In her talk, “Beyond our bubbles: training our curiosity muscle,” Kelly addresses a critical problem: in a world of growing division, we are increasingly retreating into our own bubbles. Instead of building walls, she argues, we need to train our “curiosity muscle.”

She defines genuine curiosity not just as a willingness to learn, but as “an interest in finding out, but without the emotional attachment to what the outcome is” a mindset of discovering rather than defending. Drawing on powerful lessons from post-conflict peacebuilding in Lebanon and surprising statistics about segregation in our own communities, Kelly shows why this skill is essential for social cohesion. She then presents her practical, four-step approach to help us step out of our comfort zones, engage in difficult conversations, and replace judgment with a genuine desire to understand.