Been reading a lot about science, but more how to do science. This guys blog Matt Clancy has been really interesting, especially his posts about proximity. In his post he talks about a lot of things, but one thing he touches on is physical closeness is really important for discoveries, and who you are near seems to be who you work with, collaborate, and learn with.
But not only that, but you tend to look into research you wouldn't otherwise. Just because one of your friends does it. This also might be a reason it contributes to discoveries.
I don't know why but I assumed this wouldn't be the case in the hyper connected world, but it makes a lot of sense if you have to share physical resources. Its much easier to bike to the next building then drive three hours for a meeting.
But this also makes me think about community and our relationship with social media. In some ways these things, just as they strip us socially of time, I think there is also a pressure to look away from the direct community you are a part of.
It seems like with modern science where there is an emphasis on international collaboration this should work worse and slower than collaborating within your own community. You also learn less diverse things, and I imagine in a worse way, talking to an inventor of something is always faster and more in depth than reading their papers.
This reminds me though of music scenes. How to increase a local science/social/creative scene might be really cool local science and discoveries.
But not only that, but you tend to look into research you wouldn't otherwise. Just because one of your friends does it. This also might be a reason it contributes to discoveries.
I don't know why but I assumed this wouldn't be the case in the hyper connected world, but it makes a lot of sense if you have to share physical resources. Its much easier to bike to the next building then drive three hours for a meeting.
But this also makes me think about community and our relationship with social media. In some ways these things, just as they strip us socially of time, I think there is also a pressure to look away from the direct community you are a part of.
It seems like with modern science where there is an emphasis on international collaboration this should work worse and slower than collaborating within your own community. You also learn less diverse things, and I imagine in a worse way, talking to an inventor of something is always faster and more in depth than reading their papers.
This reminds me though of music scenes. How to increase a local science/social/creative scene might be really cool local science and discoveries.