Scientific Freedom

“A superbbook, both inspiring and provocative. Braben strives to ensure the mostcreative scientists, if completely free to pursue unorthodox research,will aim to attain the ‘elixir of civilization.’”—Dudley Herschbach, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 1986 “Scientific Freedomdeals with an issue of great relevance to the world we live in: Howshould we ensure that scientific research is enabled to make thebreakthroughs that have characterized the last 100 years of science?Most certainly it is not by following the current rules of applying forgrants and being demanded to tell the grantors what you will discover.If we knew that already, it would not be a discovery. All scientists,granting agencies, and policy-makers should read this refreshing bookand respond to the need to change current funding paradigms.”—Sir Richard J. Roberts, Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine 1993“Whatis the recipe for scientific progress? Don Braben makes persuasivearguments that true innovation relies on freedom to innovate through thesupport of outstanding individuals… . He critiques existing sciencefunding mechanisms as stultifying and proposes an exciting andcompelling agenda to fund science.”—Sir Steve Sparks, Vetlesen Prize 2015 “If any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable frommagic, how do we get there from here? By understanding the fundamentalrules that govern the universe and everything in it. We must ask thebiggest open-ended questions in science, and recognize that we are stillfar from knowing the answers. In this seminal book, Don Braben showsthat only scientific freedom can open up the way. It is needed now morethan ever. This book should be read by everyone who cares about our ownfuture.”—Nick Lane, Michael Faraday Prize 2016“Scientific Freedomis an important book: beautifully written, brimming with scholarship,and lightly spiced with Liverpudlian wit… . [It] is a book ofrevelations and revolutions. Scientific freedom is needed now as neverbefore.”—Nigel R. Franks, University of Bristol“DonBraben’s suggested solution is a proven way to nurture a scientificelite without any of the baggage which modern-day usage of the word’elite’ brings.”—John Dainton, University of Liverpool “Don Braben is an iconoclast. May this book inspire those who read it to lend their support to his vision.”—Sir John Pendry, Kavli Prize in Nanoscience 2014 “I hope that this exciting book makes a significant impact on [the] future progress of academic research.”—William C. Troy, University of Pittsburgh “Don Braben has been a tireless advocate for a system that redirectsthe administration of funded scientific research in the UK (andelsewhere). He offers cogent arguments why the current system, with itsemphasis on some relevance to the state’s economy, risks missingvaluable assets arising from transformative ‘breakthroughs’ in manyresearch fields.”—Robin Tucker, University of Lancaster

Donald W. Braben is a scientist and author. From 1980 to 1990, he led British Petroleum’s Venture Research program, for which he developed a radical, low-cost approach to finding and funding researchers whose work might redefine their fields. Of the dozens of projects supported by the program, many led to transformative discoveries. He has held positions at the Cabinet Office in Whitehall, the Science Research Council in London, and the Bank of England. He was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology and the First Trust Bank Chair of Innovation at Queen’s University Belfast. He currently holds an honorary position at University College London. He lives in the United Kingdom.