We need to talk about failure in science

"Science is built on failure in several ways. Scientific ideas and hypotheses need to be tested, refined or rejected to expand humanity's knowledge. This means that researchers should expect that an experiment or a project might fail, and know how to navigate the consequences."

"A key reason why failure is discussed so little is because of how academic science is structured. Research is funded, communicated and rewarded mainly on the basis of successful results."

"Policymakers increasingly expect that more of taxpayers' money should go to projects that are likely to provide returns on investment; in other words, results. This approach fails to recognize that things can and do go wrong, and that this is part of science, too."

Failure is a fundamental aspect of scientific research, yet it remains a taboo subject. A recent conference at Imperial College London focused on discussing failure in science, emphasizing its importance in the research process. Scientific progress relies on testing and refining ideas, which inherently involves failure. The current academic structure prioritizes successful results, leaving little room for recognizing ongoing work or learning from failures. Policymakers' expectations for tangible returns on investment further complicate the situation, as they often overlook the value of understanding and addressing failures in research.

Read at Nature