themselves on the tour. No bragging, no flashy slides of partnerships. Just honesty about who they are and what they build: scientists and collaborators — people ready to push the edges of discovery and serve humanity.

What you find instead is something so refreshing, it almost feels radical in this age:

Humble science. Real collaboration. Quiet brilliance.

I was deeply impressed. And maybe the quiet magic of it all was punctuated by the fact that, at the end of our visit, we quite literally crossed paths with Ted Danson. The universe has its playful ways of nodding when you’re in the right place.

Caltech reminded me that true excellence rarely needs to shout. It simply is — felt in the quiet integrity of its people, its mission, and its unwavering commitment to knowledge that matters.

To any student dreaming of becoming a scientist or engineer: find the place that cares more about your mind than your status. Seek humble science and true collaboration. It’s out there — and it’s more beautiful than any sales pitch could ever promise.