The Science of Science

This book contains voluminous insights, observations, and research data about science: its institutionalization, practitioners, protocols, citations, funding, norms, rewards, challenges, and limitations. The authors have analyzed a plethora of research studies, journal articles, experiments, histories, books, articles, and interviews in assembling its many findings about science. The gaps and inadequacies of science are aptly discussed with vivid illustrations. Issues related to scientific productivity, collaboration, networks, academic disciplines, longevity, salience (fitness), co-authorship, and relevant statistical measures are dissected. Factors that affect career trajectories are scrutinized: status, centrality, reputation, merit, preferential attachment, the Matthew Effect, aging/longevity, etc. Most helpful for me was the authors’ distinction between experimental innovators and conceptual innovators [pp. 46-47]. Other interests include matters related to establishing teams, the impact of ‘star’ scientists, invisible colleges, diversity, the salience of ‘novelty,’ publicity, and artificial intelligence. Bias, causality, plus the future of science are likewise engaged. This is a stellar contribution to our global knowledge about science, a pivotal benchmark for this generation. [Kindle edition]The next frontier is to more adequately explore, analyze, and explain [via contextual analyses or quantum computing] the multiple, multidimensional, and multilevel social and cultural contexts out of which these individualistic studies emerge.

This book has opened my eyes to how scientific breakthroughs that have been used to understand and improve the functioning of business, the arts, and public institutions, and further innovation can improve the practice of science itself. The book shows how this shift in focus has the potential to create a self-generating innovation machine. The more science studies science, the faster science innovates, and the faster other organizations can innovate too. The implications for solving the root causes of big problems like climate change, health, and improvements in living standards are remarkable. All scientists, students, innovators, and leaders can learn from this book. It summaries and organizes decades of path-breaking scientific research on the practice of science that is inspiring.

This book collects the most relevant work in the scientific study of science itself in an organized and integrated way. The book is divided in four sections: The Science of Career, The Science of Collaboration, The Science of Impact, and Outlook.This book has explicit suggestions on how to improve science, at the individual, collective, and national levels. It is easy to read and at the same time goes deep into explanations, alternated with interesting and relevant historical facts.