Andrew PerforsJan 7, 2023

How to slow down scientific progress

"Leo Szilard—the physicist who first conceived of the nuclear chain reaction and who urged the US to undertake the Manhattan Project—also wrote fiction. His book of short stories, The Voice of the Dolphins, contains a story “The Mark Gable Foundation,” dated 1948."

You can see the full thing at this link, but I've also taken a screenshot of an excerpt. 😬 🤔 😢

https://rootsofprogress.org/szilard-on-slowing-science

How to slow down scientific progress, according to Leo Szilard

“Science would become something like a parlor game. There would be fashions. Those who followed the fashion would get grants”

The Roots of Progress
Show threadJohn F. AllenJan 7, 2023
@AndyPerfors Szilard understood. One could add “turn researchers into peer reviewers; promise them anonymity; then break that promise, covertly, in specific cases in order to establish a sociogram of who supports, or opposes, whom.” Access to that information is essential for the would-be trendsetter, who will thereby be able to secure recognition for himself, and broker deals for collaboration, and funding. Then “measure” research “performance” by citations and grant income.
Show threadJohn F. Allen
@AndyPerfors Also get managers, however ignorant, to accept such measures of research “performance”. It will make them feel important, and help them in their ability to hire and fire. Also – most importantly – scrap tenure. Then researchers will rightly fear for the consequences of stepping out of line with new ideas.
Jan 7, 2023 at 10:22amWeb
Show threadAndrew PerforsJan 8, 2023
@jfa Luckily, I think this is an exaggerated and distorted picture of how it really is (at least in my end of the world and experience). But exaggerated and distorted doesn't mean entirely inaccurate -- just that it's not that bad, yet. I can see the trendlnes though.
Show threadJohn F. AllenJan 9, 2023
@AndyPerfors Thanks. It’s a rough outline, but it broadly corresponds with the state of university research in the UK. It was not always this way. Szilard’s “fiction” has somehow become fact.