Choosing the Next Experiment - C4 Public Lecture

Explore the factors influencing scientists' research problem choices in this public lecture by James Evans at the Santa Fe Institute. Delve into the "essential tension" between professional productivity demands and innovative risk-taking in biomedical chemistry. Examine complex networks representing scientific knowledge evolution and discover how high-risk behaviors in exploring new chemical relationships are becoming less prevalent. Learn about the potential rewards and challenges of risky research strategies, including their impact on recognition and scientific progress. Investigate the efficiency of typical research strategies compared to alternatives through supercomputer experiments. Gain insights into how publishing experimental failures and investing in diverse discovery paths could significantly enhance the speed of scientific discovery. Understand the implications of current scientific career structures on risk-taking and explore potential improvements to accelerate the pace of innovation in mature scientific fields.