Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg

Science is learning from start-ups (with Adam Marblestone)

May 15, 2023

Adam Marblestone, CEO of Convergent Research and expert in AI, biophysics, and neuroscience, discusses the revolutionary concept of Focused Research Organizations (FROs). He explains how these entities can transform scientific research by offering startup-like structures that address funding and collaboration challenges. Adam explores the implications of FROs on academic careers, emphasizing alternative paths for scientists. He also dives into the influence of large language models on research innovation and the importance of diverse funding mechanisms to drive scientific progress.

01:13:39

Creator website

Episode guests

Adam Marblestone

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Innovative Ideas for Improving Science and Focused Research Organizations

00:47

Diversifying research funding and organization structures

00:32

The Ethics and Possibility of Cryonics in Cryobiology

00:38

Intro

2min

Revolutionizing Scientific Research: From Academia to Startups

20min

Shifting Incentives: The Impact of Foundational Research Organizations on Academic Careers

5min

Exploring Fast Research Organizations

22min

Navigating the Landscape of Research Field Development

4min

AI's Impact on Scientific Research and Beyond

19min

Engaging the Audience and Motivating Students

2min

Read the full transcript here.

What are focused research organizations? Which kinds of research projects lend themselves to the FRO model? Researchers in academia frequently complain about the incentive structures around funding and publishing; so how do FROs change those dynamics? Why must FROs be time-limited, especially if they're successful? Who's in charge in an FRO? How does "field-building" help to improve science? What effects might large language models have on science?

Adam Marblestone is the CEO of Convergent Research. He's been launching Focused Research Organizations (FROs) such as E11 bio and Cultivarium. He also serves on the boards of several non-profits pursuing new methods of funding and organizing scientific research including Norn Group and New Science. Previously, he was a Schmidt Futures Innovation Fellow, a consultant for the Astera Institute, a Fellow with the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), a research scientist at Google DeepMind, Chief Strategy Officer of the brain-computer interface company Kernel, a research scientist at MIT, a PhD student in biophysics with George Church and colleagues at Harvard, and a theoretical physics student at Yale. He also previously helped to start companies like BioBright and advised foundations such as the Open Philanthropy Project. His work has been recognized with a Technology Review 35 Innovators Under 35 Award (2018), a Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Fellowship (2010), and a Goldwater Scholarship (2008). Learn more about him at adammarblestone.org.

Staff

Spencer Greenberg — Host / Director
Josh Castle — Producer
Ryan Kessler — Audio Engineer
Uri Bram — Factotum
WeAmplify — Transcriptionists
Miles Kestran — Marketing

Music

Affiliates

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