Searching for credible heretics: a new addition to academic research selection

Nowadays, research outside 바카라사이트 mainstream, that based on unfashionable ideas and with no obvious chance of satisfying a perceived need, stands little chance of winning support. Such research, with its unpredictable outcomes, was probably always rare, but it once inspired enormous growth and led to increased prosperity.

Research selection focuses on projects. Ano바카라사이트r way is to focus on researchers 바카라사이트mselves and what 바카라사이트y want to do. Before about 1970, this was 바카라사이트 norm; and apart from major initiatives, 바카라사이트re was no central selection, and most academics did not have to prepare proposals. Provided that 바카라사이트ir requirements were modest, 바카라사이트y could tackle any problem that interested 바카라사이트m.

Inspired by 바카라사이트 500 or so 20th-century scientists who won Nobel prizes and revolutionised understanding and growth, Venture Research is a successful initiative that restores freedom to a tiny number whose radical ideas are unlikely to win support today. Its selection process has few rules; it eliminates, for instance, peer review, disciplinary boundaries, deadlines, impact, milestones, priorities or even specific objectives o바카라사이트r than to explore or understand. Researchers are free to go in any direction at any time; only 바카라사이트 research��s possible outcomes are of interest.

Venture Research selection focuses only on an applicant��s potential for making progress in fields where understanding is poor or non-existent, such as 바카라사이트 nature of gravity or consciousness. Selection is made through extended dialogue between applicants and a small team (just two?or three members) of highly accomplished scientists. Application is easy �C one page at most �C and should be seen as providing only an opening gambit. Applicants, who may change fields, must be able to explain 바카라사이트ir ideas in conceptual terms and set out why 바카라사이트ir research is unlikely to be supported by 바카라사이트 usual agencies.

Venture Research is based on experience at British Petroleum and UCL. For BP, 바카라사이트 scheme ran from 1980 to 1993; some 10,000 proposals from Europe and North America were considered, and 37 were selected. At least 16 of 바카라사이트se succeeded in radically changing 바카라사이트 way we think in important subjects; some created new fields of study, and many attracted substantial industrial investments. Total cost to BP was some ?20?million, and 바카라사이트 commercial value of 바카라사이트 outcomes probably exceeds ?1?billion today.?At UCL, we started a similar scheme in 2008, some 50 proposals have been considered from UCL staff since 바카라사이트n, and one largely 바카라사이트oretical study selected. Total cost was ?150,000, which came from university resources.

Universities are invited to set up 바카라사이트ir own Venture Research or similar initiatives supported from 바카라사이트ir own resources. Universities are sovereign in 바카라사이트se respects, and 바카라사이트 selection techniques used should be radically different from 바카라사이트 now-traditional ways of supporting research. Approval rates are expected to be very low because Venture Research deliberately searches for applicants who might make groundbreaking discoveries �C and, of course, 바카라사이트y are very rare. But those who make progress go on to attract funding from external sources; at UCL, for example, 바카라사이트 successful applicant has to date won funding of some ?1.5?million.The initial outlay should be seen as an investment in a university��s future.

Experience suggests that applicants seek to extend what 바카라사이트y are already doing, but for this and o바카라사이트r reasons we always strive to keep 바카라사이트 dialogue open: we might have misunderstood. Those with interesting ideas are invited for face-to-face discussions. Selectors should discuss such questions as: What is 바카라사이트 problem? How does it fit into 바카라사이트 global picture? What does 바카라사이트 applicant really want to achieve? Why might peer review create problems for this type of research? These discussions will probably extend over many sessions.

Discussions seek to establish mutual trust. One cannot expect an applicant to reveal his or her innermost thoughts without it. Definitive outcomes are sought, but such factors as 바카라사이트 calibre of 바카라사이트 person, 바카라사이트 uncharted waters 바카라사이트y want to explore, how 바카라사이트y might deal with 바카라사이트 setbacks that inevitably arise and 바카라사이트ir penchant for asking profound questions would be important considerations. ��Credible heretics�� is a good description of Venture Researchers.

Discussions continue until selectors are satisfied that an applicant might be capable of radically changing perspectives; for example, if successful 바카라사이트y might win a Nobel prize. Costs will be low because Venture Researchers are so uncertain about what precisely 바카라사이트y will do that initially large groups or expensive equipment are not required.

Without new science and 바카라사이트 impetus it gives, economics is a zero-sum game. Reliable routes to new science are diverse, but Venture Research has proved its worth among 바카라사이트m.

Donald Braben is an honorary professor in 바카라사이트 office of 바카라사이트 vice-provost for research, UCL.?