Limits of Scientific Growth

摘要: As one of the organizers International Forum Young Scientists (a satellite World Congress Science on 23 and 24 June in Budapest, Hungary), I hear more complaints from fellow researchers all over world about increasing fragmentation scientific knowledge. There is only a limited effort to achieve appropriate balance between discovery new facts finding their proper place importance framework science ([1][1]). itself not self-integrating, there are fewer people taking responsibility for “net-making.” Undergraduates forced learn entire telephone books (disguised as textbooks), graduate students often jump into middle problem having no around explain them study whole science. “Discussions” papers relate findings “nearest neighbor”; review list existing knowledge instead structuring it; conferences have turned information “stock exchanges” places evaluation discussion. Grant applications follow other almost uninterrupted; we told it better publish daily than perish; never-ending stream technically correct, but shallow, make excellent technicians out our Ph.D. true scientists. Although databases, Internet, novel tools management help synthesis knowledge, they do provide integration. We excuse. Using around, must keep up with flow meet growing challenge Integration needs time patience; cannot be achieved hurry modern data factories, present frustrated world, where “competitor” has replaced old words “fellow,” “trusted colleague,” “scholar.” should limit competition. Groups working parallel projects seek joint publications duplicate, or even triplicate, articles appearing several journals, including Science. The community slow down observe “limits growth.” More self-constraints exercised, much greater credit given those who serious attempts integrate human knowledge. How can give support this so-much-needed integration? Grant-giving agencies bodies set long-term (5- 10-year) grants providing generous younger (age 35 45) already proved excellence. Such system would freedom best scientists most prolific period open research areas fundamental discoveries. peer-reviews restructured: reviewers sought fields directly related exact discipline applications. A an open-minded colleague distant field precedence that clear far-sighted enough sense “alien” referee. organized 20-minute lecture plus 5-minute discussion scheme changed (with detailed summary obtained through Internet before meeting) protocol ([2][2]). I agree Mott T. Greene ([1][1]) “the compelling vision crucial maintaining cultural, political, financial science.” Moreover, maintain itself, its sanity. In many respects, go back lifestyle 19th-century scientist able respond challenges 21st century. 1. [↵][3]1. M. Greene , Nature 388, 619 (1997). [OpenUrl][4][CrossRef][5][Web Science][6] 2. [↵][7]1. P. Csermely FASEB J. 12, 264 (1998). [OpenUrl][8][FREE Full Text][9] [1]: #ref-1 [2]: #ref-2 [3]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 text" [4]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DNature%26rft.volume%253D388%26rft.spage%253D619%26rft.atitle%253DNATURE%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1038%252F41642%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [5]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1038/41642&link_type=DOI [6]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=A1997XQ86300018&link_type=ISI [7]: #xref-ref-2-1 2 [8]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DThe%2BFASEB%2BJournal%26rft.stitle%253DFASEB%2BJ.%26rft.issn%253D0892-6638%26rft.aulast%253DPollack%26rft.auinit1%253DR.%26rft.volume%253D12%26rft.issue%253D3%26rft.spage%253D264%26rft.epage%253D264%26rft.atitle%253D%2522Hard%2Bdays%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bendless%2Bfrontier%2522%2Brevisited.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F9506470%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [9]: /lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiRlVMTCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6NjoiZmFzZWJqIjtzOjU6InJlc2lkIjtzOjg6IjEyLzMvMjY0IjtzOjQ6ImF0b20iO3M6MjU6Ii9zY2kvMjg0LzU0MjAvMTYyMS42LmF0b20iO31zOjg6ImZyYWdtZW50IjtzOjA6IiI7fQ==