The Art of Subtraction feat. Leidy Klotz

Leidy Klotz describes himself as an “academic trespasser.” Investigating underexplored intersections between engineering and behavioral science, Leidy is in pursuit of more sustainable systems. 

A professor at the University of Virginia, Leidy has published over 80 peer-reviewed articles in venues that include top academic journals in built environment engineering, engineering education, and design, as well as both Science and Nature. His most recent book is “Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less.”

Nationally recognized as one of 40-under-40 professors who inspire, Klotz has received multiple institution-level teaching awards for his classes and close work with undergraduates.

Leidy joins Greg to discuss biases and heuristics,minimalist writing styles, modifying mental models to accommodate the new information, time famine, and hoarding.

Episode Quotes:

How can we give ourselves reminders in the moment of making decisions to get better at subtracting?

I would say that listening to this podcast is certainly a reminder, you know, reading my book is a reminder. But also just taking some time to say, okay, where do I make important decisions? And how do I bake in a reminder for myself to consider subtracting? So it's like when you're doing your to-do list for the week, that you also consider some “stop doings.” When you're deciding, maybe it's every time you buy something off of Amazon, you also think of something to take out of your house to keep the balance.

Doing less can be difficult

Perhaps the most important point from the research and the book is that it's more work. If you want to create a whittled down skyscraper, that's more work. It's more steps to get to that. And it's the exact same thing cognitively, right? It's more steps.the easy thing to do is to add. And it's not that we can't subtract, but we have to think more. And I think that's where design thinking helps.

Subtracting can be difficult to start

My friend Ben who was a coauthor on the research and thinks about this more than anybody, probably other than me, came to me bragging about, “oh, I said no to a department meeting, I’m taking our research to heart!” And it's like, well, that's great Ben, but you didn't actually subtract something, you just didn't add.

Show Links:

Guest Profile:

• Faculty Profile at University of Virginia
• Leidy Klotz’s Website
• Leidy Klotz on LinkedIn
• Leidy Klotz on Twitter
• Leidy Klotz on TEDxClemsonUniversity

His Work:

• Leidy Klotz on Google Scholar
• Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less
• Sustainability through Soccer: An Unexpected Approach to Saving Our World