IN THIS EPISODE: Journalist Dylan Matthews sits down with Professor Tyler Cowen, Matt Clancy, and Jacob Trefethen to discuss whether there are tensions between accelerating science and safety. With case studies where society has faced this tradeoff between progress in science and safety, they work through strategies we can use to accelerate science safely.

“Metascience 101” is a nine-episode set of interviews that doubles as a crash course in the debates, issues, and ideas driving the modern metascience movement. We investigate why building a genuine “science of science” matters, and how research in metascience is translating into real-world policy changes. 

Chapters

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:00:37) Being pro-science while understanding downsides of science

(00:08:39) Why does science seem so safe currently?

(00:10:21) Indicators of increasing risk

(00:13:26) Major changes and “wild times” in history

(00:17:21) Inevitability of the path of science?

(00:23:54) Feedback loop on safety

(00:26:46) Reliance on a hegemon for safety

(00:29:33) Nuclear catastrophe chain example

(00:32:54) Information security and reputation incentives

(00:36:17) Balancing safety and progress

(00:39:26) Best regulated area?

(00:43:58) Differential technology development

(00:46:25) Underrated / Overrated

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