Why We Must Invest in Scientists, Not Just Science

We often think of science as a search for answers to a specific issue: a solution to a known problem, or a cure for a particular disease. In practice, scientific discovery is typically more chaotic and uncertain, full of false starts and contradictions. That is why so many of the major scientific breakthroughs in human history have been born out of hunches, the product of imagination or serendipity, coupled with the brilliance and curiosity of a scientist to recognize the significance of a discovery. For instance, graphene was born out of tangential research at the University of Manchester and is now used in everything from medical equipment and electronics to batteries and tennis racquets. Scientific research invariably raises new questions. What begins as a narrow inquiry opens dozens of new avenues of investigation, each capable of taking the research in an entirely new direction. The pursuit of science is, at its core, less a journey towards a destination than an evolving exercise in enlightened exploration. It is through patient, painstaking work, driven by curiosity and pursued through personal dedication and sacrifice, that scientific advancement occurs. Yet, too often, our tendency as a society is to celebrate the tangible breakthroughs and neglect the assiduous process that made them possible. The Nobel prizes are a magnificent celebration of transformative science. But by design, most are awarded decades after the breakthrough discovery being recognized was first made. Scientists, however, are typically most creative and productive early in their careers but fail to receive the financial support essential to reaching their full potential.This quandary is replicated many times over within the wider world of institutional funding. Public bodies and universities must decide which projects to back before they know where those ideas will lead. And with many talented scientists competing for finite resources, much promising research is lost. I would argue that this challenge, therefore, is felt most acutely by early-career scientists. The pressure on them is not simply to demonstrate scientific progress, but to produce the kind of science that can be articulated succinctly in a grant application, attached to a clear set of deliverables, and ultimately defended as a sensible investment. Something is lost if we focus too narrowly on supporting only what we can fully justify in advance.Not every research grant is funded, and difficult choices must be made in the best of funding environments. But the nature of the funding matters too, and philanthropy must help broaden the level of support provided to young scientists. This is where unrestricted funding plays an especially important role. Unrestricted funding is an investment in the person. It recognizes and supports their talent, ideas, judgment, curiosity, and long-term potential. The money provided can be used to buy new equipment, hire a new staff member, or simply pursue a new line of inquiry. It means having the space and time to evaluate an idea that might otherwise be too abstract for a regular grant application. Unrestricted funding also provides scientists with freedom in a broader sense: it can relieve anxiety over rent, allow for a much-needed family vacation, or simply reduce financial pressure and give great thinkers more time to think about their science.This is the principle upon which the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists was founded. Awardees receive grants ranging from $15,000 to $250,000, the largest such prizes awarded to early-career scientists. Crucially, there are no conditions attached; it is up to the awardees themselves to decide how and where the money can make the greatest difference for their science.Philanthropy alone can never be a substitute for institutional or government funding, but it can play a vital role in driving discovery and human progress. It helps to create the conditions for greater risk-taking, unexpected advances, and the encouragement and retention of exceptional scientific talent. And we have seen what can happen when that freedom is provided. Take the recipients of the Blavatnik Award. These early-career scientists have created over 50 companies, with a combined value exceeding $40 billion. Among these success stories are Amprius, which develops high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries; Editas Medicine, a gene-editing company; and Revolution Medicines, which develops new treatments for cancer.Commercial return, however, is not the only measure of success. So is a breakthrough that fundamentally changes how we understand the world or a finding that opens an entirely new field of discovery. Unrestricted funding is not simply the awarding of money. It is the gift of freedom to explore, experiment, and persevere. It provides the freedom to ask questions without knowing where the answers might lead, which is the very essence of science.