Interdisciplinary Studies

Science's greatest discoverers: a shift towards greater interdisciplinarity, top universities and older age

A. Krauss

This fascinating study by Alexander Krauss explores the traits of the world's leading scientific discoverers, revealing surprising insights on the influence of interdisciplinary education, age, and institutional prestige on achievement in science. With a staggering 54% of Nobel Prize recipients hailing from interdisciplinary backgrounds, discover how these factors shape groundbreaking scientific advancements!

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Abstract

This study investigates the characteristics of scientists who have made the greatest discoveries in science, defined as all Nobel Prize and major non-Nobel Prize discoverers. The research finds that interdisciplinary scientists (those with two or more degrees in different fields) made a significant portion of Nobel Prize (54%) and major non-Nobel Prize (42%) discoveries. The study also reveals an increasing concentration of discoveries at top-ranked universities (30% of both Nobel and non-Nobel Prize discoveries at the top 25 universities) and a trend towards older discoverers, with fewer discoveries made by those under 50. Additional factors such as geographic location, gender, and religious affiliation are also analyzed, revealing biases and trends in the scientific system.

Publisher

HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS

Published On

Feb 15, 2024

Authors

Alexander Krauss

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