The Macroscience Podcast Metascience 101 - EP2: “Is Science Slowing Down?”
34 snips
Sep 17, 2024 
Join economist Matt Clancy, Stripe co-founder Patrick Collison, and OpenPhil CEO Alexander Berger as they explore whether scientific progress is really slowing down. They discuss the challenges in measuring scientific breakthroughs, revealing a paradox of increasing funding yet declining impact. The conversation dives into how historical evidence, evolving practices, and innovations like AI may influence future advancements. With insights on institutional reforms and diverse funding, they argue for a renewed focus on enhancing scientific productivity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Per Capita Scientific Slowdown
- Scientific progress is slowing down on a per-capita basis.
- While overall scientific output may be increasing, the rate of progress per scientist is declining.
Challenges in Measuring Progress
- Measuring scientific progress is difficult, necessitating diverse indicators.
- Citation analysis reveals declining trends: fewer citations to recent work, harder to achieve top-cited status, and less disruptive research.
Heterogeneity in Scientific Productivity
- Individual scientists' varying productivity levels challenge the assumption of homogeneity in growth models.
- The success of the Corey Lab exemplifies the non-uniform distribution of scientific talent and mentorship's impact.