Night Science 75 | Eve Marder and how Recipe Science ruins creativity
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May 26, 2025 Eve Marder, a pioneering neuroscientist from Brandeis University and 2023 National Medal of Science recipient, shares her insights on the creative nature of scientific discovery. She emphasizes the importance of intuition and the tolerance for ambiguity in research. Marder discusses how rigid publishing standards have led to 'recipe science,' stifling creativity and innovative thought. The conversation also underscores the evolving role of AI in education and the essential link between reading and effective scientific writing.
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Balancing Ambiguity and Complexity
- Scientists must balance between complexity of their problems and their personal tolerance for ambiguity.
- The level of tolerated ambiguity shapes the questions and scope of scientific research.
Discovery through Puzzles and Intuition
- Eve credits important discoveries to listening carefully to unexpected observations and puzzles in data.
- She emphasizes the role of intuition and new tools in revealing surprising biological phenomena.
Mechanism Depends on Perspective
- What counts as a scientific "mechanism" varies greatly among scientists depending on their perspective.
- A scientist's tolerance for ambiguity strongly influences the level at which they study biological problems.
