India has a research blindspot: its own science system, Pg2

Key Highlights:

• The U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released a report titled "Science: A New Golden Age," advocating for self-interrogation within science systems.
• The report highlights a global trend towards studying science systems, a capacity India currently lacks, termed a "research blindspot."
• India's research output in metascience and related fields accounts for only 1-2% of global research.
• The article emphasizes the need for India to invest in metascience to build institutional memory and make evidence-based policy decisions.
• It calls for India to develop the ability to systematically analyze its own science ecosystem.

Detailed Insights:

• The OSTP report is positioned as a successor to Vannevar Bush's 1945 report, "Science: The Endless Frontier," which shaped post-war American research.
• The U.S. report suggests prioritizing investment in individual researchers with bold ideas and exploring diverse funding mechanisms.
• Countries like Europe, the U.K., China, and Japan are actively investing in metascience to understand their research systems.
• India's science system has historically relied on the experience of eminent scientists, which is now insufficient for its increasing complexity.
• A lack of institutional memory in India leads to the loss of valuable knowledge about past successes and failures with changes in leadership.
• Metascience can provide evidence for India to effectively balance mission-oriented research with curiosity-driven, blue-sky research.
• Examples like quantum mechanics and CRISPR demonstrate the long-term transformative impact of curiosity-driven research.
• The Green Revolution in India serves as a historical example of successful mission-oriented research driven by state investment.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Metascience (Science of Science): The scientific study of science itself, examining its practices, funding, and impact.
• Curiosity-driven Research (Blue-sky Research): Fundamental research conducted without immediate application goals, often leading to groundbreaking discoveries.
• Mission-oriented Research: Research focused on achieving specific, predefined objectives or solving particular societal challenges.
• Institutional Memory: The accumulated knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned within an organization, crucial for continuous improvement and policy coherence.