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An important part of all the universities' preparations is getting their research faculty ready for the change.

When it comes to accepting electronic applications, the agency is in no hurry to leave the FastLane.

"It's on-the-ground, in-depth research with a very qualitative component." --Olivia Salcido

"Generally, I find that people are attracted to enthusiasm if it's unfettered and for the right reasons," says Hendrik Poinar, director of McMaster University's Ancient DNA Laboratory.

"I like to move very fast and take a lot of risks compared to the traditional Swedish way."

--Mohammed Homman

The roads of Brittany were littered with cyclists who failed to live by this rule; so are the roads of science.

People sometimes overestimate the extent to which the conventional assumptions apply. Often, for example, managers assume they are more qualified than they really are to judge their employees' performance.

I won't be confined by other people's notions of who I am and what I should do. I'm starting to feel free.

"This choice was more practical because you try to build up a career, and if you do what people are already doing, you need to be very good, but also lucky, to make it," says Edwin Cuppen.

For some applicants, just competing for the Pathways award was a valuable experience.

"By going to different labs," says Edvard Moser, "You learn different ways of thinking and you can create bridges between sub-disciplines and find something unexpected."

Though it is often--and justifiably--maligned, it is ignorance--and recognizing where it exists--that drives scientists to do groundbreaking science.