Scientific discovery is often portrayed as the outcome of careful planning and tightly reasoned hypotheses, yet much of what we learn emerges when our expectations fail. In this talk, I explore how two concepts —serendipity and figure‑ground perception— have shaped my scientific trajectory and reframed my understanding of “failure” as a productive force. Serendipity, the experience of finding something unforeseen, but valuable while looking for something else, can seem at odds with rigorous science. But serendipity only becomes possible when we attend to the unexpected and stay open to alternative interpretations of our data. Likewise, figure‑ground perception—a neurological principle describing how the brain shifts between different interpretations of the same visual stimulus—offers a powerful metaphor for scientific thinking. By reconsidering which part of a problem is the “figure” and which is the “background,” we can surface overlooked processes, challenge group‑think, and identify novel knowledge gaps.
Across my career, from undergraduate research to professor, serendipity has repeatedly redirected my scientific path. My dissertation emerged from a pattern in nitrogen and sulfur coupling that did not conform to predicted behavior, prompting a deeper inquiry that ultimately defined my research agenda. Since then, “accidental experiments” and unexpected field conditions have repeatedly provided opportunities for insight—revealing patterns and mechanisms I would not have found through planned hypotheses alone. Furthermore, careful and intentional shifts in perspective have also guided my work identifying underexplored conceptual gaps, leading to several synthesis efforts, including papers on nitrate fate in aquatic ecosystems, the biogeochemical economy, and the redox paradox. Each grew from asking what becomes visible when we shift our focus to what others have ignored. By embracing serendipity and adopting flexible perception mindset, we can transform unexpected results from setbacks into invitations—opening creative pathways to understanding complex ecological systems and strengthening our resilience as scientists.