The Metascience Observatory

One year ago today, I opened my laptop to write the first piece of what would become The Distressed Scientists' Department. I'd spent months watching shifts and changes in the scientific research community — funding being taken away, decades of work upended, careers displaced, brilliant people suddenly unsure. For years, I found joy speaking to scientists: mentors, peers, friends, and found them to be the most interesting people alive. They hold theories that can rewire how the rest of us see the world — but almost none of them had a platform, or an audience in public that thought to listen. Research is one of the most formative and important endeavours a person can give their life to. It is the pursuit of knowledge and advancement of human flourishing. Everything around you is a byproduct of scientific research: your desk, your bed, the phone in your hand. There is a richness, culture, and history behind the people and places that make this possible. I often refer to the Renaissance and the World's Fairs as eras when the public held science as a cultural artifact, admired it, respected it, wanted to invest and take part in it. TDSD will be part of the vehicle bringing this back in the 21st century. Beyond grateful to Jim and the OSV team. A year in, and many more to come.