Long, long ago, a man crouched with a bundle of leaves and a burning stick and started the first fire. We don’t know anything about him or what was going through his mind. However, since then, there have been many pioneers in fields as diverse as cookery and criminology, pottery and physics. Can anyone be a pioneer, or are there qualities that pioneers possess? You might expect courage from an explorer, but is it essential for a scientist? Some philanthropists were driven by religious beliefs, but other pioneers may have been motivated by ambition. Sir Isaac Newton said “If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Do pioneers just build on the work of others?

Think about the pioneers who interest you, whether they are scientists or explorers, athletes or composers, poets or designers.

• Do you know who designed the products you use, or originated your favourite game or pastime? Are there interesting stories about them?
• Who were the pioneers in your profession or trade? Were you inspired by them?
• Have you heard of breakthroughs which were dependent on luck?
• Do you know any pioneers yourself?
• Have you been a pioneer?

Write about pioneers. Edited Guide articles would be good, but so would stories, poetry and photographs.

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