Roger F. Malina. Jan 25 2025
I have just started reading the new book “Disrupt Science: the Future Matters:”https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-43957-5
It is by my colleague Mihai Nadin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mihai_Nadin So I have a bit of a conflict of interest.
I thought co-writing a review would anticipate potential implicit biases I might have.
If you are interested in collaborating on this contact me at rmalina@alum.mit.edu
A key point the book makes is the failure of science as we currently know it.
After the horror of World War II ended, the US government commission a report published a report Science the Endless Frontier””: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691186627/science-the-endless-frontier?srsltid=AfmBOooGnrlQ__dgMG56CZgXfrpBVisUhtF6FDMx-3sDcYd8xKCxYFJR
The report argued that scientific progress was necessary to a nation’s health, security, and prosperity. This is sometimes summarized as “Since science helped win the war, lets fund it to win the peace”. It led to massive funding of science and technology.
Nadin’s baseline argument is that science, and technology, have largely failed to help win the peace.
He uses the absurd ways the Covid 19 pandemic was handled as an exemplar.
He argues, among other things, that anticipation is as fundamental as problem solving.
This is somewhat captured by the new US initiative promoting convergence research https://new.nsf.gov/funding/learn/research-types/learn-about-convergence-research
They point out for instance that: “Barriers often slow progress — from outdated educational approaches to rigid organizational structures””. But they don’t mention anticipation funding.
In our research lab, The Off Center for Emergence Studies, we include anticipation as part of emergence research and convergence focusing down. https://artscilab.utdallas.edu/off-center-of-emergence/
In my opinion ,
I share Nadin’s provocation that science today exhibits this failure, among others. I was trained as a scientist in physics then astrophysics. I am in an institution which exhibits both of these failures.
I look forward to hearing from you if you are interested in collaborating on co-reading and co-writing a response to this book in an anticipatory way.
Roger f Malina is in Dallas and has this artscilab news:
Join Us: Feb 6 Thursday Watering Hole Seminar, 4 PM | With Ashouri, Shaghayegh (Teaching Associate, Bass School) Andy Meadows, CEO of BLINK
📚 Enroll in our Graduate Seminar: ATCM 6327: Experimental Publishing and Emergence Studies
🎙️Joint our Rocket Launch team helping lab members get jobs soon: contact ” mriganksharad.khare@utdallas.edu
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