From a very early age, the Dalai Lama found himself interested in taking things apart and putting them back together. Although he was trained with personal tutors, he was never formally taught science or math when he was a child. He became the leader of Tibet when he was 16. Realizing the importance of modern education, including science and math, he made it his mission to bring science into Buddhist schools after he went into exile. He became a citizen of the world, and in his travels, he met with numerous scientists around the world. As he talked with leaders in the field of physics, psychology, neuroscience among others, he saw ways science and religion could benefit each other when kept in balance. Both of them shared a similar goal of minimizing suffering in the world and reaching out in compassion to others.