Correspondence

Hawking, Sulston research record (Nature 555, with reductionists’ educational The advisory council’s first and science in Europe 311; 2018). As secretary general metrics. However, they all but forum was held in October 2017 of the Royal Swedish Academy of killed students’ curiosity for to develop a strategy for As well as championing open Sciences, I can confirm that this serendipitous scientific enquiry. improving this situation. It was and accessible research, physicist is still the case. My father designed stellar- framed around four cornerstones: Stephen Hawking and biologist The Nobel prize is not a lifetime inertial guidance systems for health, life sciences (including John Sulston were part of a long achievement award. In his last will reconnaissance aircraft and, after philosophy, mathematics and tradition of British engagement of 1895, Alfred Nobel stipulated he retired, would often present his astrobiology), Earth (including with European science (for that the Physiology or Medicine work to physics and engineering materials and water, food and obituaries, see Nature 555, 444; prize should go to “the person students. When they asked him energy, and climate change 2018 and Nature 555, 588; 2018). who shall have made the most what they should study to prepare and biodiversity) and society As chief scientific advisers to important discovery within the for such a career, he would reply: (including science policy and the the European Commission, we domain”; in physics should be for “Read the classics,” by which he economy). The forum’s founding feel strongly that this tradition “the most important discovery or meant Aristotle, Ralph Waldo declaration emphasizes the must not end — irrespective invention within the field”; and in Emerson, Jean-Jacques Rousseau importance for advancing society of where the future takes the chemistry should be awarded for and Blaise Pascal. of knowledge, training, talent and United Kingdom. “the most important chemical The best scientific and academic–industrial interaction Science for the greater public discovery or improvement”. technical progress does not come in all of these areas. Our view good depends on openness of It is reassuring that the out of a box. It is more likely to is that science is not just for mind, of spirit and of borders. assessment of hundreds emerge from trying to fit wild, scientists — it is a human right. Sulston and Hawking did much of nominations by Nils Hansson woolly and tangential ideas into Fernando Baquero, Jose to uphold these ideals and to (no relation of mine) and useful societal and economic A. Gutiérrez-Fuentes Gadea promote the importance of colleagues confirms that past contexts. Foundation for Science, Madrid, basing policy decisions on committees have rigorously Michael Stocker Ocean Spain. strong scientific evidence. upheld Nobel’s will. Conservation Research, ja.gutierrezfuentes@gadeaciencia. Both recognized that society Göran K. Hansson The Royal Lagunitas, California, USA. org benefits from integrated Swedish Academy of Sciences, [email protected] scientific endeavour. Indeed, Stockholm, Sweden. European projects built on [email protected] Encouraging trend this premise — such as the Sciences unite for in US astronomy intergovernmental research Spain’s prosperity organizations CERN (Europe’s How philosophy was Aswin Sekhar remarks on particle-physics laboratory near squeezed out of PhD As Spain’s economy recovers, the the low proportion of female Geneva, Switzerland) and the strategic application of science astronomers in many countries European Molecular Biology Gundula Bosch’s argument for could help to stimulate prosperity (Nature 555, 165; 2018). Laboratory — have strengthened putting the philosophy back and to attract much-needed A career in science can often science by stimulating the into the PhD is a breath of fresh investment. In an unusual move exceed 50 years, meaning that movement of ideas across the air (Nature 554, 277; 2018). It is in a world of specialization, the total average number of continent and beyond. interesting to look back and see the Spanish scientific community women (and minorities) will These great scientists shared a how broad critical thinking came has formed a meritocratic, remain low for another half strong sense of social decency and to be eased out of the doctorate, all-sciences advisory council a century, even if we achieve encouraged a profound respect squeezing academic enquiry into within the Gadea Foundation for parity now among early-career for expertise, each of which are narrow disciplines. Science in Madrid, a non-profit scientists. What matters as much more important now than ever. The process started in the body of leading scientists that as where we’ve been is where Rolf Heuer, Paul Nurse early 1970s in the United States, works to improve Spain’s science we’re going. European Commission, Brussels, prompted by a suspicion that system. The council’s aim is to As the chair of the Belgium. intellectual artefacts of the ‘soft’ galvanize politicians and the International Astronomical rolf.heuer@cern.ch sciences, as they were then public into promoting research Union’s US committee for called — such as sociology, that will ensure social progress membership applications, I can anthropology and philosophy — (see www.gadeaciencia.org). report that we are doing much Nobel principles hold were stimulating campus unrest. Spain ranks ninth in the world better than the grand averages true after 123 years This conveniently dovetailed for scientific production and would suggest. Women comprise with the idea that if industry has 58 scientists in the 2017 around 40% of the latest US Nils Hansson and colleagues outsourced its research and Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited intake of 212 individuals, with suggest that Nobel committees development departments Researchers list (see go.nature. 43% of those having gained in 1901–66 were persuaded to universities by setting (and com/2j77ctb). The application of their PhDs after 2010. This is to award the Nobel Prize in funding) curricula, then students research results for the benefit of an encouraging trend. Physiology or Medicine based on would have ready-made jobs in society is still disturbingly low, David Soderblom Space the potential research impact of industry on graduation. These however, owing to meagre public Telescope Science Institute, a single discovery or innovation, mechanistic conceits looked support and too few industries Baltimore, Maryland, USA. rather than on a distinguished good on paper and fitted well based on science and technology. [email protected]