In this podcast, Lindy Elkins-Tanton discusses the limitations of 'hero science' and the need for a more inclusive scientific research model. She explores the challenges of doing science, contrasts different organizational models, and highlights the importance of effective learning environments. The podcast also dives into the 'big questions process', interdisciplinary teamwork, and setting milestones in research projects.
Shifting from the hero model to inclusive collaboration can lead to positive outcomes and progress on important research questions.
Recognizing and addressing the issues of bullying, harassment, and lack of support can create a more inclusive and supportive scientific community.
Deep dives
Redefining Research: Moving Away from the Hero Model
The podcast episode delves into the need for a radical restructuring of research practices, moving away from the hero model and towards a more inclusive and collaborative approach. Lindy Elkins-Tanton, Vice President of the ASU Interplanetary Initiative, highlights the importance of focusing on big questions and ambitious goals rather than individual fame. She emphasizes the need to hear all voices and make research more inclusive. The current hero model, prevalent in many scientific labs, creates a competitive and sometimes toxic environment, impeding progress on big questions and fostering negative behaviors. Collaborative models, such as those seen in NASA missions, offer a more effective and inclusive approach to research. By prioritizing external goals and assembling interdisciplinary teams, everyone's voice and knowledge are valued, leading to positive outcomes and progress on important research questions.
Challenges in the Scientific Culture
The podcast episode addresses some of the challenges within the scientific culture, including bullying, harassment, and a lack of transparency. The hero model, where a single professor or researcher is at the top of a hierarchical structure, can create an environment that is highly competitive and focused on individual fame rather than collaboration. This can lead to issues such as harassment and a lack of support for junior researchers. The episode highlights the importance of recognizing these issues and working towards a more inclusive and supportive culture within the scientific community.
Incentives and Reproducibility
The episode discusses the incentives in scientific research that contribute to negative behaviors and hinder reproducibility. The pressure to publish and the focus on individual success often lead researchers to prioritize quantity over quality, resulting in irreproducible studies. In order to address these issues, the episode suggests reevaluating the current reward system and creating incentives that reward collaboration and high-quality, reproducible research. By shifting the focus from individual fame to collective progress and quality outcomes, the scientific community can work towards greater transparency, reliability, and advancement in knowledge.
New Approaches for Research and Education
The podcast episode explores new approaches to research and education that prioritize interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of essential skills. By moving away from the hero model and focusing on external goals, research teams can assemble diverse teams consisting of disciplinary and non-disciplinary experts. Such teams foster equal collaboration, where everyone's voice and knowledge are valued. Additionally, the episode discusses the need for a shift in undergraduate education, away from passive learning and towards the development of critical thinking, information gathering, and problem-solving skills. By teaching students how to be master learners, they are better equipped to participate in research and contribute to positive outcomes.
Could we create more knowledge by changing the way we do scientific research? We spoke with NASA’s Psyche mission’s principal investigator and ASU Interplanetary Initiative vice president Lindy Elkins-Tanton about the limitations of “hero science,” and how she is using an inclusive model where collaborative teams pursue “profound and important questions.”
