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 threadAlastor de IonJan 8, 2023
@AndyPerfors Prophetic! Unbelievable! Thanks a lot for sharing. I spent one year of life writing grant applications instead on focusing on my reasearch, so this strikes very close to home. I’m glad there is a debate going on about this. Stagnation means death!
Show threadAndrew Perfors
@augustusvalentinus I'm becoming more and more convinced that the grant process is a terrible drain on science. Solidarity.
Jan 8, 2023 at 10:38pmWeb
Show threadAlastor de IonJan 9, 2023
@AndyPerfors Indeed, it is. We are hamsters in wheels, chasing short-term funding so we can keep spinning…