What Is Scientific Excellence and What Is the Role of Celebrating It?
We often equate scientific excellence with products (i.e. papers that report scientific discoveries), which are often attributed to a single individual. We struggle to define scientific excellence as encompassing equally important contributions such as the processes by which these papers were generated or the scientists, within and outside a lab, with whom co-creation of those papers has occurred. Critically, future scientific success depends on our willingness to invest time and energy in the next generations of scientists. Excellence in mentoring others and teaching them about the collaborative nature of science is, arguably, as crucial as the occasional paradigm shifting discovery. These additional dimensions of scientific excellence, despite being less narrated, are critical for these celebrated discoveries to come to light.
Why celebrate scientific excellence in the first place? Because we care to acknowledge, support and lift-up accomplishments in the field. As I reflect on our award structure, we have been limiting ourselves to giving an award to one person at a time. I ask myself – why only one person and one set of discoveries at the time when there are so many to celebrate? We also tend to absorb a (societal and professional) framework of single “geniuses” when instead we have empirical proof that not only are there many incredibly talented scientists but also that the inspiring discoveries we celebrate are only possible because of the contributions and insights of many scientists from different backgrounds and different parts of the world. Continuing to force a narrative into the existence of a single superior individual has a negative effect on us all running the risk of deflating and disenfranchising our vibrant community.
How can the ISSCR award structure be improved and who are we missing?
We are a field that is rapidly growing with tremendous talent and brilliant scientists across all subspecialties of stem cell and regenerative biology. Thus, as we open the nomination process for the ISSCR Outstanding Young Investigator, Momentum, and Achievement Awards, how can we meet the aspiration we have for the award committee to read submissions that bring forth the brilliant work of scientists from every corner of the world that our community represents? How can we be true to our commitment to lift up even more members of our scientific community who are innovators, who inspire, who have exciting new research to share so that we continue to grow to be as representative and equitable as possible?
Please consider celebrating your science or the science of colleagues and submit either a self-nomination or a nomination for colleagues whose discoveries inspire you. Help us learn about the brilliant science that excites you and that we may be unaware of. Do not hesitate to also email me at valentina.greco@yale.edu your reflections and ideas on a more equitable award system as we continue to wrestle with this process and give input on other awards ISSCR has put in place over the years such as the Travel, Merit, and Poster Awards.
Acknowledgements: I am grateful to Kym Kilbourne and David Berg for the co-creation of these thoughts and piece. I am also grateful to members of the ISSCR executive committee, CEO Keith Alm and for the many conversations over the years with Glori Rosenson, Fiona Doetsch and Kathy Niakan who are all committed to improving upon these processes.