4 ms·
Looking in the Wrong Places
- _rpd 8y ago> Very plausibly, the main reason why we haven’t made progress [in physics] is that we’re not doing the right thing. We’re looking in the wrong places. We are letting ourselves be guided by the wrong principles. It’s about time that we rethink this because, clearly, it’s not working. This is the vaguest possible call to action: "think different." Okay ... but who doesn't intrinsically understand that this is required for a 'breakthrough'? Perhaps it is just a plea to funding groups to consider more projects outside the mainstream?
- Nomentatus 8y agoI think you underestimate the current monoculture in physics.
- jamesrcole 8y ago> "think different." Okay ... but who doesn't intrinsically understand that this is required for a 'breakthrough'? Probably almost everyone. Usually people back high status approaches and people. (And you're wrong to assume that the breakthrough must necessarily come from thinking differently).
- ktpsns 8y agoThe problem with scientists like Sabine is that she is working in an underfunded field of fundamental physics (phenomenological QGR) while (literally) on the adjacent floor there is an overfunded field of physics, namely gravitational wave astrophysics, which is well connected to experimental physics, astronomy, all kind of branches. In the end, this probably boils down to the "big science, little science" problem: Donors give the money to a crowd of scientists who already aquired a lot of money. The point is that she is also a scientist and has to play the rules. She is not a professor at her institute but probably would like to be. There is definetly some envy between the lines.