New discoveries can be hard to find, and novel ideas do not always work out. While the pay-off for groundbreaking research is high, the risk of failure is also high. Without the support of funding, prestige, or community, many lines of research are left to die on the vine. We have three ideas for how to address this.

Interrogate Foundational Assumptions

The philosopher of science Thomas Kuhn argued that the normal state of science is to work within an establish paradigm. Normal science is not about pursuing disruptive ideas and novel breakthroughs. It is only when enough anomolies accumulate that a core theory cannot handle that a scientific revolution occurs. Unsolved issues at the bedrock and philosophical levels of a discipline point the way to revolutionary insights. We aim to support research that interrogates core assumptions, neglected anomolies, and foundational questions.

Elevate Voices at the Margins

Intellectual communities are more robust when they are tolerant of diverse perspectives. While heterodox ideas may be more likely to be wrong than right, marginalizing outside-the-box thinking is certainly the wrong move. The downside risks of giving bad ideas a fair hearing are far outweighed by the downside risks of stifling good ideas. We aim to support researchers with diverse and unconventional approaches.

Foster Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Pushing forward the frontiers of knowledge requires moving beyond established patterns of thinking. Paradigm-shifting ideas are hard to find within the confines of a given discipline. Other fields can offer an outside-perspective, with new techniques, novel methods, distinct philosophical assumptions, and different starting points. We aim to support cross-disciplinary research communities of mutual enrichment.